Edison Slough

My entry is entitled “Edison Slough”. It is a realistic rendering in pastel of the slough and its surroundings behind the main street of Edison, WA one winter afternoon at mid-tide. I visit this spot quite often and am always surprised by the width of variation of color, shapes and atmosphere, depending on season, weather patterns, time of day and tide height.
I prepped for this painting by taking some digital pics in both color and in black and white. Back in the studio I transferred what I saw in the photos and remembered from being there to a thumbnail value sketch which I used as a map when I once again transferred the design, proportionately, to a final resting place on a sheet of Sennellier Naples Yellow 11x15” sanded paper. Because the paper was already tinted I used no underpainting.
I decided to use local color starting with the sky area and following with the darkest dark area. The other values fit in somewhere between the lightest light and darkest dark. I kept one eye on my value map and the other on the painting to help me make sure I was getting the values down right.
I started with my hard pastels, using a light touch, and adjusting colors and intensities by using different levels of pressure, layering in more color where needed and generally using softer pastels in mid-process. I paid attention to edges, color harmony, variation in mark-making, register of light and consistency in light direction and shadow placement.
Stepping back from my painting every so often helped me to see the painting as a whole and to notice where adjustments needed to be made in shape, texture and intensity of color in order to bring coherence to the work. At that point I was free this o tighten and loosen areas and edges and to add details near the center of focus as I saw fit. I used whatever it took to improve the rendering, using the delicious, soft pastels as final touches and trying not to noodle too much. When I sensed the painting was done I put it away for a day, then gave it a fresh eye again. I made any necessary adjusts, enjoyed the warm, tingling feeling of accomplishment, signed the finished painting with a pastel pencil as if to say: The End!! Soon I’m off to the next thing, place or idea - Is the word “painting” a noun or a verb or is it used to describe something? So, an adjective then? That from an old English teacher, who’s an artist as well.

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Pastel Brand(s) Used

Pastel Paper Used