Geranium, Pastel Floral at Regina's

A geranium pastel floral painted from a real setup completed for a change. Yesterday was my second painting day in a week with a good friend pastelist. Wow! Is that great or what? I went to Regina Burchett's new studio and we painted her geraniums that she had just brought home. The plant was big , full and beautiful. We both painted in pastels. It is always interesting to see the difference when two or more artists paint the same subject.


This was the setup. You get a very tiny peek at the studio.



We both started on Colourfix pastel card, gray,9 x 12 inches. No under painting. This is probably about 30 minutes into the painting. No drawing.


Developing the flowers and color. Establishing the direction of light, we did not use a floodlight.




I changed the pot from green to brass. It seemed to fit better with the tablecloth and background.

I added some very bright highlights around the main flower. I want to highlight the flowers a little more, I didn't have some of the softest pastels with me for that. I just took my box of Rembrandts and a few Nupastels and dark Unisons. I may work on the outer shape of the plant as well, it is pretty uniform and will be more interesting with different negative shapes. I will post that in the next few days. (Tomorrow is golf and baseball -- no painting.)

Here is the almost final of the paintings. Interesting, right? Mine went toward the warm side and Regina's is cooler. Maybe that is from standing on different sides and having the light hit the flowers differently. It is also how we are different and make different decisions in our work. I love that.

I picked up lattes on the way (sorry Gene) and Regina furnished lunch (thanks Regina). We had a great visit and always learn from each other. She is going to be in Lockhart, Texas, tomorrow afternoon and Saturday for the spring festival, The Rites of Spring. Stop by and check out her work in person at her booth. Her booth has a sign "Fall Shadows". Hope to see you there!