Work in Progress

Another small oil pastel in progress. I find the painterly effects of light and subjects most attractive. They give a soft and pleasant look that you find in many impressionist paintings. It allows the painting to come together when viewed at a distance, blending colors in the eyes of the viewer. When looking up close at how the work has been applied, it becomes more abstract.

"Loose Park Fountain"

"Loose Park Fountain"

9x12 oil pastel on paper

2012

$260 unframed, $300 after framing

-------------------------------------------------------

I consider this piece one of my best oil pastel paintings. I don't use oil pastels too often, but I do feel I am getting more comfortable with them. This medium is easy to work more loosely, as with dry pastels I tend to draw tighter. The painterly effect helps break the colors and the form of what is portrayed. There are no solid colors or crisp edges. This gives a sense of incompleteness in the work, which partly defines an impression.

This fountain is the center piece of the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Park, Kansas City, MO. It was dedicated in 2002.

Work in Progress

Here is a looser approach of impressionism using oil pastels. Oil based pastels offer a more painterly effect and are much more difficult to use. They are not as giving and hard to erase, making them a bit more permanent once applied to the surface. The imagery is almost as if looking at a real oil painting. Oil pastels are different than the dry pastels due to oil base. Both kinds contain pure pigments, which is used to make oil paints.

This is the fountain found in the center of the Loose Park rose garden.

"Henbit"

"Henbit"

9x12 pastel on paper

2012

$260 unframed, $300 after framing

-----------------------------------------------------------------

A field full of henbit can have changing effects. Depending on your viewing angle, the overcast, and direction of the sun, the colors may change from a bright pink to a light purple. If you ever walk up to a field for a closer look, the color will fade away. The flowers on these weeds are so tiny, it takes millions of them to make an ordinary field turn stunning. Viewing from a distant and at an angle (25 -35 degree) will cluster these flowers together, forming the pink/purple fields.

Work in Progress

The month of March is a start of spring time painting here in Missouri. Though very few trees are opening their buds this time of year, other vegetation blossom without any hesitation. Most of us recognize the daffodil as an early fower with spring officially around the corner. Another sign, for those driving the country side, is the henbit that takes over the unplowed fields. Henbit is the pinkish purple color you find in the distant landscape. It's an invasive weed that farmers do not desire and spreads everywhere very quickly. The color only lasts a week or two, so one has to hurry to find and paint it. Shortly the tiny flowers will be spent.

This next piece is in reconsideration. The sky blue is a bit too much, I will add more white to lighten it up. Too much blue seems to be clashing with the purple.

"Red and White Roses at Loose Park"

"Red and White Roses at Loose Park"

9x12 pastel on paper

2012

$260 before framing, $300 after framing

Work in Progress

Here is the latest update. The composition is filled in. Everything is in place. Detailing where necessary and any alterations in color and form will will be the next step. For now, I need to get away from it...come back to it with a fresh mind set.