Cascading Gold, 16 x 12, UART 320

I have just completed my first painting on UART 320. I ordered 11 x 14 and 12 x 16 boards from True Grit Pastel Panels and I am VERY pleased! First, I ordered them on Friday and they came on Saturday. Prior to this fall, the company only mounted 400 UART, but after talking to people at the PSA trade show, Robert Mogul decided to expand and cover all or most of the grits. He urged me to try the 320 and I did. I really, really like it!  Here is why: 1) it has wonderful tooth but without the patterning that is found in the 400; 2) it takes multiple layers of hard pastel without them falling off, including the really hard Caran d’ache.  So I’m hooked!

Underpainting and initial layers of hard pastel with fixative

I began the picture with a graphite drawing and put a lot of effort into it. I then added the hard pastel and I realized that I didn’t want to lose the drawing or the color of the underpainting. So I decided to add alcohol only to the background and line of shadow moving down the rocks.  I took the board home and sprayed it with workable fixative.

I then took my time painting the rocks first, then the leaves. In the photo, the yellows were only in the middle of the picture. One of the last things I did was to add the splash of yellow at the bottom and it improved the composition tremendously!

I used many colors in the rocks, violet, blues, and a lot of light grayed greens, which is the actual color one sees due to the lichen on the rocks.  But I wanted the color to have more interest than what was in the photo.

I love doing these “rock portraits” particularly with the various colors of fall leaves. I have begun another and have two more that I may do.  It feels good right now to emerse myself in nature and art. I am mourning the death of Gwen Ifful, along with the recent election and trying to find joy again.

The True Grit panels are sold through the company French Canvas. I highly recommend them! Lots of different sizes and they don’t warp.