30 August-September 2019 / http://www.outdoorpainter.com
Tobeginherdesignprocess,sheoftenusesthreeTombowmarkersto
quicklymakesmallnotansof hersubjectusingnomorethanfourvalues—
light,middle,dark,andthewhiteof thepaper.“Notanssimplifythescene
likea poster.They’reroadmapsthatenablemeto seethemainshapesand
howto organizethevaluesin supportof a dominantone.OnceI gothold
of thisideathroughpractice,I startedseeingtheworld,painting-wise,in
patternsof lightanddarkshapes.”
Naturally,Lordier’sartisticprocesshasevolvedovertime.Fora while,she
beganwitha monotoneunderpaintingof grayviolet#244NuPastel,washed
in withTurpenoidanda largehogbristlebrush.“ThenI gotadventurous,”
shequips,“usingPrussianblue#395instead.Atonepoint,I feltthatI was
relyingonunderpaintingas a crutch,so I painteddirectlyinstead.Recently,
I’vebeenusinga colorfield-typeunderpaintingto introducea bitmore
color,especiallyonlargerworks.It’snotforcolorharmony,though—it’s
donemoreto geta valuelaiddown.If I’mpaintinga bankof greentrees,
forexample,I’llwashin a bluegreenof mid-valueso I canoverpaintwith
mydarksandlights.Forthelightest colors, I’ll initially leave the tone of the
paper showing through.”(ABOVE)CopadeOroinAntelopeValley, 2019,pastel, 11 x 14in.,collec-
tiontheartist,pleinair•(LEFT) Bedecked in Gold, 2018, pastel, 12 x 12 in.,
private collection, plein air