Friday, April 27, 2012

Ojai in Plein Air



Landscape is hardwired into our psyche.
It touches our emotions, experiences we've had,
and gives a sense of place.

~Clyde Aspevig


Well, Ojai partly in Plein Air. These are a couple of pastels I worked on at the Richard McKinley workshop. The first is a rather small field sketch. (5x7) I first did a "ground" of a color, going lightly over the paper with a pastel stick, close to a burnt sienna. Then, I went over it with a cloth dipped in alcohol, creating a loose wash effect. (rubbing alcohol, not a cocktail!) This works on the sanded Uart paper but I can't vouch for other brands.

It turned out much more impressionistic than my studio work but it's kind of sweet.


Nature Preserve, Ojai
Pastel Field sketch



The following day, after Richard did a underpainting demo, we used those field sketches to do our larger more "finished" pieces, in the studio.

Here you can see my larger (12x16") very loose, underpainting, on sanded, mounted Wallace paper.





When your technique and your ideas support each other
and the image becomes the vehicle of that expression,
then you will have found your voice or niche.

~Henry Bateman


Here is the finished piece, below. (Or almost finished!) I may add a little something to it later but I need to get away from it, for a bit. I don't want to completely overwork it. That is often the tough part for me! When am I done? Actually, sometimes it's pretty clear but landscapes are where I can get into danger of overworking a piece. Anyway, here it is.


Ojai Nature Preserve, Early Spring
Pastel on paper 2012
12"x16"






It is no longer sufficient to describe the world of nature.
The point is to defend it.

~Edward Abbey


Have a beautiful weekend!
Blessings and light!!




quotes found on Painterskeys.com

10 comments:

Tammie Lee said...

oh my! these are both wonderful to see. I love that you shared a bit about how you made them. The understudy piece is quite dreamy and i like both versions of the other piece. Your art is a treat for my eyes.

Diana Strinati Baur said...

wonderful my friend. Your work is expanding into your soul-space, and it's just pure pleasure to see. xo.

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

STUNNING!!! You are a true talent, my dear!

Cobalt Violet said...

Thank you ladies so much for your sweet words and encouragement! Much gratitude! :)

Don said...

Looks great! More, more!

Rosa said...

I love your work! Very romantic. Very impressionist!
Thanks for the warm welcome back on my blog. I really appreciated it!

Kerry O'Gorman said...

You really are gifted with conveying a place and the feel of it...I feel the warmth of California when I look at your work. Stunning!

rjerdee said...

You have Monet in your blood...

Ruthie Redden said...

Beautiful work, Monet does indeed spring to mind x

Marisa said...

Lovely work. I love the effect of the pastels over the underpainting with just a hint of warmth glowing through.