Waterlily - Watercolor & Pastel - June 2012



"Waterlily" - Watercolor & Pastel - 5x7 - June 2012



"Waterlily - ver.2" Watercolor - 5x7 - June 2012


These studies were painted in the open painting class at Red Cockerill Gallery last week.   There is a scheduled "Art with a Twist" painting class and the painting is of waterlilies.    I decided to get a head start and do some small studies.   I started with watercolor.   It was hard to manipulate to get the detail.   I added pastel but pastel on watercolor paper is not great.   I'll try this again in pastels only prior to the July class. 

Wildflower Field - Fun and Loose - June 2012

Wildflower Field -  Pastel - 5 x 9 - June 2012  Last week I attended a class with Karen Margulis.   She did a quick small study on a wildflower field.    Today I decided to just play for a while and try it from memory.  It's good to loosen up and just have fun.  Don't get me wrong, painting is fun but sometimes the focus is on turning out the best painting and not on just letting the subject speak to you.   Even when the small studies don't come out great, I have fun and always feel like I learned something.   I definitely need a balance between structure and spontaneous painting.    

Pastel with Dust - June 2012

 "Wildflowers" - Pastel with Dust - 5x7 - June 2012
Last night I attended a class with Karen Margulis.   We created our pastel painting and then added pastel shavings(dust) to sections of the painting for texture and highlights.      We shaved harder pastels with a knife over the areas of the painting we wanted to highlight.   We then covered with paper (parchment, wax paper) and used a roller to press the paint into the painting.   We also experimented with adding fixative after each dusting to create more layers and texture.   Once the paint builds up you can scratch the surface to expose the colors underneath.  Not something for every painting but definitely a technique to have in your tool bag.

"Birch Trees Mini" - Pastel with Dust - 5x7 - June 2012
I have done this painting several times so the composition was a familiar one.    The dusting added some interest to a rather simple painting.   Fun technique.   Thanks to Karen who also comes up with things in class to inspire us.

"Fall Day - Watercolor - June 2012

"Fall Day" - Watercolor - 7.5x11 - June 2012 - Another Fall scene.   I'm trying to do small studies each day until I can get the "hang" of watercolor.    I love the medium but it is not my friend yet!

Morning at the Beach - Two Studies in Pastel and Watercolor

"Morning at the Beach" - Watercolor - 5x7 - June 2012 
This painting was inspired by a photo that a friend took of the beach early one morning in Jamaica.   This pastel does not do the colors justice.   I want to try again in watercolor.   A beautiful scene!!

"Morning at the Beach"  Pastel - 8x11 - June 2012
The colors of the photo are truer on the watercolor.   Always fun to paint however a great composition and this scene is a great inspiration.

Sample of paintings over last 2 years. Just a little trip down memory lane.

 "Sunflowers"    9x13  Pastel

 "Country Barn"    9x13  Pastel

 "Poppy Field"    9x13  Pastel

" Italian Landscape"   10x13    Acrylic

I've been busy trying new things with pastels and working on watercolor techniques.    Every once in a while I like to go back and look at some things I've done in past.   When you try new things it's sometimes easy to get discouraged......it helps to remember what made you enjoy painting in the first place.    " Painting is an escape....a relaxing release...where in a few hours you loose yourself in another place and paint your way into the painting."    They are like old friends you feel you know them well.   These four were gifts to family and friends and have made their way into a new home.