studies of an autumn dawn

study pastel 6:55am

study pastel 7:25am

sky study 7:35 am

cloud study 7:25am

Here are a few of my latest plein air pieces. I have managed to paint outside a little each day. Most of my studio time has been dedicated to my latest huge piece- the creation of my studio.  When time allows I will be sure to sit down and tell you the stories.Here's a photo I took early last week. Now it is actually painted (one color so far..more to come.) The job now is the inside. So much more to do!

more fog

10x11 pastel on watercolor

Fog continues to inspire all I do. It changes everything. On this particular morning it was raining and the clouds were so low.
 Monet's fog series from Giverny and London are always amazing to refer to when thinking fog. When Monet was in London he wrote, "I love London. It is a mass, an ensemble, and it is so simple. Then, in London, what I love, above all, is the fog." Monet said that he loved the way the fog"dematerialized" the river.Here are two beauties of his.

Monet's London

Monet's Siene

new method

10x10 pastel on UArt

 Exciting times and a new method! As always I am painting in layers, but this time the layers are different. All my time spent painting in the studio(with oil) is changing my ways. Originally it was Richard McKinley who peaked my interest in this new method. I still use my favorite paper, Uart, but I now start with NuPastels (a very hard pastel normally not my favorite because of it fugitive nature.) A light pastel layer in place, I next use Spectra-Fix as if it was water. It makes the pastel move, but also gives it a shiny, thicker surface. Next comes another liquid layer- a transparent layer of watercolor. The watercolor moves in and out with the spectra-fix layer, creating a similar vibration as the marble dust did....sort of like glazing with oils. After that dries I finish with soft pastel. It takes less pastel since so much of the underpainting does the work. The method allows me to focus on the edges in a different way.

Great quote of the week:
"In order to use color effectively, it is necessary to realize that color deceives continually." Josef Albers

 Think simultaneous contrast.

aerial perspective

5.5x10 pastel and watercolor

 Aerial perspective is the space between objects. In other words, it is because of the air things appear differently. The glorious humidity of this area (Mid -Atlantic) amplifies aerial perspective, while the dry air of the desert downplays it. 
It is what it is, but still you don’t have to accept what you see. Instead you can make the space. Do you want it to show far distance or a more intimate space?  Orchestrate!  In the distance the air is cooler, lighter, softer, and greyer. How much is up to you. Warmth occurs in foreground, more light compounding onto it. There is an exception to this set-up and that is dusk. After the sun has sets the distance can be warmed by the last rays and the foreground cool because of lack of light and air
When you really think about it, it's amazing! Happy painting.