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.

Lehigh Valley Trail

This trail used to be the Lehigh Railroad bed. On the day I was there, the snow was melting and the air was full of atmosphere as a late winter storm was approaching. The colors were very soft and muted.
Due to the humidity and isolated location, I painted in my car with only the radio on for company.  Unfortunately, when I was ready to go home, the car battery was dead.  Luckily for me, a workman in his van was there eating his lunch.  Neither of us had jumper cables, but he suggested that I just leave the car completely turned off for a few minutes, then try to start it again.  I did and miraculously it started right up!  What an adventure.

6"x9", framed size apprx. 11"x14"  Sold
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.

CSX Railroad Trains in First Snow

It was bitterly cold on this Saturday in December, but this view was spectacular and the composition was perfect. The wind made it impossible to do outside, so I sat in my car to paint. It is one of my favorite paintings.


12"x18", framed size is 18"x24"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, and are ready for hanging.

Ice Fishing on Braddocks Bay

It was a warm day in March. I tend to be very cautious when I go out to paint, but the temptation to go out on the ice to capture this scene was too hard to resist. The whole time I was out there, I could hear the ice melting under my feet. Very weird. Winner of Honorable Mention in Suburban Rochester Art Group Fall 2008 Show.

size 9" x 12"

Snow-Covered Country Road

Done in January 2007 at Jensen's Horse farm in Perinton. The snow covered road and the soft colors in the snow really caught my eye.

size 12" x 18"
This painting is framed and matted, overall size 18" x 24"

Spring Melt on Irondequoit Bay

Done on a late winter day in 2006. The wind was blowing and cold, but the sun was out. The color in the tree buds was just starting to show and the ice had begun to melt.

Snow at Allens Creek

This is it! The first painting I've done of snow, in snow! It was a beautiful sunny morning and the wind was cold. I stood with my back to a hillside to keep out of the chill even though it was about 30 degrees. The shadows in the snow were a joy to paint as they were all purple and blue. I really enjoyed painting this scene and tried to evoke the warm, happy feeling of painting the snow as it melted in the sunshine. This was done in February 2006 at Corbett's Glen.

Summerville Beach in Winter

Once again, painting in January with no snow. This time the subject was the Lake Ontario shore line from Summerville in Irondequoit. Several of us braved the frigid wind that day and went to the Irondequoit Bay Outlet where there is a great marine park and fishing access. The sun was low in the sky, with a soft haze. This view, with it's long purple shadows, seemed to cry out to be painted.

January Sky

This has been a remark-able winter here in Rochester. There has been very little snow and it's been relatively warm. I've been looking forward to painting snow, since I haven't had the chance yet. But the colors and sublties of the winter landscape without snow have been a wonderful change from all of the green of the past summer.

On this day in January 2006, we were at Springdale Farm in Spencerport. I found a beautiful panoramic view of the farm across the street and stood on the side of the road to paint it. No snow, but the colors in the clouds, the intensely blue sky and the soft colors of the land and distant tree-lines were enough to keep me very happy.