"St. Paul's Gate"

Pastel on UArt, 12x9

Private Collection

For this painting, I have tried something new - at least, new for me. 

I pass a set of gates every day that inspired me to do this piece.  I have taken quite a bit of license in the design, color, and placement of the objects, and I added the Pauline symbols of the open book and sword to the front of the gate.  I tried to emphasize the light on the path to represent Paul's experience with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus as a reminder for me and inspiration to everyone.

"Scurrying Light and Shadows"

Pastel on Sanded Arches, 18x14


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7/10/2012 - Accepted to the Degas Pastel Society's Fourteenth Biennial National Exhibition.


I started this scene from the edge of San Pablo Parkway near the Mayo Clinic.  A small tidal stream passes under the parkway and through this bay of salt marsh edged by pine trees and hardwood.  The afternoon sun passed in and out of the broken clouds sending patches of light and shadow scurrying over the marsh.


This piece was done on 140 lb. Arches hot press to which I have added a coat of acrylic gesso and a coating of pumice gel.  In an earlier blog, I documented my process, but between the beginning of this piece and finishing it today, we have moved my wife's parents from Panama City to Jacksonville and gotten them mostly situated in a new apartment.  There is still much to be done for them, but hopefully I can get back to my studio.

"Marsh at Mayo" WIP

Pastel 18x14 on sanded Arches

Work in progress.

These are the steps I take in putting together a studio work in pastel.  I document this as much to help my own memory as to share my ideas.

1. Crop photo to proportions

2. Do a formal sketch to scale to correct design and verify proportions and placement of objects.

3. Transfer proportional drawing to Arches paper marked at the intersections of the register lines.  for this I use an orange pastel pencil.

4. I rough in the sky.  Then I add the deepest values with a dark purple NuPastel - #244 which I then wash in with denatured alcohol.

5. Design issues - I'm not liking the cedar tree on the right, and I'm having trouble getting the color and value to look "right."  I've rubbed out what I had and I'm debating about putting it back in or leaving it out altogether.  In the meantime, I will go on to the foreground and the water.

6. Most everything is in - just some details in the foreground to finish.  At this point, I want to give it a rest and come back to it in a few hours.

"Pond Colors"

Pastel on Sanded Arches - 5x7

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This painting started life as a watercolor that needed help, so I coated it with sanded gel and redid the problems with pastel.  I am very pleased with the result.

The scene is one from a sketch and reference photos from the Arboretum paint out.  Early and late in the day, the sun casts the background in shadows but pours bright sunlight on the outer and higher branches of the trees next to the pond.  This gives me the opportunity to deal with values by changing the colors, using deep purple for the dark greens and grays.

"Evening Passage"

Pastel on UArt - 9x12

In this painting, I wanted to capture the glories of the evening sky over the salt marsh, but I did not want to simply paint the clouds.  The colors of the marsh grass, the pine trees, and the thick undergrowth all contribute to the sense of stillness and wonder.  The last of the falling tide reflects the sky and the tall pines that frame this scene.

"Low Tide, Late Day"

Pastel on Self-sanded Arches, 9x7

SOLD

This is a study made from notes, drawings, and reference photos taken at Tide View Park.  The tide was completely out and the afternoon was passing quickly when I began these notes and drawings.  This painting was done as a value / color statement in preparation for a larger work.  The drama of the scene is accented as the sand turn lavender and blue and the oysters stand out against the reflections.

"Early Start"

Pastel on Arches - 8.5x6.5

SOLD

This was a quick "sketch" to capture a fleeting impression.  I did this painting from a single reference photo and some notes.  The picture was taken across the bay from Cape San Blas while I was on an outing there with my father-in-law to renew our memories of younger days spent fishing at this place.

The colors and time of day are the early morning before the sun us up.  Everything is still, and the distant shore and the sky are purple and gold.