Pastels are usually framed with a mat and spacer so why did I tape the border? I like a white mat around my pastel work. Normally, I would cut a mat and use a spacer to allow pastel particles to fall behind the mat and not ON the mat. But my new studio isn't set up yet and my Fletcher mat cutter is in storage so how to get the look of a mat without cutting a mat? Tape the edges and put the pastel directly against the glass. See the video.

Getting back to normal

 Ahh...things are beginning to get back to normal for artists. There are opportunities to show art in-person in addition to online. Because of that, I've been framing work for "Small Packages" at Women Painters of Washington (WPW) Gallery and for the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists (PSG) Summer Sale.

 

Left to right: 4 framed paintings for the PSG Summer Sale (see link below), 5 paintings for WPW, and a small pastel that has been entered into a show, waiting notification of acceptance. The large painting of a child is by my long-ago mentor and Northwest art legend, William Cumming.

Sale begins July 1, click the image to see the Sale.

On the easel 6/11/2021

I'm working 3-up. One done, two to go. "Overachiever," pastel, 8x8 inches. See the  progress steps below.

 

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Step 1

I started with Paynes Grey acrylic line/gesture sketch

The week in review 5/22/21

Happy Saturday to you, hope you're having a good one. I spent today weeding the garden, followed by an ice pack. 

It's that time of year when I have to return to pastel if I want to have my annual Super Summer Sale. This year I'll be adding small oil paintings done on paper. They actually look like pastels if I substitute my usual 50/50 linseed/OMS (odorless mineral spirits) medium with cold wax. Watch for these in July through my DailyPaintworks Gallery. Select Category view and there will be a special category called Annual Super Summer Sale. This annual event usually sells out.

In one of my recent posts I mentioned that I am returning to mentoring. For now, it will be online only. To begin I'll advise you how to improve your paintings via email. Later in the year, I may add Zoom mentoring and eventually may return to the in-Studio private sessions of the past. I'm getting additional track lighting in the studio this week for more options about how to use the space.

1. Tell me your primary goals (I want to work looser, I want more light in my work) and send jpgs of your paintings and the reference photo for each. 

2. I'll copy the image of your painting, rework using PhotoShop, add text to explain what and why and send it back to you beside your work so you can compare and easily see the suggestions.

Email me if you're interested. barbaranewton@comcast.net

On the easel today is an 18x18 inch pastel rework on sanded paper. After brushing off most of the old pastel painting I used a grayscale photo as my reference to apply thin oil paint with OMS as the medium for the foundation. You may remember me referring to this as an oil-wash but when I say that I get lots of inquiries asking what an oil wash is.

After letting it dry for a couple days I apply pastel on top of the oil wash. I love this process and still consider pastel my primary medium. It is about 90% complete so I'll set it aside and look at it with fresh eyes in a the coming weeks.

I completed the oil painting that was on the easel in my last post. Titled "Verve," it received a very warm welcome on my Instagram page. To those who have emailed me about purchase, it is drying quickly and will be available soon.

"Verve," oil, 24x24 ©2021 Barbara Benedetti Newton

 

September - Back to Pastel

Cedar River Picnic, pastel, 25x18 inches

Soon I will travel to Roseburg, Oregon to judge the Pastel Society of Oregon's 21st Biennial Membership Show at Gallery Northwest. I'll also teach a 3-day workshop for members. After working in oil since last spring, it is fun to return to return to pastel. I found this piece of Wallis sanded paper in my flat file. I gessoed it to a yellow tone years ago. I completed a foundation sketch with charcoal and sprayed it with Lascaux before the application of pastel.

End of week check-In

Four painting stations set up for my first Mentoring Session of 2019. Friday, four hours, four students. Looking forward to it!

It's that time of year when I hose off old pastel paintings to begin again. The smaller painting is pumice/gesso on hardboard panel. The larger painting is Wallis paper mounted on Gatorbord.

Glory Days Revisited, pastel, 5x7

Meadow, pastel, 5x7

Painted a couple and shipped a couple. 

Sunrise, pastel, 5x7

Summer Morning, pastel 7x5

The steps of Sunrise 1

The lightest spots

This is the time in the painting that I forget to take more photos. Sorry.

Sunrise 1, pastel, 5x7 inches

Sold Thank you J.G. for adding Sunrise to your collection.

Rock Creek Friday

By the way, I have finally bonded with my new studio! Click here to read more...

My reference photo and corresponding lines for placement on the ghost of an old painting.

I have obliterated the ghost of the previous painting using an oil wash.

The next morning I began applying pastel and charcoal.

Rock Creek Friday, pastel, 13.5 x 12 inches
©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton

Gold Creek Step by Step

Charcoal value sketch on Ersta 500 sanded pastel paper.

Started this one working flat and wishing I had done an oil wash under-painting.

Gold Creek, pastel, 11.5 x 13 inches ©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton

Oil Wash Foundation Saves Time

This is a reference photo. It is mainly green. My last painting, "Lakeside" was green and I'd like a different palette so I printed the green reference photo as a grayscale and worked from that.

I set it aside to dry and went on to teach my last Mentor session of 2018. If you are interested in spending 3-4 hours with me once a month in a mentor situation in 2019, let me know - I'm starting a list for January, February and March. Also let me know which week day you prefer. Now, back to this painting...

I quickly did an oil wash on Art Spectrum Colourfix off-white paper. 

I chose my pastel colors first based on value, then on hue. Darkest value first.

November, pastel 11 x 18 inches $1100.

When the students left, I started applying pastel to the oil wash foundation (darkest value first as shown in the photo above). I had about 2 hours before we were to leave for dinner so I worked quickly and then walked away. This morning I made very minor adjustments and framed it. This painting came together quickly because of the oil wash foundation.

Art Spectrum Colourfix paper

Found a piece of Burgundy Art Spectrum Colourfix paper in my flat file and it reminded me of autumn. Found an old reference photo of the creek by our dog-sitter. Applied a dark oil wash and after it dried (an hour or so) I began applying pastel.

Autumn Creek, pastel, 9x14 inches
©2018 Barbara Benedetti Newton