Although I am always tempted to cut corners and skip a step, I am grateful that I did not for this painting. The planning stage of a painting is the most important.

 

I started with a thumbnail sketch of this landscape and then I painted a small color study. The value study of the thumbnail is the most important to me. It tells me the light and dark areas of the painting and establishes the composition in my mind. It is advisable to try several formats like square, portrait, and landscape in different proportions.

 

 

I usually don't do a color study but I am glad I did. Not only was experimenting with color helpful, but I decided that perhaps I needed a different proportion for the final painting. I decided to use an 11 x 14 in. white Wallis sanded pastel paper so that I would have the option to cut it down to 9 x 12 in. Unless you can afford custom framing, keep in mind standard frame sizes.

 

First, I toned the entire paper with fluid acrylic paint. I used Golden's Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold and Green Gold. When that was dry, I blocked in the large shapes with a Spruce Blue Nupastel. This is the photo and painting. I decided to remove that tree stump in the bottom left corner. I look only at my thumbnail for this stage, not the photo. That is because I want to establish the big shapes. No detail is needed at this stage.

 

 

I used 70% rubbing alcohol and a brush to liquefy the pastel. This fixes the initial pastel into the paper. Now I have my road map for the painting. I use different colors of the same value in each of the large shapes.

 

 

The acrylic paint adds a nice glow as it shows through a little here and there. This is the final painting, "Walk Toward the Light". I have decided to keep it an 11 x 14 in. size. You can see this on my website in the Landscape section of Works: www.sueflanagan.com

 

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I used a variety of pastels but mostly Unison and Terry Ludwig. In the sunlit areas I used warmer greens and in the shadow I used cool colors. I kept the highest contrast and an intense orange for the focal point.

 

I signed it when I thought it was done but it helps to sleep on it. That's because I noticed a small but distracting shape in the center of the painting when I looked at it first thing the next morning. No worries, it was easy to remove. Photograph it and keep a record of it.

 

Please, slow down and do the planning stages of a painting. It will save you a headache latter on. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

 

Happy painting,

Sue Flanagan