Some new art...

Just thought I would show you the progression of my latest painting. I used a photo that I took in California this last trip as my reference photo.  My sister sent me some new pastels and I finally took the plunge and purchased a projector so I can easily transfer my photos to my painting surface.

 I did my research and got the one that I wanted and bought a stand and an adapter to use with my smart phone and I was up and running.

I  projected the image on a piece of watercolor paper taped to the wall and basically drew around the image onto the paper.  This is just for practice after all.

The next time I do this step, I will use a much softer pencil, maybe even use charcoal, because the colored pencil that I used left an impression in the paper that I wasn't happy with.

 Then I taped the watercolor paper to a piece of wood that I previously had cut to a standard painting size. The  painters tape serves two purposes for me, it allows me to use water on the paper if necessary without getting a ripple in the paper...

It also allows me to mark the image area of my painting precisely and removal of the tape will leave a very clean painting when I am done. Since this is a pastel painting, you need to be mindful of smudging...

 I had initially wanted to put a figure in the painting, but it just never worked out, so I gave up on that...

I like to say that she and I had artistic differences and that she stormed out of the painting.

 

 

 In the reference photo, the sand was full of footprints that I had decided to use for texture and part of the story of the painting,

but in the end, I decided on smooth sand and turbulent waves...

It took me several days to complete the painting and in general I'm quite happy with it.  It was a practice piece and there are some things that may not be exactly "right", but that's ok.

Hope you like it. Tonight is the start of daylight saving time, so enjoy the longer days to come and remember to do plenty of art.