Working on Black
     I've been working with pan pastels all summer and finding experimenting with them to be a lot of fun.  So, always asking, "what if I..."  I decided to try applying them to black pastel paper.  When you draw or paint on black, it's necessary to take a different approach than when working on white or a color.  There is nowhere to go if you want to make something darker, so you have to think instead about where to put middle values and highlights. The goal is also to incorporate the color of the paper as an integral part of the painting.  I think parts of this one were executed pretty well, such as the draped cloth at the bottom, while other areas need some additional work -- the black fabric on the chair the model leans on.  I'm exploring painting on black backgrounds as well and will post more as I finish the projects.  Always something new to try!

I'm teaching a workshop entitled Exploring Color at the  Roswell Fine Arts Alliance Gallery, 9100 Fouts Road, Roswell, 30076 on September 25 and 26, 2015.  Unlike many color theory classes, we will not spend the whole time making color charts.  You'll learn color by hands on activities, games, mini-paintings and Power Point illustrations.  Reply to this post with your email and I'll send you all the details.  Deadline to enter the workshop is September 18th.  Maximum of ten students. RFAA is an affiliate of Roswell Recreation and Parks.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

This is an older acrylic painting in which I was experimenting with painting black and white objects.  My goal was to use as many colors as possible and still have the objects "read" as black and white.  I think my skills along these lines are improving so I'm thinking of painting this same subject again -- this time in pastels.  That's one of the wonders of being an artist -- you can revisit a subject or theme over and over but never "step in the same river twice."  Watch for the next rendition in a later post.