Pastel a la Bob Ross

 If you are a Bob Ross fanatic like I have always been, you need to check this out.  It is so much fun.

Following a Bob Ross Painting Tutorial But with Soft Pastels by Unmask Art

https://youtu.be/fmo1CNimpUc

It is only about 6 minutes long.  I've got to try this, maybe tomorrow,  so need to go to Bob Ross' page.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bob+ross+videos

I did a lot of Bob Ross Watching as a beginning artist.  Then I used the VHS tapes to fall asleep, he had such a soothing voice and manner.  He inspired so many of us to paint, saying that any of us could do it.

His official website:

https://www.bobross.com/

I did try a Bob Ross in pastels in 2008 and forgot about it:

https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/landscape-pastel-la-bob-ross.html

Thank you Bob Ross!!

Danger!

I sketched in the big book for "danger".  I wanted the lines to show so I used a Lamy fountain pen.  It has a medium point nib.  I had forgotten how easily the ink flows.  You can make a blob if you leave the nib resting on the paper.  Interesting when I haven't used a "real" pen in a while.  It does flow smoothly but you can't hesitate in your markings.

I'm not sure why any drawing of a cutting object looks dangerous to me.  I'm very leery of cutting myself with anything.  I cut my hand with a table knife once in Bolivia.  Gene was trying to separate some frozen breakfast sausage patties.  I told him, "Let me do it, I do it all the time."  And whoosh I cut between my thumb and forefinger on my left hand.  Washed it carefully with boiled clean water and went to the clinic for stitches.  The intern/doctor had me wash it again with the water out of the tap (which was not boiled and clean).  Then sewed me up.  About 8 stitches I think, you can still see a bit of a scar.  It did not get infected!  Surprise!

 

 

Scavenger Hunt 654, Number 3, danger.  The ceramic knife is orange and white with the plastic cover.  The other two yellow cutters have sharp blades you break off when you need a new edge.  Danger!

It has been so nice out.  Fall here is super nice.  About 80 in the daytime and 50-60 at night.  Last night was about 60 and our one little fall color tree is pretty but doesn't show well this morning with the light fog.  Hopefully we can have a little rain.  Look how dry the grass is.  It didn't grow while we were gone on our trip.  We walked over to the firehouse to vote the other day, about a 10 minute walk between the lakes/ponds.

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This sounds like an interesting way to figure out your darks and lights in a painting, the Notan method.  I've followed Michael Chesley Johnson for many years.  He was in Ruidoso for a couple of workshops but our timing never worked out.  Sue Modrak and I were going to one in Sedona but something happened and we cancelled.  He is back in New Mexico and has been working the last few years between Sedona, Arizona.  and Maine/Nova Scotia.  He does pastels and oils.  His workshops sound fun.

http://mchesleyjohnson.blogspot.com/2020/11/app-notanizer.html

Pastel Do Over

A few weeks ago, I painted out with Enid Wood in her dining room.  I painted this scene out her window.  She painted, too.  I'm anxious to see hers, she says it is a keeper!  Enid paints beautiful and award winning pastels.

Mine, well, I'm not so sure.  As you recall, I painted it, wiped it off while I was there, brought it home, wiped it off again and here it is at the moment.  I suppose it is done.

Here is the first one in case you don't go to the previous post:

I actually like the first one better, but of course it is gone.  It had more color even though it was cloudy.  The new version seems to be foggy instead. 

And if you wonder how it looks when it is wiped off:

I wet it with a paint brush and water so that it wouldn't muddy up the new layers.  Painting on it after it dried, of course.  Painting is always a lesson.  Practice is so important.  Sometimes it is good to paint with no expectations.  Just paint for fun and see what happens and what you learn.

Richard McKinley advises artists to not make practice paintings "precious".  I think we do that.  We try to make a perfect painting every time without playing and practicing.  McKinley gives great pastel pointers on his blog.  He has instruction CD's available, too.  I bought his book and it comes with a CD in the back.  Cool.