Old Floresta is a historic neighborhood which reflects good taste in landscaping, houses that don’t shout money, and is welcoming to artists. Sitting across one home with enough space for the owners to move their cars without running over my toes, I painted this. The Plein Air Society met at this renown environment. Joining them, I was aware of my lack of having practiced outdoors in a while. But ‘for everything there is a time’ (The Bible verse by Solomon and sung by Bob Dylan and the Byrds.) It was my time to rejoin my society of artists and seekers of all sorts of Light.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off the flag. The reds seem redder against the green backdrop. The mailbox is a fixture in American home styles. The two together are a fine symbolic presentation of Americana in its gentle homespun song.
What I struggled with was the lighting. When I sat down, the light was grayish. It was an overcast day. It was early in the day and the mosquitoes hadn’t traveled to this part of town yet. With the Nupastels, I was able to draw out the parts easily enough on Mi-Teinte paper. Knowing I was being timed by the mosquitos, I wasn’t being too fussy about the details. I had about a 2 hour time span for a 9 x 12″ page.
The other pastelist in the group is a master of the medium. She was the one who whispered “value”. “Get the values right and you’re in.” That was a pure drop of artistic wisdom. Of course I know values. But DOING them right is another course of action I was rusty in.
At home, I was going to work it up further but let it rest for a few days. Not working on it wasn’t the same as not thinking about it. Not with artists. After playing with other paper ground, I tried a new method: using the sanded paper UART at 240 Grit on a 6 x 6″ piece.
Yeah…that’s what I wanted. It’s not as detailed as the top one but that’s not what I was going for. I was going for the color and painterly quality I used to get in oils. This sanded paper drags out the pastel so perfectly. Yummy. You may choose your favorite. I like them both but this one has more potential for artistic growth. And that is where I’m travelling to.