Sunlit Rocks, 4″ x 6″, Pastelmat

Being stuck at home, I decided that it might be a good time to try to do a miniature.  I promised myself I would do some to enter into the miniature show at Strathmore next December.  I have a large sheet of Pastelmat, which I thought would be good for it. And I have a whole wooden box of Giraults.  So I started one of a cactus and hated it!  Then chose a photo of rocks, grasses and sunlight from the West.  For the miniatures, I’m going to a box of 4 x 6 photos (and smaller) from the years before my digital camera.  It’s really fun to go back to these pictures.  I feel like I can do anything, as long as it pleases me and I think it will work.

This began with a graphite drawing and that’s all.  The paper is the sienna color.  The rocks are a combination of violets and blues.  For the sunlit area, I used white!!!  My students will realize that I’m taking great liberties here!  But I didn’t have a light enough yellow at home in my box and there was a lovely, unused white with a nice hard edge!

In the dark areas, I used a dark blue and a dark brown.  This is pretty much a painting of complements–violet and yellow, with some blues and oranges.  I’m glad that I chose this image as it has strong light, which I’m trying to focus on now.

Also trying not to succumb to feeling really nervous and worried!  I’ve started relearning one of my favorite Chopin nocturnes that is SO beautiful.  Art and music are so wonderful to have at this time.  I hope you are all coping with the stress in your own ways.  It’s a hard time.  Of course, nothing much has happened here yet, but I worry that the planeloads of people at Dulles, all crammed together could be the beginning of a nightmare.  We’ll just have to see.  Meanwhile, I plan to continue to paint for as long as I can and will share my efforts with you.