by Bethany | February 25, 2019
Hey everyone! My newest video just went live on Patreon and my Youtube channel! This one felt so special as I was painting it…you know the ones that just magically happen and everything seems to flow? Those are the days that keep me at my easel…and push me through the hard days when I’m not feeling it. This piece is from a reference in Palo Duro – of course one of my favorite local places to paint. It is full of beauty and diversity and I feel so blessed to have grown up so near it. Of course (as is my norm), I took complete and total creative liberty to paint colors the way I like instead of what my reference “told me to” (whatev!!). For the 45 minute lesson and reference photo to paint, don’t miss out on joining my Patreon right here!
I chose to begin this piece with a warmer Nupastel (and isopropyl alcohol) underpainting than my “normal.” I usually use this nupastel as I love the way it so easily creates magical shadows! But I wanted to bring a warmer vibe to my underpainting this time and used warm browns and dark violets as my base for this piece…weaving in some orange Rembrandt and ochre Nupastel. (affiliate links)
I like to think of pastel painting as weaving or embroidery. I take a little bit of this, little bit of that, threading the hues and values together to create a tapestry of color and light. Sometimes I put something in, change my mind, brush it back out, step away, see what else the painting needs. My pastels are at the tips of my fingers, delicately caressing the surface of the paper, leaving a bit of themselves behind to color what was previously blank. As artists, we do much the same. These magical days, this magical moment..it’s inside the painting, emanating outwards. We’re depositing emotion as surely as red, blue, or yellow. I love to paint with joy and this was one of those times. I hope you enjoy!
For the 45 minute lesson with reference, don’t forget to check out Patreon! It’s a great place to share and learn.
xoxo,
Bethany
