step 1

To begin applying pastel over the oil-wash foundation, I selected two "white" pastels - one cool and one warm. The cool white was applied for the sky everywhere except the upper left quarter where the light source (sun) was shining down upon this woodland scene. For that area, I applied the warm white. I also used the warm white for glow on the edge of the tree at right and lightest foliage areas. Click on the image to enlarge. These are Terry Ludwig whites - love them!

On another subject, blog subscriber Karen asked if I could explain the Kodak Color Separation Guide and Gray Scale sometimes included in my work-in-progress shots. When I photograph my work, I always include this for color reference. If the color bar doesn't look right, I know the color of the art is off. Here's the blurb from Kodak: "... Separation Guides are used as the set up guide to calibrate several digital color print systems. In addition, helps photographers compare the color of the subject with known printing colors. Also helps Graphic Arts camera operators identify separation negatives and positives for color reproduction processes. "

june

This painting began as part of the five-artist demo at the American Art Company Gallery. I have been looking at it on my studio easel for a week. There was a one square inch area that bothered me (unfortunately, I don't have a photo of how it looked) so last night I began to paint on it again. The longer I worked on it, the more I felt the life of it slip away. I don't know how else to describe the feeling...it wasn't alive to me any longer - it was just a surface of unrelated marks and color so I washed it off and began again.

I wouldn't say I brought the original painting back to life, I would say a new painting, with a new message, was born.

This morning I ran across an explanation of painting on fb that rings true for me from artist Dan McCaw:

'I think about painting like sculpting, you add, you take away until you feel some connection, something that feels right, something that helps tie one thing to another and starts to hold your interest, something that surprises and makes you engage.'