Juno Beach Ocean, 3:00 PM, December 1, 2009

This drawing was prepared using the layered rub and blend technique that most pastel artists use. It is totally different from my usual mark making technique. Ordinarily I do not allow myself to rub, blend or smear. However, this time I am teaching a course that surveys pastel history and technique. The logical place to start was the standard/norm as opposed to myself. So, I built the layers gradually starting with a light layer of medium color, and I took photographs through the total process so I can make a PowerPoint presentation now that the drawing is complete.

The work went much faster than it normally does, so I'm tempted to do more drawings by rubbing smearing and blending. I couldn't help but make some individual marks at the end of the process in order to create more detail. The texture (tooth) of the paper creates a similar look to the usual work, though the color is a bit more naked/grating than the more subtle gradations created when the pastel marks mix together without rubbing. Also, the final product doesn't have as hyper-realistic an appearance as I normally obtain.

Twelve Koi And One Butterfly

This is the second pastel in the series, KOI, and it is 30 inches by 44 inches. There are four digital photographs worked together in order to create the image. I’ve taken many photographs of Koi at Butterfly World near Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the past 3 years, and I plan to go back again this year. Not only are the Koi pond and waterfall fantastic, but the butterflies, parrots, and bromeliads are incredible as well. My partner and I have taken just about everyone who has come to visit us to Butterfly World, but our friend Jane was the most appreciative. She said that the hundreds of butterflies, flying free in the jungle-like habitat made her feel as though she had achieved nirvana.

The drawing “Twelve Koi and One Butterfly” took a month to complete because both the pastel, and my need to create an image that is photo-like despite the technique of making thousands of individual marks conspire to slow the process. Sometimes I wish I could force myself to work in a looser manner in order to finish more of these painterly pastels. However, I doubt I’d get the same satisfaction out of extremely abstracted Koi that I get out of these images. Besides, I’ve played with the distortions the water creates, which brings me to the following question. Is it possible for anyone but me to find all twelve Koi in the drawing?

Koi Fish Pastel Painting

Fort Miles

New Work Spring 2009

Look at Light Moods Photography Website for great photographs of Florida Ocean and Marshes.