On the Drawing Board: raw and unblended.

/

While I make an effort to post 'in progress' photos of what I'm working on, I usually take them after I'm done working for the day, or have completed a section I am working on.  It's usually a moment where I'm satisfied with how it looks, but this doesn't show what goes on in between.  

So, here's a pic (on the left) that shows the first things I do when I start a section, in this case the upper part of the face. I already worked on the eye a bit.  I take my pastels and fill in with a base layer of colors, they are just scribbled on, no blending.  This gives me a foundation to work from, I guess it's similar to doing make-up.  From here I'll blend them together with my fingers.  I'll then add other colors on top, and blend those in, creating more depth, subtleties in lighting, and more tones.  Even when I think it looks done, it doesn't mean I wont go back and add/blend in more colors.  That's one of the things I like about working with pastels, the surface is always workable, unlike paints in an acrylic or oil suspension that will dry.

New Painting & Prints: "Flower Bed"

/

While I love the beauty of all the seasons, the warmer ones allows us to really connect to it.  I wish man's effect on nature was as positive as natures effect on man. #savethebees.

The original and limited edition prints are available at the special new release price (until about 8:00 am EDT April 19). 

Flower Bed
$80.00

Original is sold.
24 x 18½ pastel on pastel paper

Giclée Prints
open edition Portfolio prints
additional information about my giclée prints

add a frame

On the drawing board: A warm, sunny spot.

/

After a few days away and a few days working on building a chicken coop, the rainy and snowy weather has returned and gotten me back inside painting a warm bed of flora. 

I'd prefer a little nice weather now, since it is April, but I will admit the cold spell is what I needed to get me back at the drawing board to finish this 'involved' background (which despite all the work, I am loving).

Original Sold!

/
Muse
Muse
$80.00

Original (Sold)
24¼ x 18½ pastel on pastel paper

Giclée Prints
open edition Portfolio prints
additional information about my giclée prints

While I was spending much of my Easter Sunday cleaning the garage, my original pastel painting, "Muse", was bought by a private collector.

Limited edition prints of Muse are available.

On the Drawing Board: blossoming

/

Thanks everyone for your input on which idea to work on next.  It actually motivated me to want to do all of them!  But I went with 'D' to start first.  My hesitation with that one was my concept of him lying on a bed of flowers...and I knew it would/will be tedious. Though I dove in and am really happy with it so far. 

While I strive to make the guys in my paintings attractive according to my tastes and aesthetic, I usually don't go for what I would call the 'pretty boy' look, however, now that I've started adding the bed of flowers his 'pretty boy' look seems to really fit for this piece.