Lonesome Pine (Chincoteague), 14″ x 11″, UART 320

NuPastels and Carandache hard pastel sticks used for underpainting

Underpainting, stage 1

Underpainting after alcohol applied

Painting at start of video

Yesterday I did a small 14 x 11 painting and a video on how to paint foregrounds.  I went once more to my stash of images from 1.5 days in Chincoteague in 2015!  Found a good image with a lot of foreground, did some preliminary sketches, and changed the orientation to vertical.  Since the demo was about the foreground, I did the underpainting and then painted in the sky, tree and midground.  You can see the video at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTBbvt5Deqs&t=622s

Because the painting would be cool–all blues and greens, I instinctively chose warm colors for the the underpainting, using a mix of NuPastels and some of my favorite Caran d’ache colors.  Some of this can still be seen poking through the painting, but most of it got covered!

For the sky, I determined that the sun is coming from the left, so I made the upper right corner slightly darker.  I used two close values of blue Ludwig pastels to paint the top half, then chose two turquoises for the bottom.  I waited until I was working on the tree to finish the small pieces around the branches.  Given how much sky there is, I decided that I needed some clouds.  These were added with a soft very light white-orange.

The background trees were three values of fairly light greens–grayed and brownish with a violet lightly brushed over to cool it down.  There is warm green below the distant trees. I added it and then added a duller stick over, again to keep it from being to bright–way back there in the distance!

For the tree, I took my time, using a blue and dark blue green Girault, along with various other mid-toned greens.  Got into darker and brighter greens for the midground and chose colors to be used in the video.

Several of my students requested that I do a demo of a foreground.  It’s daunting to some because it’s where all the detail is. I have to get up the courage and just go for it!  I said in the video that it’s something of a performance, but one I generally like to do for myself!  In thinking about this demo, I realized that there are the challenges of detail and not overdoing it.  But that it also provides a chance to use softer pastels and expressive mark-making.  You have to set yourself up with a good underpainting, so the composition and values are there.  Then, you can go to town and have a good time!  I think this worked pretty well.

I’m getting better at the videos. This is my fourth.  I now have a channel on Youtube and hope to make them more advanced and professional as I go along.  I AM something of a performer so it’s not completely alien to me!  After teaching for more than 15 years, I just pretend that my class is sitting there with me and I talk to them.  But now I can talk to whoever wants to listen!!!

I need to get a mike and maybe we’ll get a videocamera so John can tape them and zoom in on the demo.  I’m also going to explore ways of giving classes online.  I’m not there yet!  I have a large list of Maryland students. But, of course, anyone could participate when it’s online!  Will have to see how things go with the virus and whether I think I can get back to in-person teaching or not.  IF not, then I will definintely be exploring the best ways to teach others from home.  If you have experience or are interested, let me know!