Looking Through

"Looking Through"  5x7  pastel  SOLD

Sometimes I just need to paint, but for whatever the reason, can't get out.  This is the product of one of those times.  I used a photo as reference, but the way I use a picture is as a reminder of the scene - not as something to copy. I sketch in the basic composition, rearranging things as I see fit, note the basic values and where they are, then make it up as I go.  If you ever see me do a demo using a photo reference, you would notice that I don't use the photo very much at all. It gives me a chance to really use my creativity.  SOLD

Pastel Demonstrations - Sunset Marsh

Sunset Marsh - studio piece   Sold

Sunset I - a demonstration

Sunset II - a demonstration

Over the past couple of weeks, I've done two demonstrations.  The first was for the Batavia Society of Artists and the second was for the Penfield Art Association.  

In both demos, I used the same reference material.  The references I used were photos, sketches, on-site observation and an actual painting of an area that's fairly close to where I live.  I visit and photograph the scene often, in a variety of weather conditions.  I really like the scene, but it's along a roadway and isn't the kind of spot where I would just set up and paint on site.

Anyway, I was pretty interested to see all three paintings right next to each other for comparison. I think both are decent, especially in light of how quickly I painted the demo pieces (about one hour each), plus the fact that I was talking and explaining what I was doing at the same time. I may try to refine them and come up with a more complete painting, but maybe not.  I really like the looseness of each one of the demos compared with the studio painting although I see some things that would improve both of them.  We'll see.

Last of the Snow

Last of the Snow - 12 x 16    SOLD

After I finished posted the demonstration from the other day, I knew I would need to correct the color in the final image of the painting.  The camera had not done a good job of getting those colors right.  The colors were WAY too cool!  So here is the color corrected version.  

Can be viewed at the Pat Rini Rohrer Gallery in Canandaigua, NY.


12"x18"

Pastel Demonstration

I was very inspired by Wednesday’s demo by Liz Haywood Sullivan.  So much so, that I immediately went to work painting.  I had wanted to paint all week anyway, but finding time is always a problem in my world.  Finding inspiration is not. Luckily, my granddaughter spent some time at the babysitter’s and with her grandfather, allowing me some uninterrupted time to complete this painting and to photograph it as I went.

First, I decided to reuse a piece of Wallis paper which I had painted on a few years ago, with less than mediocre results. 

I brushed it off, leaving a ghost image on it.

Using a sketch done from a photo I took last spring, I blocked in the basic shapes.

I laid down the darkest and lightest areas first.

Then, using alcohol and a brush, I liquefied the pastel in those areas, making large areas of solid color.

From there, I began to actually paint, putting down many light layers of pastel.

And after some tweaking, the finished product. 

"The Last of the Snow" 

12" x 18"

It felt wonderful to get something accomplished and I have to admit, I think it came out pretty well.