Cedars and Muhly Grass

Cedars and Muhly Grass

 Pastel on Sanded Paper, 6x9

This quick exercise that started with a "spontaneous" watercolor, and it evolved into this study of cedar trees and muhly grass on the dunes.  As it progressed, it took a life of its own.  In order to correct weaknesses in the basic composition, I added the path, extended the pink muhly grass and moved the cedar tree to the left and back.  I had to abandon much of the native color to get the values and movement in the painting to work.

A Pair of Pears

Pastel 6x6 on sanded paper

I selected this composition because it presented the colors of the two pears with an interesting contrast created by the shadows and the two opposite ends of the pear - the stem and the blossom.  The color of the fresh pears was uniformly green and there was almost no variation in their shading, but the light from a window created the drama that makes them memorable.  I timed my painting of these pears to three 4-minute segments and one 3-minute segment with a break in between each section for evaluation and decision.  I then followed up with just a few strokes to adjust edges and background.  Keeping my time and stokes limited forces me to be more loose in my strokes and holds me back from getting bogged down in details.

Pear and Pitcher

 Pastel 6x6 on Sanded Paper

I was really interested in the contrast of shapes with this still life of a small milk pitcher with squared-off sides with a fresh, green pair.  I decided that I would soften all the edges except for the focal point - the end of the pear.

Pear 1

Pastel on sanded paper 6x6

This still life study of big yellow pear is another painting that began as a timed exercise completed in 3 4-minute segments with a 3 minute wrap-up - total of 15 minutes timed.  The result was worthy of some finishing touches and a signature.  
 

Touch of Green

Pastel, 6x6 on sanded paper

This still life study of big red apple is another painting that began as a timed exercise completed in 3 4-minute segments with a 1 minute wrap-up.  The result was worthy of some finishing touches and a signature.  On the bottom of the fresh apple, the green of the calyx stands out against the red and is the reason for the name.
 

Orange 1

 Pastel 6x6 on Sanded Paper

This still life study of an orange is another painting that began as a timed exercise completed in 3 4-minute segments with a 1 minute wrap-up.  The result was worthy of some finishing touches and a signature.