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Art For Sale - Saint Michael Miniature Pen and Ink Drawings
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Our Lady of Guadalupe, stippled ink on genuine sheep skin, a (finished) Work In Progress |
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Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Inc.
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Oil Pastel
A work in progress
"The Willow After The Storm"
| 14 inch x 11 inch stretched linen, acrylic primed |
| Sennelier Oil Pastels for majority of painting |
| Guitar Oil Pastels, Sakura Cray Pas Pastels, Caran d'Ache Oil Pastels used in various degrees/colors for parts of the initial under-drawing |
The tree in the painting is a Salix discolor (Pussy Willow) tree in my yard, and the light and light reflections on and around the tree seemed especially compelling after a snow storm. This was based on a storm in early January, and not on the recent very bad blizzard that hit us. A painting based on that would have paper that is completely white. :)
Initial drawing (Step 1) and two background layers - at 2 hours
Usually I prefer Sennelier Oil Pastel Card for oil pastels. However, I had an extra stretched canvas of linen (by Fredrix) and decided to use it for this drawing. Above, I have the initial drawing laid in as well as the major colors. From this point on I am developing and completing colors.
Due to the fact that oil pastels can be used to quickly complete a drawing, I won't list how long each stage below took. It took a total of 5 hours to get to the stage of step 8 shown below. When blending, I used my fingers, but paper stumps could also be used.
Step 2
In step 2, I further defined the color layout, defined the background trees a bit more, and filled in the canvas somewhat.
Step 3
In step 3, I intensified the colors in the background, and blended the foreground colors. I am working front to back (as in the depth of the painting) because the features furthest away will have the least detail.
Step 4
In step 4 I darkened and blended everything except the willow tree. The canvas weave is getting full so the softer the oil pastel, the more color that will be laid down.
Step 5
Step 5 is another step of intensifying. I am doing this because I know the layers will have white over them, and I want the hues of the underneath layers to be apparent.
Step 6
Step 6 is more blending, and an overall addition of blues.
Step 7
Step 7 is one where I start to add the look of snow. To avoid a stagnant painting, I use different stroke directions in certain areas.
Step 8
Step 8 shows the painting almost complete. The oil pastels are fairly soft from my working on them. Oil pastels never harden completely, but they do get a little stiffer the more they sit. The painting at this stage needs to sit a bit, and then I will come back to tighten any areas that need it, to perhaps blend the snow on and under the far trees a bit, and to add some fresh whites and accents to the willow tree and the foreground. I will probably also do this same subject as it would be in warm weather, as the more intense hues before I added the snow would make a nice vibrant pastel painting.
Step 8 detail
Step 9 shows the finished painting. I had waited to receive certain colors I had ordered before finishing it. I have intensified the pink on the ground and added some to the tree. I have added turquoise to the background and the upper rear trees. And lastly I added some more white highlights and a few strokes of a color called "Red Gold" by Sennelier. It is a metallic color with a red undercolor and is very nice for jazzing up the finished painting.
Thank you for viewing this!