Every year Pastel Journal Magazine publishes the winners of the Top 100 Pastel Competition, and it is always such a thrill to have one of your paintings selected, recognized, and published. This year, my pastel, Winter’s Glow won an Honorable Mention (by judge Doug Dawson) in the landscape category (April ’15 issue).
This painting, done during Atlanta’s big snowstorm, is a scene from my backyard.
Here are the progression photos, painted on Kitty Wallis Belgium Mist sanded paper.
Starting my underpainting with some warm tones.
I am working from a printed reference photo, my notan or value study, and my iPad (not shown) just to my left.
Painted over everything with alcohol to set it. Lost much of the vibrant color but no worries, will add it back.
adding color, just a very light coat
establishing value range
Winter’s Glow 12 x 16
It was the background sky that originally drew me to the scene. My intention was to play that up and show the interplay of the warmth of the sunlight against the coolness of the winter snow. Intentionally, I’m keeping everything else fairly simple to draw your eyes through the scene using the creek and shadow patterns to lead your eye up to the lit sky.
I was so happy to see this painting in the Pastel 100 issue. One of my all time favorites! Thank you for sharing the progress shots, also.