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JournalMTW — Smile In Red
Published: 2010-08-30 19:52:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 802; Favourites: 21; Downloads: 8
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To date I have only drawn four pastel pieces. This is my first "portrait" and my 4th pastel drawing. It is all pastel and the finished piece measures approx. 14" wide. I believe I could have done a better job had I known what I was doing. I did attempt to do more of an impressionistic feel to the piece rather than realistic. Hope you like it.Special thanks goes out to boonDY (D.A. member) for the use of her lovely image that I used as my inspiration for this piece.
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Comments: 36
Thanks for the comment. Actually I had this piece in a show about a year ago and a stranger came up to me and said the same thing. I have been really surprised at the very positive comments I have received on this "style" and have begun working on others in similar ways (see For Vincent, Connie's Iris, and a couple of others). To me it feels very natural and I do plan on completing more like it.
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I hope to see more like these indeed! I don't do very many pastels, since my lungs don't like the dust too well, but it is interesting material to work with!
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If the weather permits, try using them outside some. That could help on the dust part.
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Very good idea. Now, I live in The Netherlands, so you may understand that I might want to move first
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Thanks. That "style" (I have no other word to describe) of drawing just kind of evolved. I did like it and have decided to use that on a couple of other new pastel drawings. I hope to have one of them up soon.
Thanks for the kind words my friend, and have a happy new year.
Andrew
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For not knowing what you were doing, I think you did an awesome job. Maybe we can cam chat one day, and share techniques!
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Oh yes, my "technique"...lets see...pick up pastel stick blindly and scribble until my mind tells me it looks ok. There, you have it. Now maybe you can share the right way to do it.
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ummmm that's kinda what I do.... 👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Have you ever worked on sanded paper? I have just started with it and have been experimenting with different types, even coating my own. I like the way the colors blend, gives an almost velvet feel to a piece.
Thanks for the feedback,......
Lisa
I have found out by accident about tissue removing pigment, but I had forgotten. Never thought about using a brush to remove, I do have a few of those.
As for me I always begin with sketches, and normally rather good detail (remember I'm use to pencils).
Yes I have worked with sanded paper. I have a large one going right now on sanded paper. But, I really like pastel board. Same sort of surface but a whole lot stronger and I can actually hold it or place it on the easel. Pastel board, just like the sanded paper, needs to be "built up" first (at least for me). Once I do that it is like drawing with velvet.
Andrew
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Haven't tried the airbrush, but I do use canned air at times. I have used the boards, but they are expensive, so I am experimenting with coating my own boards. so far, so good.
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I agree that these boards aren't cheap. The problem I find is that I can't find them as big as I would like, which is why I turned to the sanded paper. But, just a couple of weeks ago I priced a sheet of sanded paper that was about 20"x30" and they wanted about $27 for it, which still isn't cheap. I ended up with a pastel board (an odd size) of about 18"x 24" and it was about $20). But since I have't done too many in pastel I guess it is not so bad.
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but since that's all i work in, it's expensive! between that and the framing..i have no way to safely store my completed pieces. For awhile I was taping them to the walls all over the house, but my mother lives with us and doesn't pay attention to what she is doing and ruined at least 2. now i frame them all, but again we are faced with the space issue, but at least they are somewhat safe. any suggestions?
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Do you spray or "fix" your pieces? I have fixed about half of mine. But with my pencil pieces, at least those that I don't have the funds to get framed, I "mount" with paper corners onto a large piece of foam-core board (put drawings like this on both sides). I then cover this with a thin sheet of clear plastic (they sell rolls of this at art supply stores). This protects the pieces from smudging, being touched, dust, etc. If you did spray your pastel drawings I would think you could do the same.
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spray fixative sometimes dulls the colors, especially over time. i had to "unframe" a piece that had been professionally framed and rework the whole thing before i delivered it.You can put tracing paper or newsprint over your piece, lay the whole sandwich on the floor, then lay a board over it and press down firmly with your hands. this presses the pigment into the paper really well, and doesn't mess with the color.
the foam core thing sounds like a good idea...i'll have to try that.
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Oh yes, I am very familiar with that flattening effect. But, I have only see it at that time and not later down the road (but again I have not done pastels that long). I would prefer not to spray, but my last piece "City Girls" was framed at a professional place. They went as far as to place a "spacer" between the top mats and the drawing. This was to give some space for dust particles to go (hopefully) if some did drop. But I still have some that fell between the glass and the top mats. Now if I wanted to sell it I would probably have to have a new mat cut and have it put back together. What I would really like to do would be to "steam" seal the pastel. I heard that this was done by some of the old masters of years gone by. Curious how that may do.
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Beautiful drawing! Very warm and soft... and she looks so alluring.
The texture reminds me of Van Gogh's paintings. Very interesting!!
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Thanks. I find the style interesting too. Kind of hard to explain, but the effect just seemed to "come out of me". When I have looked at things lately the patterns of "marks", "swirls", and "patterns" keep popping into my mind. I don't know, maybe my style is beginning to go through another evolution. What do you think?
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Some of the great artists in history went through the 'evolution' and their style of art changed quite a bit at certain point. I think it's a good thing! Well, follow your heart, Andrew!
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So what about you? Have you seen any changes in your "style"? Ok, follow my heart....just don't cut off an ear right?
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I'm one of those stubborn people. You can see some changes/improvements if you look at my drawings in chronological order, but the style hasn't changed. Sometimes I struggle because of my inflexibility.
'Daniel ' (Harry Potter) is a very special piece to me. When I finished drawing his face, I put down my pencil and didn't touch it for 2 years because my heart was not in it. I didn't draw anything during that period. I probably experienced 'artist's block'. I knew my urge to draw would come back, so I read books, watched movies, and did many other things. And one day, it came back... I put unfinished Daniel in front of me, picked up my pencil and finished it in no time. I followed what my heart desires, and I'm very happy I did so.
You mentioned that marks, swirls, and patterns keep popping into your mind. I thought that was very interesting. I've always fascinated by 'light and shadow'. People must think I'm very odd when everyone is looking at something and I'm staring at the shadow it casts.
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I guess I have grown attached to them both, so I will keep them.
"Summer's Glory" is one of those pieces that took me a long time to complete. I kept putting down the pencils myself. About 10 months later it was done. But, "City Girls" was the longest (due to me). I began that piece, stopped, began again, stopped, etch. It took me about 1.5 years to finally get it done.
So you are stubborn? Yeah right, and I bet you will stick with that story too right (ha!)? I do have most of my work in digital and those are also in a directory based upon completion dates. It is easy to see the changes that way.
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Yep, I am stubborn... 
Actually, I just don't handle change very well. I'm willing, though. So, who knows, maybe my style of drawing would be completely different next year.
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How about honest, up-front, firm convictions, ect?
I'm not too fond of change either, but I have learned that the only constant in this world is change.
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Oh, if I see or agree with the reason(s) of the conviction, then I will make changes. I'm trying to find the right word but I don't seem to be able to... it's a struggle that non-native English speaker faces very often. I'm willing to change... so I guess I'm not pigheaded, then.
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Convictions are good,and many times words get lost in translation. I know this to be true with my travels.
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I think its really really good 
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Thanks for the comment Kitty, it has been a while. How have you been and how are things going? Let me know, drop me a note.
Andrew
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Thanks Eileen and for the fav selection of this piece. Hope your day is better.
Andrew
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