During the past couple of days I have attended a watercolor/pastel workshop. I am really going to miss the Cabarrus Art Guild when I move. The people who I meet through the events and classes are amazing.
My goal was to not only learn more about the medium, but to push myself creatively. Lately, a lot of my paintings have been "flat". Lacking something.....magical. So, I thought that this was a great opportunity to try to rediscover that essence. During the workshop we learned some techniques with layering pastels over watercolor backgrounds and acrylic washes. It is a great technique for a watercolor that is not working out "right" , you can fix it with a layer of pastels.
I have always drawn trees, probably since I was 7 years old. I love them. But until recently, I did not know about the Angel Oak tree in South Carolina. A friend was telling me about it, and it is an amazing tree, and it is extremely old. And it is the #2 most photographed tree in America. I heard that some developer is trying to cut it down to put a housing development there. Can I just say, that would not happen in tree-loving Vermont. How could anyone think of hacking down such a beautiful triumph of nature? Here is a pastel sketch on canvas paper of the Angel Oak Tree. (not totally done, but I am at a point where I do not know yet what I need to do to finish it)
The next is a seascape which I attempted with a black gessoed background and rougher texture.
Another seascape with warm hues on a sanded paper.
My favorite technique became using pastels on a metallic background. This originally was supposed to be the essence of water or a waterfall, one of the other artists at the workshop suggested this composition with the sun on the bottom. I think it works.
A gold background with mountain...
My goal was to not only learn more about the medium, but to push myself creatively. Lately, a lot of my paintings have been "flat". Lacking something.....magical. So, I thought that this was a great opportunity to try to rediscover that essence. During the workshop we learned some techniques with layering pastels over watercolor backgrounds and acrylic washes. It is a great technique for a watercolor that is not working out "right" , you can fix it with a layer of pastels.
I have always drawn trees, probably since I was 7 years old. I love them. But until recently, I did not know about the Angel Oak tree in South Carolina. A friend was telling me about it, and it is an amazing tree, and it is extremely old. And it is the #2 most photographed tree in America. I heard that some developer is trying to cut it down to put a housing development there. Can I just say, that would not happen in tree-loving Vermont. How could anyone think of hacking down such a beautiful triumph of nature? Here is a pastel sketch on canvas paper of the Angel Oak Tree. (not totally done, but I am at a point where I do not know yet what I need to do to finish it)
The next is a seascape which I attempted with a black gessoed background and rougher texture.
Another seascape with warm hues on a sanded paper.
