Park Trail #33

"Park Trail #33" (pastel over watercolor, 6x9 inches)

Here's one I've done before from the same photo, flipped. I just love the contrast of shadows and lights peeping through the trees. Below is the underpainting with the reference photo:

"Park Trail #15" is from the same photo only flipped. Interesting how my style will change depending on mood, etc.

"Park Trail #15" (pastel over watercolor, 5x7 inches)

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"Park Trail #32"

"Park Trail #32"  (pastel over oil wash, 10x8 inches)

This week I'll be working on some watercolor underpaintings, bushing up (pun) for my workshop this weekend "Underpainting the Pastel Landscape" (for which there are still a few spaces still available! - visit this link to register!)

This one is the last of last week's batch, and I think the best of them. I really think the trick is to allow the underpainting, rather than the photo, to have more control over what you do with the pastel. Below is the underpainting with the reference photo.

I let the painting talk to me, and I saw a low wall at the far end of the path that was not in the photo. I also felt that that focal area needed some more brightness than it had in the photo, so added some sunlit shrubs behind the wall.

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Park Trail #31

"Park Trail #31"  (pastel over oil wash, 8x6 inches)  click here to bid

Had a chance today to finish a couple of landscapes that I had underpainted with oil a few days ago. This one was able to 'speak' to me a little better. It helped that I worked on it in my studio and not at the rodeo. Too many distractions out there.

Below is the underpainting with the reference photo.

 Speaking of underpaintings, there are still a few spaces left in my upcoming workshop "Underpainting the Pastel Landscape" March 2-3 in Rockdale, Texas. See my Workshop Page for more details!

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Park Trail #30

"Park Trail #30"  (pastel over oil wash, 6x8 inches)  click here to bid

This one I started on the pastel at my booth at the Rodeo, but wasn't happy with the light there (sitting behind the register)

So I finished it here at home. It was interesting to see the difference in color of the photo from my iPad to my new Samsung phone.

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Ranch Road 18

"Ranch Road 18" (pastel over oil wash, 8x10 inches)  click here to bid

Being finished (I hope) with a large portrait commission which appropriated the month of January, I've finally got a chance to start painting 'dailies' again. So I worked on some underpaintings earlier this week, getting myself back in the swing and ready for my workshop coming up in March.

Below is a shot of a few of the underpaintings I did in oil. You can see today's painting in the middle.

Speaking of my workshop, there are still spaces left for "Underpainting the Pastel Landscape" March 2-3, in Rockdale, TX. Click here for more info and registration form or register online here.


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