Like a Sunset

Yeah those clouds are real. Perhaps the most stunning sunset I've ever seen!

Sun Bathing Rocks

When its cold out, the rocks like to bath in the warming rays of the rising sun.

Oh Hello Sunlight

Last fall, I was driving down the free-way early one morning when I passed this scene. Glow trees, glow!

Forgot My Camera

So I got to go skiing yesterday! It was excellent. Fresh powder, clean air, and fun! My only complaint is that I forgot my camera. Clouds and fog filled the valley floor, but at the peak it was crystal clear with bright sunshine. Looking down from the top, the world looked like a sea of clouds. I nearly crashed a couple of times because I was distracted by the beauty of it all. The above image is my attempt at recreating from memory what everything looked like. Also, this is the first time I've used my tablet in about a week. Oh tablet, I missed thee!

One More Pastel Painting

This is another soft pastel painting. This one will join the other in being framed and hung in the gallery. The only thing I love more than looking at red rocks is painting them!

Step 3: Details and Edges

The last step takes the longest. Finishing up details and edges can make or break a painting. I'd say this painting is about 95% done. At this point, my eyes are too accustomed to looking at this picture. I'll revisit it in a couple of days with fresh eyes in order to fix any problems. But I decided to post this today since I said I would have it posted two days ago... yeah, life got busy. Anyways, I'm pleased with where this is going and I can't wait to get it finished, framed, and hung in the gallery.

Step 2: Some Color

Now in Technicolor! Today involved laying down some color. Basically I'm just trying to block in major shapes. I got a little carried away in some places and put too much detail too soon. Oh well. I just get so excited! With pastels its best to lay down mid-tones and then add highlights.

The fore-ground could use some resolution... More tomorrow or Saturday!

Step 1: Value Study

Behold! I paint landscapes in soft pastels. Yep, I'm granola. Mostly I like to paint them on-site or "En Plein Air", which is French for "in the open air". Anyways, it's really cold outside and snowing so I'm painting from a photograph. The location: Kolob Canyons. It's part of Zion National Park in southern Utah. Its BEAUTIFUL! Google it, I dare you.

I like to start my paintings with a basic layout sketch and value study. From there, the rest is just coloring within the lines. I use "Belgium mist" toned Wallis paper. It's basically a big sheet of sandpaper and it's awesome! For sketching I use Nu-Pastel. And for the coloring I stick with Rembrandt and Sennelier brand soft pastels.

I'm going to finish this by Saturday, so you'll see updates daily ( I hope!)