Monday, November 14, 2011
Studio Work Area Panorama
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Frances' Boys Pastel #3
pastel on pastelmat
private collection
actual size 18"X22"
http://www.djfitzgerald.com
.....
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Frances' Boys Pastel #2
pastel on Clairefontaine Pastelmat
private collection
actual size 18"X22"
www.djfitzgerald.com
Coming along nicely.... This paper does take some getting used to. The pastel just looks different on it. And I am finding that with the horses, I tend to use more of my pastel pencils.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Frances' Boys Pastel #1
private collection
actual size 18"X22"
http://www.djfitzgerald.com
This is another pastel progression that I am doing on Clairfontaine pastelmat. The size is 18"X22". I actually started this one on a piece of velour board. But I so enjoyed my last project on the pastelmat, that I started this one over on the other sheet that I had unfortunately dry mounted... evidently a big NO NO! I just got an order of 5 large sheets of the pastelmat after I had already started this piece. The other wonderful thing about this paper is that it comes in a larger size 29"X40"! I have a portrait commission coming up soon for 6 horses! I will need that larger size! This is also the first time I have worked on a surface this dark. I had to use a white pastel pencil for the drawing. I will have to get a white lead pencil... the pastel is just a little too soft for drawing details.
Oh, and the Frances of "Frances' Boys Pastel" is the women riding the horse in the oil painting in the header of my blog!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Susie, Uranda, & Stella #8
pastel on pastelmat
private collection
actual size 19"X26"
http://www,djfitzgerald.com
It is done. Have have shown it to the client and they ordered a giclee! Very happy about this! I was kind of nervous because of the new paper and having so many photos to work from. The photo of Susie was taken 2 years ago with a different horse and dog. They decides to change both the horse and dog! I took the photos of the Uranda last march. And Stella was from a photo Susie took from her cell phone! They tragically lost Stella and she really wanted to have her in it. Luckily it all worked out! I love it when it all comes together! I really enjoyed this paper although it took some time to get used to. I am looking forward to doing another project on it without dry mounting. Hoping I will like it that much more! I think I ended up with a layer or two less by dry mounting it. I have sprayed it with fix and banged it around a little to make sure that the pastel is not going to fall off!!! It does smudge quite easily though. Actually as I am typing this I see something I need to touch up... the pine straw under the pine trees on the right needs to be toned down some! :)
Friday, November 4, 2011
Susie, Uranda & Stella #7
pastel on pastelmat
private collection
actual size 19"X26"
www,djfitzgerald.com
Almost there... I still have to go back and work on Uranda's coloring... I have her a little too red. And of course I have to do Stella and the shank. I think I also want to tuck in Susie's shirt a bit more... I already did some in the front... maybe a little more in the back. Also need to work on the grass and shadows.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Susie, Uranda & Stella #6
pastel on pastelmat
private collection
actual size 19"X26"
http://www,djfitzgerald.com
Working on Uranda... it is a little rough right now... just takes time and lots of pastel to get the richness I want in her coat. Horses in shadow are really difficult. It is very easy to get flat. Shadows are so many different colors and they are all very subtle.