Painting

Soft Pastel Colorful Bess

Soft pastels are the main medium here, but I started with a watercolor base to bloack in large areas of colors and shapes. It's okay if it bleeds into the other colors and is blotchy, it's just an underpainting. I wanted her to be colorful, with a hint of young Queen Elizabeth I. Soft pastels are easy to blend and layer. I used a harder white pastel for the details at the end. I also like it in the black and white. I wonder what she is thinking? ... View the Post

Painting

Quick Art Projects

Here are some quick art sketches in watercolor and colored pencil. Sometimes, I use these to create surface pattern designs or greeting cards. This hummingbird is mostly colored pencil over watercolor. I love the texture that colored pencils give! If you are having creative burnout, painting or drawing something smaller seems less intimidating and manageable. ... View the Post

Painting

Sunflower Field Oil Pastel Painting

Oil pastels continue to be a fun medium. The sun is setting on this sunflower field with a mountainous backdrop. I like to start the paintings with either an acrylic or watercolor underpainting. This helps give the pastels something to which they can grip, as well as saving time covering large, basic shapes. There will be a Labor Day sale in my Etsy shop! ... View the Post

Painting

Quick Oil Pastel Cat

Quick, creative exercises are needed to keep our brains learning. Not every painting is "the one", but these quick "sketches" are fun! This is done with oil pastels. They are creamy sticks of potential! ... View the Post

Painting

Oil Pastel in Sketchbook

Oil pastels are becoming a favorite! Their creamy texture is great for bringing dimension to a painting. I created this floral painting in my Seawhite watercolor travel journal. Before painting with the pastels, I first used acrylic inks as a foundational layer for the pastels to grip. It also helps to block in a painting with general colors and shapes. To add finishing details, I used my acrylic ink Posca pens! ... View the Post

Painting

Oil Pastel Floral to Digital Paper

I often make a design pattern from my original artwork. This "messy" oil pastel floral plant was perfect for making paper! I designed the paper, printed it, and made an envelope using my WRMK punch board. I also used a Studio Light butterfly die with vellum. ... View the Post