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Monday, December 22, 2008

Snow days are over? Maybe... The kids just had a two hour delay today after a weekend full of snow. I'd estimate we got about 18 inches after it all... but that is very unscientific. Unfortunately Christmas Eve calls for rain and 40 degree temperatures - uck - so we may just have a wet Christmas! Poor Santa.

OK Pastel Pencils!!! I did run to the studio and bring my portrait and new pastel pencils home with me to work on. It was weird to be back home working on the kitchen table again, but I'll be doing the same thing during Christmas break which starts on Wednesday.

I am really enjoying the pastel pencils. Although I am a little frustrated by the limited set of 60 (the largest set the Faber Castell Pitt pencils come in). It is making me have to mix some interesting colors and is creating a bit more vibrant of a portrait than usual. I've decided to leave it that vibrant until closer to the end; then I can use complements to knock them back a bit if I choose. Or I may just like it being more colorful.

I'm working in the same method that I use for regular colored pencils. The differences seem to be that I can layer even more layers on the sanded paper (Fisher 400). The regular colored pencils eventually gum up and can turn a bit shiny in places. The pastel pencils just keep on going right over themselves without any changes in looks. I wonder if being used to having to limit my layers will be helpful with pastels? The other difference I noticed is that the end effect is "thicker" - that is the only way I can think to describe it. My husband doesn't like the different look in the finish, but I don't mind it at all. Actually I've always liked the way pastel paintings looked.
Click the image to see it larger
the actual size is 18" x 24"
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7 comments:

  1. Casey KlahnDecember 22, 2008 at 3:38 PM

    A little bell is ringing somewhere...as another artist takes up the heavenly medium.

    I'm excited to see your handling of these pencils. I also value my Derwent pastel pencils, esp. the indigo. They are a suitably low key color and indispensable. Three values of each color in their set.

    You were linked at my blog, today.

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  2. VedaDecember 23, 2008 at 7:03 AM

    love the way that hair pin is drawn ...looks so real!

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  3. AnonymousDecember 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM

    I love not just the hair pin but everything about your work. Looks so real and lively

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  4. JuliaDecember 24, 2008 at 12:11 AM

    I really like the vibrant colors!

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  5. "JeanneG"December 24, 2008 at 4:17 AM

    Do your girls complain about you drawing them? Nice job. I like the colorful look.

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  6. UnknownDecember 24, 2008 at 9:39 PM

    This is a sweet picture. And the hair clip just makes it. Now, do the pastel pencils move you into the pastel class, or could you still enter this as a pencil piece?

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  7. Assaf ShtilmanDecember 25, 2008 at 8:32 AM

    So beautiful! You make me want to try out some pastel pencils. I like the soft, fully blended look you get with them.

    ReplyDelete