Plein air pastel landscape painting of cumulus clouds over a riverbank.

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 18 inches

I was on my way to portrait class last week, but it was a gorgeous Michigan summer day and I just couldn’t stand the thought of being cooped up inside. I decided to do a plein air painting instead. The clouds were huge and the wind was pushing them across the sky at a steady clip. It reminded me of the Big Sky of Montana. I set up for a pastel landscape at Gallup Park along the riverbank and painted as fast as I could. I don’t usually use Canson paper for landscapes but it was all I had with me and I had to go with it. Over the years, I’ve learned to be a very adaptable Michigan plein air artist!

This artwork was created with:

Paper: Canson Mi-Tients Steel Gray Paper
Medium: Rembrandt Pastels

Pastel landscape painting of the Huron River at Delhi Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Pastel painting 12 inches x 9 inches

I set out last weekend, planning to paint another garden pastel landscape at one of the beautiful homes on next year’s Ann Arbor Garden Walk. But I got waylaid. I was driving by the Huron River and I had a change of heart. I stopped at Delhi Park and set up for a plein air painting on the bank of the river. I am such a sucker for water scenes and they are soooo hard to paint realistically. The shadows and highlight on the moving river changed every second. I fuzzed my eyes and memorized the way the water looked at that very moment and tried to capture it.

This artwork was created with:
Paper: Sienna Sennelier La Carte Pastel Paper
Medium: Rembrandt Pastels and Sennelier Pastels

Plein air pastel painting of a path in a park in Michigan with a bridge in the distance.

Pastel painting 12.75 inches x 5 inches

I painted this scene in Gallup Park in Ann Arbor a couple of weeks ago (right after I jumped into the lake to save my first plein air painting of the day). I have been challenging myself lately to stop looking for the “perfect” subject matter for my pastel landscapes, and just paint what i see in front of me. This is probably not the type of scene I would have searched for, but I am pleased with the results. If you’ve seen much of my work, you know I like to work with odd shaped compositions. This extreme horizontal worked well for a panoramic-type view.

Plein air pastel landscape painting of a tree along the Huron River in Ann Arbor, Michigan

This is the last of my paintings from the Bagetta Workshop. I only had a bit of time left before our critique, but I didn’t want to waist it. I left all my supplies in the same place and simply turned my easel around. I zeroed in a small little scene that wasn’t too complicated for my pastel painting. Sometimes the amount of options when you are painting plein air is totally overwhelming. It helps to use a small view finder to find a good composition and crop out all of the extra information.

On this pastel landscape of a river, I used a piece of gatorboard that I had underpainted with Art Spectrum Colourfix primer in a terra cotta shade. I like the way the brush strokes show thru the pastel and add a little texture. This type of set-up tends to create a looser feel, so I wouldn’t choose this medium if you want to create a very detailed piece.

I’m really excited about a historical portrait commission I am doing of a young child and his father. Its really a challenge and I am loving every minute of it!

Plein air pastel painting of a riverbank seen from the water.

Pastel painting 6.75 inches x 11 inches

Second attempt at the Bagetta Workshop. This pastel painting of a river was done on pale yellow Richeson pastel paper with a warm red, purple and yellow underpainting. If you look closely, you can see the paint sneaking thru the green and even dripping down the paper.

Speaking of paper. I think I have given this Richeson paper my last shot. I’ve tried if for figurative art, landscapes, and florals. It is just too pebbly for me and I can’t seem to control it. I don’t feel too bad “dissing” it here because Richeson no longer seems to be carrying it on their website. I think I’m sticking with Kitty Wallis and Art Spectrum Colourfix paper. I seem to get the best results with them…

Plein air pastel landscape painting of the Huron River at Gallup Park

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

I attended the most wonderful plein air workshop this weekend! Marla Bagetta, acclaimed pastelist, came to Ann to teach a 2-day outdoor painting class and a 3-day studio glass. I absolutely love her work and wanted to attend both classes but my work schedule wouldn’t allow it. She packed a lot into two hot days in the sun — every minute worth the price of admission. Its going to take a while to assimilate all the information and try to bring it into my own art. I especially liked her method of underpainting with watercolor and simplifying shapes.

A great group of about 14 artists spent the first day at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor. Marla lectured and did a quick and masterful study to show us how she works. Afterwards, we all went out to try our own pastel landscapes using the new techniques she had suggested–this pastel painting of a river is my first one of three I attempted that afternoon…

Check out Marla’s work at   http://marlabaggettastudio.com/ and   http://marlabaggetta.blogspot.com/

Plein air pastel landscape painting of light on the Huron River in Ann Arbor

Pastel painting 8.75 inches x 13.5 inches

Some of the plein air buds got together last weekend at Gallup Park along the Huron River in Ann Arbor. We each found a spot along the same riverbank and painted the particular scene that caught our eye. I did a pastel landscape, of the sunlight streaming through a little break in the trees.

I like the way this piece came out, but it’s an absolute miracle that it exists. Halfway through, it was blown off my easel into the weeds, along with a bunch of my pastels. I rescued it and finished it up. I moved to another location and was talking to one of my friends when she started screaming and gesturing to the painting–which was floating in the lake! I rushed right in up to my knees and grabbed it. Luckily it had landed face up and only the back was saturated. It dried perfectly flat in an hour, none the worse for its little dip in the pond!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of reflections in a Michigan pond.

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

One morning last week I parked in a spot near my home where the “Cody” farm used to be. The local lore says that Buffalo Bill Cody’s cousin owned the place and that Bill often visited there. Last year, the farm buildings were torn down and there’s a nice little hill where the house used to be. It gave me a nice view of the pond across the street. Painting reflection is always challenging because the water changes every second. I survey the scene and then freeze in my mind where the lights and darks fall. If I don’t make the decision at the beginning of the pastel painting, I am constantly chasing the fluctuating light and water patterns. It can make me crazy!

Plein air pastel landscape painting of marsh land near the Naples Botanical Gardens

Pastel painting 11.5 inches x 8.5 inches

As a Michigan artist I don’t get many chances to do plein air paintings of tropical landscapes. So when we visit Florida, I make it my business to focus on pastel landscapes of the beautiful southern marsh lands. This painting was done in the Naples Botanical gardens.

My pastel painting, Everglades Morning, which won an award of Exceptional Merit from the Pastel Society of North Florida, just received a third place award from the Ann Arbor Women Artists. We are having a wonderful exhibit, filled with exceptional artwork, at the Ann Arbor Public Library through May 1st. Stop by and explore if you have a chance!

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!