Plein air pastel painting of palm trees and shadows on a stucco garage.
Pastel painting 6.5 inches x 9 inches
Here’s another view of the area around our condo in Naples. Yes, it is a lowly garage. But what attracted me were the shapes that the shadows and the plants made against the stucco wall. I really like doing pastel paintings of architecture. with this subject matter, I tend to work a little more abstractly, seeing blocks of color and strong shapes.
Plein air watercolor painting of a fountain in Naples, Florida.
Plein air watercolor painting 6.5 inches x 10 inches
One day when we were in Naples, I wandered down to the Bayfront to check out the art galleries. There was an interesting fountain in the courtyard that was just made for a plein air watercolor painting…
Pastel portrait painting of a middle aged man with a white beard
Pastel painting 11 inches x 18 inches
This is my new favorite pastel portrait. OK, I know it seems like every work I post is my favorite, but when I am working on a new painting, it HAS to be my favorite. I have to give it my all and paint like there will never be another chance to create. In our figure drawing sessions, we only have about 2-2 1/2 hours to capture a likeness, so it is very intense. The model and artists take breaks every 20 minutes or so, and then it is back at it!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There is nothing like working from life to improve your drawing and painting skills. You simply can’t learn to capture the form, color, light, and other nuances working from photographs. I’ve got a lot to learn and look forward to every chance I have to paint from life or en plein air!
Plein air watercolor landscape painting of a pond in a botanical garden
Plein air watercolor painting 10.5 inches x 7 inches
I painted this plein air watercolor painting in the same Naples botanical garden where I found all of the fascinating lilies. There were so many great views, it was difficult to choose one to paint. I will definitely be visiting this site again next year. Its a place to let your “inner color” explode!
Plein air pastel painting of water lilies about to open in the morning.
Pastel painting 13.5 inches x 9 inches
I’d never painted a water lily before last month. Suddenly, I am in love with them and can totally understand why painters through the ages have been drawn to them. Every leaf is interesting and unique and the bright flowers create a perfect focal point. But my favorite part is the endless variations of how sunlight hits the surrounding water, creating highlights and deep shadows.
The Naples Botanical Gardens has a huge variety of water lilies in their many themed “rooms.” I spent a few Tuesday mornings working on floral paintings there. This is the only pastel painting I did, but I experimented with quite a few watercolor versions.
The Ann Arbor Area Pastelists are having a show at Mallets Creek Library on Packard Road in Ann Arbor from March 19-April 28. We will be having an artist’s reception on Sunday, March 20th from 2-4 pm. If you have time, please stop by and visit us. I will have 2 artworks in the exhibit. Wonderful paintings by accomplished artists and munchies, too!
Plein air pastel landscape painting of Everglades water in the morning.
Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches SOLD
I love doing plein air paintings on location when we travel. But as a Michigan artist with galleries in-state, it is difficult to show pastel landscapes which are obviously done in different parts of the country. People tend to like images that relate to their own surroundings. One of my goals for this year is to find good gallery representation in the southern states…
Plein air pastel landscape painting of grasses and water in the Everglades
Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11.5 inches
When I’m down south, I always head out to the Everglades to work on plein air paintings. There is nothing like the light shining on the water wandering through the acres of marsh land. Every view has some enticing little nuance that I want to capture in a pastel landscape. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get very deep into the Everglades with painting equipment. I usually set up my easel on the side of the Tamiami Trail and paint out of the back of my SUV as traffic whizzes by. This has its good and bad points. The noise is terribly distracting, but I feel somewhat safe in a quasi-public area, as opposed to deep in the swamps.
However, when I was painting this piece, I ran into something I hadn’t bargained for. I noticed a car with two older couples crawling up behind me. They stopped the car and excitedly asked “Did you see it?” I had no idea what they were talking about. They explained that they had just seen a huge black bear rumbling through the grasses in the field next to me. Oy. But I’m a die hard. I wasn’t finished with my pastel painting and I wasn’t leaving til I was. But you can be sure I kept a close eye out, in case I needed to escape into my car!
Plein air pastel painting of a condominium entry area.
Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 11 inches
Another favorite plein air painting from my trip down south last month. I didn’t have to travel very far to capture this scene. Just plopped myself down right outside our condo entrance. I often drive myself half crazy driving around looking for the “perfect” view to paint. But every once in a while, I get serious and just work with what’s closest to home.
The light and shadow drew me into this scene (again!) and I felt happy with the outcome. I love combining the hard-edged lines of structure with organic, flowing plant shapes in pastel paintings of architecture.
Pastel portrait painting of an African American woman in three quarter view.
Pastel painting 11 inches x 16 inches
We were very happy to have Marge back as a model at our figure drawing sessions. She does such a great job and is a joy to paint. We always have a strong side light on our models to accentuate their features and to override the flat, flourescent lighting in our classroom. Sometimes when I am doing a pastel portrait I play up that strong highlight and other times I tone it down, depending on where the model is facing. Working with complimentary colors again…this time purples and golds…
Plein air pastel landscape of silhouetted trees along a river bank.
Pastel painting 8.5 inches x 13.5 inches
This is one of my favorite pastel landscapes that I’ve done recently. I painted it one morning down in Florida but it is really a universal-type scene and could have been done almost anywhere in the United States.
I’m a firm believer in getting out early to work on plein air paintings. Their is a special light in the morning that evaporates very quickly. At 8 or 9 am the scene before you is brilliant and dramatic. At 11, it becomes flat and boring. I often take a couple hour break during midday and start again on another scene after 3 pm. I REALLY love afternoon light too. It has a golden hue that gives everything it touches a rosy hue. In my work, light and shadow is everything.
