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Friday, October 17, 2008

Not Always a Mess (Colored Pencil a la Leslie)

I have posted here and received comments about how a painting goes through an "ugly" stage when I am doing an acrylic or pastel. Joanna is amazed that the messy stage turns from the "ugly duckling" into a nice/beautiful painting. In general, I think this is true of most paintings. You can see the process on this demo of the apple pastel, "Goin' Red".

Ugly stage evolving to the finish.


Finish
Goin' Red
Pastel, 8 x 10 inches


Well, Leslie D'Allesandro Hawes' colored pencil doesn't fit into this general process. Her drawings look good from the get-go. She is so organized and neat about her work. I am in awe at the process she uses. You will be amazed, too. She inspires me to try colored pencil. Pop over and take a look at this post of Leslie's with a work in progress, Autumn Hummocks. You can go from there to some other instruction on her site. Have fun!

Don't forget to come back here for another visit. :)

14 comments:

Regina Calton Burchett said...

This looks great, Jo - I remember these apples. Very yummy - and it is strange how we often start out with a mess in pastels. I think pencils just don't allow that.

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo!
I just learned something...I had no idea that there was that much work that happened underneath a pastel!
I thought it was more of an alla prima sort of process.

What a generous link to my Autumn Hummocks. Hugs are in order. xoxo

As for organized and neat...it's all smoke and mirrors!

Joan said...

I agree that most paintings go thru an ugly stage and then just a bit more makes them look so different!! This is lovely...great rich colors!!!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Jo: Amazing, I would have thought you start with the red cloth and built from there.

Jo Castillo said...

Hi Regina, you are probably right. Colored pencil on the Pastelbord seems to allow layers where you can put a lighter color over a dark. But otherwise it requires a definite plan, right? I don't do CP often. Thanks.

Jo Castillo said...

Leslie, Smoke and mirrors?? Your work is so beautiful and comes from your patience and planning. They end up looking effortless and fresh.

Thanks for coming over to check. :)

((Hugs, back.))

Jo Castillo said...

Joan, thank you. Your rich and beautiful watercolors require patience, too. Therefore, I do pastels, pen and ink and acrylics. :)

Jo Castillo said...

fishing guy, thank you for stopping by to check out the apples and Leslie's work.

Jo Castillo said...

fishing guy, I am always happy to share the "secrets". :)

A Colorful World said...

You're "Goin' Red" is luscious!!!

Jo Castillo said...

Thank you, Tile Lady. They were in Silver City, NM, and were delicious to eat as well. :) Yummmm. Just a little green and crisp.

Bag Blog said...

Your apples are great. Showing the "messy stages" is interesting and a good lesson. Sometimes I have to talk my students into "finishing" a piece of art. They get frustrated that it does not look "right" and want to quit. They tease me about not letting them quit, but I think it is important to work through the problems. Sometimes it does not work out in the end, but most of the time it does, and they are proud of their finished piece.

Sylvia Jenstad said...

Wow... amazing... very cool ... love your apples...

Jo Castillo said...

Sylvia, thanks. You have a cool apple in your show, good luck!


About Me

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Bastrop, Texas, United States
I Grew up in a small town , Magdalena, New Mexico. I enjoy art and the pleasure other people get from my work. I always donate some of my sales and art to charities, especially for children. That started in Bolivia with Para los NiƱos. "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns." -- Winston Churchill

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