The Artist’s Magazine – October 2019

30 Artists Magazine October 2019

Build LESSON

CHANGEREWARDED

I’mconfidentthatbothpaintings

havedonebetterthanmyoriginal

compositionevercouldhave.The

PastelSocietyofAmericaselected

Kissforthe 2018 BillCreevyAward

forPastelInnovation.Then,earlier

thisyear,bothKissandLooking

Through(above)appearedinthe

108thGoldMedalExhibitionof

theCaliforniaArtClub—ahighly

competitivejuriedshowheldinthe

formerlocationofthePasadena

MuseumofCaliforniaArt.

Makinga radicalchangemidway

througha paintingtakescourageand

patience,butknowingyou’vegoneall

outtoproducethebestworkpossible

makestheeffortworthwhile.

Sally Strand is an award-winning pastel

artist and workshop leader based in

California. Visit her website at

sallystrand.com.

4

And so I have a second painting—Looking Through (pastel on paper, 10x8). I like

how the abstract shapes of complementary-colored towels frame the child’s face.

WHAT’STHE

PROBLEM?

Afterworkingon

a paintingforsome

time,seeingwhat

you’redoingcan

becomedifficult.For

a freshlook,trythe

following:

• Turnthepainting
  upsidedownor
  viewit ina mirror.
  Trya dustymirror
  toreducedetail.


• Relocatethe
  work.Hangit
  whereyou’llcatch
  glimpsesofit when
  walkingby.


• Puttheworkaway
  andstartanother.
  Later,returntothe
  “problem”painting.


• Photographyour
  painting.Look
  atit invarious
  ways—small,
  black-and-white,
  outoffocus(tosee
  largeshapesand
  composition).

Youcanalsoprint

a photoandapply

pastelorpaintto

trychanges.Ortry

changesdirectlyon

yourpainting:

• Makebigger
  shapesoutof
  smalleronesfor
  moreimpact.


• Reducethevalue
  range.Threetofive
  valuesand/orvalue
  massesisgood.


• Maketangential
  shapesoverlapor
  putmorespace
  betweenthem.