Using Pastels!

The past couple of weeks have been difficult ones for me.  I've been pretty tired and exhausted.  I never realized that cancer of the blood can actually make someone this tired!  I've been working on a mixed media collage still life, but I've had to put it aside until I can concentrate on it!  The good news is that we have started the testing and process for a possible stem cell transplant.  I go tomorrow morning for blood work and my two sisters and brother are also getting their blood tests done tomorrow. 

I was getting pretty bored with laying in bed!  I decided to check out some YouTube videos and came across a great tutorial on a simple still life.  I often use pastel to do colour and composition studies for my non-objective abstract paintings and collage, so I thought I would give it a try!

To do my study, I used an 8x8 canvas. I would normally use watercolour paper but I was too lazy to cut it and prepare it!  I then did a simple grey background wash in watercolour and added a coat of Dry Ground Medium.  Then I followed the tutorial and this is what I came up with!

 

I know I do not like the background colour!  So, that will change when I sit down and actually paint this in acrylic.  But overall, I am happy.  It's not ment to be realistic or to have a lot of detail.  It is a simple, loose way to test out composition and colour before I do an actual painting.  

The pastels I used are a cheap brand I picked up off Amazon.  I think I am going to invest in a more expensive, artist quality set.  I really enjoyed doing this.

"Blue Vase"

This painting was inspired by the works of Annie O'Brien Gonzales. I love taking online workshops and decided to take a class in Expressive Mixed Media.  I certainly had fun and Annie really is inspiring!  Her work is amazing and I enjoyed adding some of her tips and techniques into this piece!  Although most of the original flowers I had painted on ended up disappearing in the end, I think the piece really is reflective on how passionate a simple vase of flowers can be!  I can imagine sitting at the table, mint tea in hand, and breathing in the beauty of this simple vase of flowers.  

 

 

  

"Blue Vase"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 16x12

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$350.00

Granny's Bouquet

"Granny's Bouquet" was simply a fun piece to create!  Sometimes the simple paintings can make the biggest impact.  Creating this piece certainly did that for me!  It was created on a 8x8 canvas and the texture in the painting was achieved by using handmade paper, rice paper and my own texture fiber.  This was completely an intuitive creation arising from my own imagination.  

 

"Granny's Bouquet"

Mixed Media, Abstract painting. 

Canvas 8x8

Acrylic, handmade collage paper

$200.00

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