Monday, August 6, 2012

Pastel Paintings

Periodically I switch from oil paints to pastels. It's a good way to freshen my perspective. With the pastels I work more quickly, focusing on composition and flat areas of color. I like to use black mat board as my surface. I try to avoid smudging my strokes and allow some of the black to show through. It gives the painting a graphic quality I like, similar to a linoleum cut. With this series I decided to try a wide format. I have one of my mom's paintings hanging in the space between the kitchen counter and the overhead cabinets. I enjoy looking at it as I'm working in the kitchen. That space was the inspiration for the proportions of these paintings.















"Apples & Glass Bowl", 8"x18", pastel on board















"Carrots & Tomatoes", 8"x18", pastel on board, Sold














"Peppers & Knife, 8"x18", pastel on board, Sold














"Pots of Primroses", 8"x18", pastel on board

5 comments:

  1. Hello Sara
    Your pastels are beautiful. Just wondering though if you spray them to protect them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just discovered your work. Oh me, oh my, they are quite lovely. May I ask, do you use soft pastels or oil pastels? My hunch is they are oils but....?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your interest in my work. These pastel paintings were done with soft pastels (not oil pastels) on black mat board. I laid down the pastel with strong strokes and did not blend. I'm primarily an oil painter but enjoy occasionally working with pastels.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for your interest in my work. These pastel paintings were done with soft pastels (not oil pastels) on black mat board. I laid down the pastel with strong strokes and did not blend. I'm primarily an oil painter but enjoy occasionally working with pastels.

      Delete
    3. Thank you for your interest in my work. These pastel paintings were done with soft pastels (not oil pastels) on black mat board. I laid down the pastel with strong strokes and did not blend. I'm primarily an oil painter but enjoy occasionally working with pastels.

      Delete