Making the Most Out of a Photo

 While living 'country side' I often traveled country roads - looking for resource material for painting.  This painting has been done twice before. Why?  I loved the challenge of creating believable subjects.

Max and Major are two Belgian Draft horses - belonging to a local farmer - nearby where we lived in Kansas.  Having new Pan Pastels I have been looking for a subject - near and dear to my heart, and here was a photo that I have used before.  How could I improve it?  How could I paint it so I felt I had done my best rendition of the mood I felt when I took the photo?  Here is the final piece.  I loved how it turned out.  Kansas skies can be very colorless and bright, so one thing I did was created a believable sky beyond what I caught in the photo.

"Headed for the Barn"

9" x 12" Pan Pastel and pastel pencils

on Uart sanded paper

New Pastel Painting

"In the Still of the Forest Night"

Pan Pastel and pastel pencils

9" x 12"

on Uart 600 grit charcoal sanded paper

(deer image reference - compliments of Diane Epstein)

Merry Christmas and have a healthy New Year!

 

The Learning Curve

Pan Pastels have always been a mystery to me.  I bought a set of 'darker' hues some time ago.  I have tried them, without much success. Fast forward to having the use of an online class through Ivy Newport/Studioworks,  a class using Pan Pastels by Dawn Vander Stoep.  

I painted along with her with a pastel of an owl, almost entirely done with Pan Pastels. DH helped me buy 'deeper into the supplies' (early birthday present) which I needed for success with this medium. I now have a set of 40 pans. more about Pan Pastels here   Key to this medium for ME, is the small 'sponges and applicators' that are specially made for 'laying down' the pastel.

OK, now I get it.  You just needed to show me.  The first piece below is my paint-along with Dawn,  The second is my '2nd ever' piece with mostly Pan Pastels. As with most mediums, it will take practice and diligence to improve, but I have LOTS of time as....DH and I are suffering from a massive head cold/sinus infection, we are hunkered down and I believe at this rate, it will continue on into next week. Ho ho ho - Merry Christmas. Good thing I just went to Costco recently and bought the big pack of tissues.  Two COVID tests show that we are 'negative' for Coronavirus.

Today it is mega windy and cold and snowy here at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mtns - perfect day to be in the studio (sniff sniff)!!

paint along with Dawn Vander Stoep

"Sangres Cottontail Night"

pan pastel 

6" x 8"