Here is Number 15 in my series. This week I tried some new techniques for me. I have been using a thinner non-sanded paper for my series of tree paintings. Today I decided to use Wallis sanded paper.
I wanted to use a heavier paper and one with more tooth because I was going to block in with my pastels and then use a large paintbrush and water to create an under-painting. I used my NuPastel bright orange for the sky area and then a dark teal soft pastel(Unison, I believe) for the tree and main landscape areas. I also used a light aqua soft pastel for the water. Then I went to the studio clean-up sink and wet my 2" house painting brush with cold water. I danced it around the tree and in the land. Rinsed my brush, then I did a smoother straight-line stroke across the water area. Rinsed and did slanted bottom-side and up to the outer corner, strokes over the sky. I didn't put too much water and painted with the paper flat. All the pastel remained quite bright. I had forgotten to tape the paper down because it is in a tablet form. That meant as it dried it became quite wavy/undulating at first. But as it continued to dry it straightened out again...Live & learn! :) I started adding soft pastels over the top of the now dry but lumpy surface. It was a little difficult to get a flat broad stroke, but eventually after smoothing some of the scratch marks made by the edges of my Terry Ludwig rectangular pastels, it all pulled together. As usual I thought by looking at my color wheel and choosing a palette of Blue-Green & Red-Orange that is what I would do. But also as usual I ended up using all kinds of pinks, burgundy, violet, blues, some greens!!! I can't seem to restrain myself and stick to a very limited color palette.
Here is the color wheel I was using and some of the pastels. The soft pastels are in my Plein air box and are the ones I took with me on Saturday for the Plein air demo and paint-out. To see that post click here.
This is my post for Paint Party Friday. Please visit the site hosted by Kristen & Eva and see what about 80 different artists have been doing in all different mediums this week.
Have a wonderful week, Gloria
