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Monday, August 24, 2009

Finish of Road House, Pastel Plein Air

I worked on this pastel of the house in the valley near here. Of course I changed the house to start with as it was a trailer. I now changed the house as it was very out of proportion to the trees. I added a few more little trees to the foreground and fixed the aspens a little, they were clumped into what looked like a flower from across the room. I also made the back mountains more blue to push them back.

I'm not sure if this improved the painting. I like it better. Does that mean it is not a plein air painting now? It is pastel on Pastelbord, 11 x 14 inches.

Here is the uncorrected photo. I like the painting lighter in value like this, but it isn't the way I painted it. If I had painted the back lighter it would move it back in the painting and give it more depth. Then I could leave the foreground darker, bringing it forward. I learn something with every new painting.

Here is the untouched reference photo of the scene. Maybe next time I will paint the trailer and the old cars.

I worked on this Friday out in the valley. Didn't make the changes until Saturday and didn't take a photograph of the finish until yesterday. I was waiting for sunshine for the photo. I have mentioned that I like to take photos of pastel paintings in the direct sunlight. They require very little manipulating with Photoshop that way. Sometimes all I have to do is make them smaller. I had to work with this one, anyway. I think it is has something to do with the large amount of blue and red.

6 comments:

Joanna said...

I like the more intense colors, myself.

Jo Castillo said...

Thanks, Joanna. I like them, too. I guess that is why I paint like I do. :)

Susan Abston Wiley said...

I really like, and learn from, the way you explain how you made your choices of what to change, edit out, etc. And I love the fall feel of the painting; your colors are so very vivid.

On another note, we were able to sit out on our porch for coffee this AM, so cooler weather is coming and you will be able to return to TX soon!

Jo Castillo said...

Hi Susan (Sue), I appreciate your thoughts. Talking through my process seems to help me learn. I think teaching is a great way to learn. Whenever someone asks why I do something, I realize how much I do know. Then I try applying it and find I don't know something else. Ha.

Roger Seddon said...

Hello again Jo. You know, I like both versions but on balance. if I had to decide berween the two I would opt for the lighter toned version. In my opinion it remains a plein air painting despite you having reworked and finished it away from location. Surely, that is all part of the process and precisely what Monet and others did in practice. Best wishes Roger

Jo Castillo said...

Roger, nice to see you again. Thank you for the comments. I have really enjoyed seeing your landscapes and the differences in the terrain. It is easy to get addicted to painting outside isn't it?


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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