Sunset Over The Wetlands: Daily Painting; 07-23-2011

Sunburns, Wetlands, and Painting The Big Blue Sky



The Big Blue Sky
Pastel on Canson's pastel paper
9" x 12"



I got sunburned on my face, hands, and feet doing this pastel painting. I forgot to take sunblock and my big straw hat.

On the bright side (pun intended) I found a new place for finding motifs--interesting and beautiful places to paint: to the west of downtown Eugene Oregon are wetlands and wildlife refuges. I can even get there by bike because the bike trail runs all the way through these beautiful areas.

Next time I go there I will go closer to sunset and not again at mid-day.

Painting On Sandpaper!

I painted this 5 1/2" X 7" pastel painting on sandpaper.

However, this isn't the kind of sandpaper you will find in shop class, this is the kind you will find in art class.

I have been in the University of Oregon's bookstore way too much lately: downstairs where they keep all the art supplies; spending money--ouch!

However, becoming a pastel painter means buying the necessary supplies and making new and exciting discoveries: like this UArt brand, acid free, premium, sanded pastel paper. It comes in 400, 500, 600, and 800 grade--which tells us how much tooth the paper has. The higher the number the finer the grit on the sandpaper.

The reason why it is for artists rather than carpenters is because this stuff is acid free and very high quality. The reason pastel painters use it is because the tooth of the paper holds a lot of pastel and consequently the pastel doesn't want to go anywhere else but on the surface of the paper. It is very happy there and I was happy to make a new discovery--yea!