Pastel Journal - USA (2019-09)

Step 1: Using a linear

approach with a light

touch, I first apply Terry

Ludwig pastels, loosely

outlining the figures.

Then, concentrating

on the faces, I put a

cool base of violet in

the shadows. I like to

establish strong darks in

a composition early, as

evidenced by the place-

ment of dark green and

burnt sienna.

Step 2: Paying close

attention to color value

and temperature, I add

more linear strokes in

green and violet to the

heads, and I use side

strokes to establish cloth-

ing and background.

Step 3: I introduce

more light warmth and

saturated colors to the

faces, arms, my wife’s

hair, and to accentuate

our daughter’s light hair

against the dark foliage.

I use cerulean blue to

accentuate the light on

my wife’s blouse, and

I suggest patterning on

our daughter’s dress.

Step 4: I finish skin tones

and push color tem-

peratures, being very

conscious of the coolness

in the shadows on that

warmly lit sunny day.

In the darkest parts of

the shadows, I turn the

temperature back to

warm to avoid dark, cold

“holes”inthepainting.

I addlinearstrokesinand

aroundhairandclothing.

Infavorofretainingthe

freshnessandspontane-

ityakintoworkingfrom

life,I’mcautiousnotto

overworkanypartof

WithMom(24x16).PJ

demonstration With Mom

1

3

2

4

“I’M CONSTANTLY TRYING TO SIMPLIFY WHAT I’M OBSERVING,

AND CONSIDER VALUE AND COLOR TEMPERATURE

TO BE KEY COMPONENTS IN MY WORK.”

28 Pastel Journal OCTOBER 2019