Busying Around Ready to Paint a Big Massive Hare!

That’s it! I’ve decided to really go outside my painting size comfort zone.

Now “big” to me is A3 as I am usually an 8×10 inch kind of girl. Also I can’t go bigger than A3 as my scanner won’t take it and I want to be able to scan my artwork and make cards and possible prints in the future.

The reason - this absolutely gorgeous Indian Hare.

My latest muse - a glorious Indian Hare

My latest muse - a glorious Indian Hare

I purchased her image from a royalty free site along with 4 others yesterday - blowing £30 but so worth it don’t you think?

These are th eother hare images I bought - so excited to use these in future works...

These are the other hare images I bought - so excited to use these in future works…

I printed her this morning - she slurped up a tonne of ink but I don’t care! I want to see large details…

Hare printing this morning

Hare printing this morning

Lately I have been painting a few hares for a client and so I am in hare “groove”.

A recent hare commission in watercolour 11x14 inches

A recent hare commission in watercolour 11×14 inches

The thing is - now I have her printed and ready to go and feel I want to do her in pastel and not watercolour I have realised that I am short of yellow pastels….Oh dear - well - any excuse to go and buy a nice new set of the fabulous Unison soft pastels to complement my stash so far:)

I love drawing in graphite, carbon and painting portraits in soft pastels. This is my drawing gear.

I love drawing in graphite, carbon and painting portraits in soft pastels. This is my drawing gear.

Unison are the best pastels if you ask me - the way they handle, the shape of them and their colour richness is amazing.

I will be painting this hare on Art Spectrum Colourfix Pastel Paper in sand - a divine and fine yet gritty surface that accepts soft pastel like a dream.

Now I just have to get myself all set up as I had put all my pastels away after having a painting day with 3 lovely ladies this week.

My large reference photo - on wall and ready to roll!

My large reference photo - on wall and ready to roll!

Watch this space:)

Playing about with pastel - an adobe building on Canyon Road, Sante Fe

"Adobe Bloom"

“Adobe Bloom”

Years ago in 2005 I went on a 3 month trip of the USA. Trip of a lifetime it was and I took so many photos on days spent wandering the 4 corner states.

This is one of them.

A pinkish peach adobe dwelling calling to me on Canyon Road, Sante Fe

A pinkish peach adobe dwelling calling to me on Canyon Road, Sante Fe

 

Heading back from a long hike to Bear Canyon the sun was setting and just casting flecks of light on this dwelling. An old adobe building - peachy cream in the sun framed by cool and dark vegetation. I had to paint it.

I am using Art Spectrum Colourfix sand paper and Unison Pastels.

My fave pastels of all UNISON

My fave pastels of all UNISON

Please see the photos below and click on them to bring the image up big:)

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Here is the final result in a virtual frame (sorry its a bit out of proportion!)

Overall I feel the painting is a bit clunky, lacks coherence and wasn’t planned very well. I rushed it as I was so excited to play with luscious colour. I will no doubt have another more measured, thoughtful go at it when I am calmer! I just had to go at it like a bull at a gate to get it out of my system.

"Adobe Bloom"

“Adobe Bloom”