wild wood

When I painted plein air recently at Kubota Garden, I applied a loose watercolor foundation on a 14.5 inch square of Wallis then worked in pastel on top of the watercolor when it was dry. After a week on the easel in my studio, I couldn't think of anything it needed and decided it was best left in it's lively, wild state. For me, a plein air painting becomes less alive if I begin work on it again in my studio, away from the scene of inspiration.

wild side

Today I joined members of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Washington Chapter, to paint plein air at Kubota Garden in Seattle. Most of the 20 acre garden is manicured and tidy. I managed to find a wild area with tall grass going to seed for this little 5 x 7 inch pastel.