A new painting

OK, so I have moved from Guam back to the mainland.  Boxes are unpacked, kids are in school, and I finally have time to get back to painting.  I first attempted a full sheet in watercolor and made a big mess. It has been a while but it felt good to get the brushes wet again anyway.  The weather has finally gotten a little cooler here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (85degrees) so I went outside to use my pastels.  I love to draw and I love the tactile feeling of painting with pastels.  I like to get my fingers dirty, touch the paper and create as I go.  Pastels are very forgiving and I can change my mind along the way. (my watercolor painting wasn't so flexible)  I thought I would work on a painting to use as a family Christmas card.  I took this photo of my husband and son, 4 years ago.  I never got around to painting it, so here it goes.  I am off to a good start.

progress on a new painting

Here is another look at the progress on this painting. It still needs more shadows in the water and under the figures. I will need to add some more contrast around the starfish and female figure to place more focus there. I may also darken the sand along the shore above them. This photo of the painting is quite dark as it was a rainy day. The next post will be the final version of this painting.

I have started a new painting. Still taped to the easel, this is the progress so far. The image is of a little girl and a little boy standing in ankle deep water at the beach. The girl squats down to pick up a blue starfish. The little boy looks on with interest. There won't be much going on in the background. It is all about the children in the foreground and their fascination with discovery. The little girl happens to be my daughter. The boy is a momentary friend she played with at the beach that afternoon.

I have done the underpainting of the children and starfish. Another layer of paint will be added to the figures after I paint the water with reflections and ripples in it. I still need to add the sand and rocks that can be seen through the water. Their shadows will be the last final touch.