When life gives you lemons, draw them, 11 x 14 inches dry pastels, graphite on paper

"When life gives you lemons, draw them." (Nikki)

"Color! What a deep and mysterious language." (Paul Gauguin)

silhouettes

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Queenstown Peaks, New Zealand

Sunday, July 12th, 2020


 

Queenstown Peaks, New Zealand - 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper
Queenstown Peaks, New Zealand – 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper. Framed size 27H x 33W inches, white wood frame, crackle finish.

Cedar Silhouettes

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020


 

Cedar Silhouettes,16H x 20W inches soft pastels on paper

Cedar Silhouettes, 16H x 20W inches soft pastels on paper… practicing sky.

Dutch Creek Hoodoos

Sunday, March 8th, 2020


 

Dutch Creek Hoodoos, BC Canada- 18H x 24W inches soft pastel on 140 lb cold pressed

Dutch Creek Hoodoos, BC Canada – 18H x 24W inches graphite, soft pastel and markers on 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper

Pacific NW Sunset

Thursday, January 30th, 2020


 

Pacific NW Sunset, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on 140 lb cold pressed
Pacific NW Sunset, 18H x 24W inches soft pastels on paper

I’ve never really been successful with soft pastels. They are ultra-fussy, ultra-messy, particularly once you start adding dark colors, which leaves you feeling ultra-discouraged at the end of the day.

I’m up for the challenge though, with the additional provocation to use black, which I never use, preferring usually to use purple or blue or other color combos instead. Using black is an offense that will be fun to defy, at least that’s the intention. Black will help the other colors sing with contrast, assuming I’m able to prevent too much accidental blending. Workable fixative is very helpful.

The 18 x 24 inch pad of 140 lb cold pressed no-name watercolor paper that I ordered online does not have the tooth or qualities I like as a painting surface, but is working nicely for soft pastels. There are 6 more pages left in the pad for this pastel series.

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