Lilly #11

Lilly #11, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

www.djfitzgerald.com
www.facebook.com/D.J.Fitzgerald.Art

Lilly #10

Lilly #10, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

http://www.djfitzgerald.com
http://www.facebook.com/D.J.Fitzgerald.Art

Moving right along... sometimes this part seems to take forever... especially a dark brown horse without highlights and shadows from the sun. I generally like photos of dark animals without bright sun... the color is richer. With sun you get very light highlights with very dark shadowed areas. Slightly over cast is good.... but I think is harder to recreate in a portrait. Shadows and highlights just by their shape can give a subject its volume and definition. Without them, you must rely on color and much more subtle highlights and shadows. Much harder and more time consuming to do. But in the end, I think it makes for a beautiful portrait!

Lilly #9

Lilly #9, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

http://www.djfitzgerald.com
http://www.facebook.com/D.J.Fitzgerald.Art

Moving along... sorry it is taking me a while to post here. It just takes me a while to get back into a routine when I get back from a trip. Not to mention my computer has been at the computer hospital for some work! And I hate working off my laptop. Plus the husband has been on vacation.... hard to work when your partner is playing! But, I have a lot of work to get back to especially with the holidays creeping upon us!

Lily #8

Lily #8, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on Clairefontaine PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

www.djfitzgerald.com
www.facebook.com.D.J.Fitzgerald.Art

I decided to add a photo taken when I am just starting an area. I tend to work small areas at a time then go back and pull them all together. I start by working in the dark areas. Here I am using a dark neutral gray from Schmincke. It is a great color, but very soft. I only use it in the first layer... it tends to want to gunk up the paper so I can't add more layers. But I put it down and the use the sponge handled tools to blend it in. Then I can go over it with the harder pastel.

Lily #7

Lily #7, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

www.djfitzgerald.com
www.facebook.com/D.J.Fitzgerald.Art

This is as far as I got before my trip... I always seem to underestimate my time and all that I have to do before I go on one of my excursions! I was up at a horse show in Raleigh, N.C., and visiting relatives. The weather was good for one day. Gray, gloomy, and cold the next 2! Oh well.... I did manage to pick up 5 commissions. Although I may have to reshoot some of the photos this spring... I usually make an appearance at a horse show the end of april in Aiken, S.C..   There is a silent auction for Danny and Ron's Rescue, and I donate a small commission to their cause. I have several people that want to do commissions... just have to get the time and weather right! I will be going back to Raleigh for a couple and also Wilmington, N.C., and Camden, S.C.,for a few. Should be a good trip. But, now I have to get back to work on Lily!!

Lily #6

Lily #6, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

http://www.djfitzgerald.com
http://www.facebook.com/D.J.Fitzgerald.Art

#6.... I am liking the way Lily is coming out here.... but she is taking longer than I thought she would (that seems to happen a lot these days!) I was suppose to have her done for my trip up to Raleigh... I do not think it is going to happen at this point. I will work on it as long as I can. But I have to get ready for my trip too......

Lily #5

Lily #5, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

http://www.djfitzgerald.com
http://www.facebook.com/D.J.Fitzgerald.Art


Just getting into Lily! Lots of purples and blues in her. Dark horses are always a special challenge for me... it is a lot of work to get them rich but not flat black. I like the blacks to have lots of details.

Lily #4

Lily #4, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26

I am going to skip #3... not really much difference from #2. The back ground is pretty much done. Now on to Lily. I am very happy with the way the bg looks at this point...

Lily #2

Lily #2, originally uploaded by debifitz.

pastel on PastelMat
private collection
19"X26"

A little farther along with the back ground... I have brought the trees and leaves forward in the back ground by giving the illusion of more detail and brighter colors. Of course this could all change by the end of the portrait... it all depends on how the back ground relates to the subject. I want it to compliment my subject, not be a distraction.