Surf
6 x 9 soft pastels
I invested in a new box of pastels today to augment what sticks and stubs I already had floating around in tubs and trays. There is an immediacy about pastels that fills the gap between drawing and painting. The feel of them as they deposit pigment on a rough surface is very satisfying, almost as much as the intensity of colours that can be created with them.
The drawback with creating pieces in pastel is the challenge of shipping them when someone buys one who isn't local. Its rather more elaborate to ensure the pastel doesn't disappear from the surface or get smeared by the time it reaches its location. However, so far, so good, with any shipments of pastels that I'd made. As long as I sandwich it with a gap between and make sure the piece can't move it works well.
This piece is still water, but not another river view of Salmonier. This is a view of the ocean breaking over the rocks at Flatrock. The beach, if you could call it that, has a handful of rocks at its edge, breaking off from the flat rocks that give the area its name. The movement of the water over the rocks is endlessly appealing to me.
This little study was more a trial run of the new pastels than a serious piece. However, blue is the other attractant to me, so air whipped water turning turquoise always captures my attention.
13 comments:
BEAUTIFUL surf Jeanette! And love your blog's new look!
not a serious piece? it's lovely and beautifully observed - and my favourite subject too :>)
Great colour choices in this piece Jeanette. I represents the sea as I know it. Drawing is a means to an end for me. I don't really enjoy it but I do love to work in pastel. My drawings are much more interpretative rather than stiff and self conscious. I also like oil pastel for the vibrant colours and the ability to layer and scratch back. They suit my working method better.
maybe not a serious piece to you, but it has a lot of energy to it and the water breaking over the rocks is very pretty looking :)
It definitely looks like a piece to be taken seriously :) Beautiful colors, great rendering of the waves crashing and the whitecaps, lovely! I know we'll be seeing more pastels with your new tools :)
Thanks Maree. I love watching water then trying to capture it on paper.
There's just something about water isn't there Vivien?
Margaret, its interesting how a change in medium adds a new dimension to work. With drawing - and I love drawing - I am tight and controlled. With virtually most other mediums the impressionist in me takes over.
I love the colours of waves Jennifer. The water goes through so many changes and shades of blues, greys and greens.
Rhonda, I'm enjoying playing with these pastels. I haven't done so for years. Its as if I've found an old friend.
Wonderful! wonderful! Isn't there any medium in which you DON'T excel? I think pastels suit you very well. What brand of pastels did you get and what support are you using? I know you often have problems getting art supplies and hope you were able to get what you wanted.
This is really quite breathtaking, Jeanette, even if you only intended it to be a little trial! The movement of the water over those rocks is so beautifully done.
Jan, I don't think I excel, but I enjoy some mediums more than others, especially dry ones.
I bought a set of 30 Rembrandt pastels, which was all I could get locally. I'll treat myself to some other brands to see how I like them when I place my next online order.
Julie, I like the foreground of this piece too and lucked into the wave and water movement. The rest of the sea is - well blah. I'll work on that. :)
Sorry Jan, I meant to add that I used Colourfix. Remember when you sent me that initial sheet to try? I'm hooked now!
Thanks for the info, Jeanette. Yes, I remember and ColourFix is still one of my favorite supports.
Very, very nice - and I'm so pleased to hear you've been out buying pastels. It's definitely your medium.
I've found that investing in glassine (to cover) and foam core (to sandwich) creates a good way to ship pastels internationally without huge expense.
Good idea Katherine. I'll be adding glassine to my next online order. Foamcore I can get here.
Post a Comment