". . . a brush with nature"

Hot weather, the Fourth of July and summer fun at the lake with grand kids and friends inspired a new larger format pastel painting that I am very excited about working on. I just started it this week and decided that I would post the progress of this particular painting in my blog. I haven’t done this before in such a detailed manner, so this will be a new experience for both you, my readers, and for me. So here goes . . . I invite you to watch as my pastel dust settles!

As you can see here I have completed my fairly detailed sketch on my Pastel Premier sanded paper and have begun to add color to faces, etc.  I am working from several different photographs that my husband and I took ourselves of the kids having fun at the lake. I am not staying true to the composition of just one photo, but am choosing to combine several and make further additional modifications to those along the way. (Please remember that artistic license is always allowed, accepted and delighted in!)  I desired a bit more “drama” in this painting, so I tightened up on the composition by drawing the boat and paddleboard closer together. I believe this also allows for more interaction between the boys. Stay tuned to see how it all works in the end.