Going Exploring!

I've completed a series of seven oil sketches of water lilies and the pond, and while these images are 'sifting' and germinating within, I'm going outside for something completely new and different- backpacking! I've learned that I often need to allow images from plein air (on location) sketches to 'rest' a while, to process within me, so that something with a sense of wholeness and depth can emerge in new works which derive from the sketches. It's kind of mysterious, and something that I can't force, but know that I need to allow. I'm excited by the images which are underway, and am looking forward to seeing how they come together.

Meanwhile, I'm going out to explore woods and streams where Ive never been, looking forward to the physical challenges of up and down miles, and discovering what I don't yet know to look for! I'm taking a little sketchbook along too.

Water Lilies

I've made several excursions to a nearby spring-fed pond appreciating and studying water lilies. On site, I'm struck by so many aspects that appeal to me- color, rhythm, reflections, and shapes (from the details of each lily to the pond as a whole). Most of all, I'm enthralled with the way these elements inter-relate in a very fulfilling whole, and am searching for ways to express this rich and complex balance. I started with pencil sketches on site, and am now working on oil sketches in the studio, searching out ways of expressing these patterns and connections. I'll post images as they come along.

With and Without Wash

No Wash

With Wash

O.k.- so here they are- both paintings are photographed in the same light so that they are directly comparable. I'd love to hear from viewers about impressions and observations about the look and feel, similarities and differences, between the two paintings. If the 'comments' button doesn't work, you can send your comments to my email (alice@alicekelsey.com) and I'll post them. What do you see?

By the way, the difficulty which I experienced in comparing the images the first time that I posted them (see June 2 blog entry) in the end was a helpful reminder about how lighting affects the colors in photograph of a painting- comparing the Wash painting in this entry (photographed with halogen 'daylight' bulbs) and the previous entry (studio sunlight and daylight florescent lighting) shows profoundly different colors. The real painting looks like the photo above.

Readers Relay Impressions About Wash Technique

There seems to be a temporary glitch with posting comments to the blog site, so in the interim, I'll add readers' comments as a new post. Here's some impressions which readers have shared, and I really enjoy hearing your observations!

A reader from CO reminded me to follow up the "To Wash or Not to Wash- That is the Question" post from April with this comment:

"How fascinating the question of using a wash or not - where are the results? Now you've got me curious... "



So then I posted an update with photos (see last post), then received these comments:

A Reader from CA says:

"I think there is a very pronounced difference between the washed and unwashed pieces.  

You must have used different colors in the composition, or else the lighting for the photos is very different.  The washed piece is much more yellow and bright, in the photo looks like an early (~9am) spring or summer morning with the ground mist still slightly hanging in the air.  There is bright light on the water and on the ground through the trees.  The leaves on the trees are not distinct.  The lighter green on the foliage to the left suggests spring.  

The un-washed piece has a very different feel.  The colors run more to the grey and blue.  The water appears lower (the rocks are more distinct) and reflects a deeper brown.  One can see the blue-grey sky through the patches of leaves--is that "holey" look what happens when you rub the pastel across rough paper lightly?  I assume you could get that look on washed paper also?  This looks more like Fall.  It also looks more like what I have seen of pastels at shows, whereas the washed piece looks more like a watercolor.

Did you apply more pastel on the washed piece after doing the wash?  It doesn't look like you did.  BTW, how long does it take the mineral spirits to dry?

I like both pieces.

Keep up the blog, this is fun and interesting to read. 

 

Here's my reply:

Thanks for your comments! I'm having fun sharing the steps along the way to finished pieces, and appreciate your artistic eye and observations!

 

I share your views about the 'holey' look of the unwashed piece, and the 'watercolor look' of the washed piece- and this trade-off is the core of my struggle with 'to wash or not to wash'. I really like the feeling of light and atmosphere which comes with letting some of the paper show through (the 'holey look' with no wash, and the dry pastel stick dragged lightly over the surface allowing skip areas as you guessed). However, I also like the semi-translucent look, and sense of quiet wholeness which can be made with a wash ('watercolor look'). So, a lot depends on the mood which I want in the finished piece.

 

The color differences which you described relate a lot to the difference in lighting while photographing. I'll take another photo that puts the pieces in the same light, and post it to allow better comparison. I did not apply additional pastel on top of the wash, but am thinking about doing that (as I often do). Maybe I'll continue the experiment, and let you know how that goes too.

 

 

Another West Coast reader relays: "The top photo pictures a painting that to me resembles a snow scene. On my computer screen ,it looks like a sepia print."

 

I think that I will continue the exploration by photographing the wash painting in the same lighting as the other, and then carry it onward by adding more dry pastel for richer color and texture, and see what happens- will this enrichen it, or lose the quiet understated wholeness of the semi-transparent wash? I'll share what happens in a future post!

 

What About the Wash?

Last month I posted my exploration about the pros and cons of using a wash technique with pastel, and  a viewer's comment reminded me to add an update about what I found. The top image below was made with a wash underpainting (pastel liquified with mineral spirits), and the bottom was created without this step (just dry pastel). The images were taken in different light, and are not directly comparable, but hopefully will nevertheless show some of the different qualities related to technique. I'd be interested in hearing about what viewers see and if there are differences in 'feel' or mood between the two images. I'll post my own perceptions tomorrow. Please let me know what you see!