Tears, Fears & Smears

[Val]

As an afterthought, if you are thinking of trying it.... you could get a lighter grit paper, 600 or even 800 grit if you are doing fine detail.

[RebecaM]

Thank you for telling me, Val. The lightest paper I've managed to find was 320 grit, maybe I'll use it for less detailed work.

[Val]

Fun time is over and time to get back to work. I think after the frog I'm ready for a challenge!
This time it is (  ) a Monet. (  ) seriously! Maybe I'll sit my little frog on the lilies! 

[Val]

I have finished my colour charts for the soft pastels, except for the pencils     I'll get to them later.      I want to play!   

Will take photos of the charts and post them, simply delicious!!!  No, I didn't eat any......        

[Sacgal/Sharon]

[Val]

Well, I had a go at "bettering" two of my previous pastels yesterday..... buggered them both! The background of my lovely frog is a horrendous pile of mud, and sadly, Byron's house is a write-off. Oh well, now I get to do them both again!       

I have all of my pastels (sort of) sorted, so I am beginning one of Dennis' lessons. The drawing is underway as we speak.... I should have done a tracing.... as usual, my freehand tends to get away from me and it is now bigger than my biggest paper!      We'll just have to see how much I can fit on!     

Details

[dennis]

 

[Sacgal/Sharon]

Always a funny adventure, Val!!! 

[Val]

I may still be able to salvage something of Byron's house.... even after Hurricane Val blew it to kingdom come!  I'll do it again for him anyway.

I'm going to try brushing as much of the pastel off of the frog's background and see if that is repairable. Apparently that is possible! We'll see how I make out with that one.

Anywho.... I started on my lesson with Dennis this morning, managed to get it transferred and halfway through the sky before the rain hit again and had to pack everything back inside. Thought I would give you a boo at my setup. I'm thrilled with it, but my lightweight tripod isn't strong enough to hold the box and allow me to work. Now I'll have to dig and see if I still have my old bullet proof one. 

Here is my box set up with the protective covers on the pastels.

Details

Here it is with my pastels sort of sorted  so far.

Details

[MaryAnne Long]

Val

Cool set up, but it still doesn't entice me to take up pastels.

aloha

mea

[Val]

I'm glad we don't all take to the same things, it would make life pretty boring. Once I got my grubby paws on even the less expensive brands I was hooked! I love the brilliance of the colours and the feel of them laying down across the paper. I get the same sort of rush with w/c and pencil....but not with this intensity!  I can't see me doing another painting with just pastel pencils, but one never knows. So many different papers I can't wait to have a go at as well       

[dennis]

Looks fabulous. Happy painting 

[Val]

Thank you Dennis, I love this box as it fits into my art rucksack beautifully along with my paper and a few hard pastels, and various paraphernalia. I'll have to make a strap to carry the heavier tripod, but I think I'll most likely just use it on my lap for my first few outings.

[lynn p.]

Hi Val.  Looks like you are ready to go for plein air!!! I didn't know you had a Heilman box with easel.  I have this same set up.  I found it a bit wobbly but it works.  I went back to my Julian easel and just set my pastels on the top.  I go plein air painting tomorrow and will photo my set up.  I am so thrilled you are loving pastels.  Aren't they just grand!!!  What kind are those.  They don't exactly look like Terry Ludwigs?

[Val]

  It's a great box, and it got all of the loose pastels back safely. I think I have a bit of everything in there, in order to make as many colours as possible fit, I broke them in half. It's a combination of new as well as used pastels.
Brands: Terry Ludwig, Sennelier, Unison, a few Rembrandt, a couple of Richeson, a few other brands you gave me (memory lapse  ), AND some Schmincke! Quite a mishmash, but I'm already finding there are some I like better than others. I can't thank you enough for your help in starting me off.     

I understand what you are saying about it being a bit wobbly. The tripod in the photo is a very lightweight one (which has seen better days), I have a much stronger, heavier aluminum one that I will have to dig out. Sadly it may be some time before I get a chance to go plein air as we are now in the height of the rainy season. Sometimes pours for days straight, and better days are still mostly light rain with occasional torrential downpours. A few more weeks will hopefully see us clear of it.

I look forward to seeing your plein air setup. I am keeping watch on your website as well!