It's been so long since I've posted here! I have been working hard teaching at my business, plus have gotten out of the habit of posting. Here are five new small still lifes, all available in my Etsy Shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TarynDayStudio?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1233741458
I've been messing about with this pastel still life set up on the floor of my studio, and although I felt excited at the start, my interest petered out. I just want to be out in the forest drawing mushrooms (I've been working often in my nature journal). Thought I'd post it anyhow, even if I never finish it.
pastel on pastelbord 6"x9"
I'm continuing to try and teach myself pastels. My likes and frustrations are probably the same as other artists who struggle with the medium after being comfortable with using oils. I'm entranced by the texture, and the way areas can be left showing either lots of pastel strokes or else easily blended softness. I'm frustrated at not always having the exact colors I need (I have a somewhat small supply), as sometimes only a pure color is what is needed.
This drawing took me two weeks, and is larger than I normally work. An oil this size would have taken me at least a month. So that's a plus. A minus is the way the dark colors of the background would rain down on the squash whenever I worked back there. And that I can't spray it!! I did purchase some expensive fixitive made specially for pastels and tried it on something else- it darkens and dulls the colors just like any other fixitive.
