Sail Fishing Fleet, Ketchikan 1905

"Sail Fishing Fleet, Ketchikan 1905"
Pastel on board, 11 x 20

"Daybreak on the Tongass"

Its been quite a long time since posting anything on our blog.  Been hanging out over at Facebook as its easier to communicate with family and friends.  Anyway about a year ago a co-worker approached me about doing a commission pastel drawing for another co-worker who was retiring after 20+ years working for the government.   For about 10 months or so I sort of sketched up a number of ideas, even tried to draw a family portrait of his parents, and mainly took photos of sunsets and sun rises of the area.  Here are few photos of the work in progress (WIP)...

 

"Daybreak on the Tongass"

11" x 17" [Final]

 

#5 - work in progress, adding highlights and more details

 

#4 - work in progress, adding more details

 

 #3 - work in progress, filling the sky

#2 - work in progress, laying in the ground

WIP#1 under drawing on pastel board

All in all it was a fun process to get through after being away from the drawing board for so long.  I decide it was best to stick with traditional dry approach versus doing a wet brush under coat.  The commissioned artwork was well received at the retirement ceremony by my co-worker.  Another co-worker presented a Haida carved paddle which was an amazing piece of artwork.  

Rotary Beach Afternoon

"Rotary Beach Afternoon"
Pastel, 8" x 14"

This was quite an enjoyable pastel to plan out and complete. The first thing to do was to lay out the scenery using compressed charcoal, then following it up with color swatches for the under painting. Not too long ago I tried using a water color wash for the under painting but wasn't pleased with the results and it took to long to dry out.

It was at this point I decided to try something completely different by brushing over the dry pastel using rubbing alcohol. The alcohol actually mixed and fused the pastel together on the Wallis paper giving it a painterly effect. Some areas had the look a thin wash feel while other areas appear to be a thick gouache. Once it was dried, about 15-20 minutes, it was time to get to work on mid-tones colors.

The alcohol process permitted the greatest coverage for the under painting and didn't effect the tooth of the paper. I was able to add and work in additional layers of pastels with no problem at all. In fact some area just didn't need re-working with pastel as the under painting color mixture was working just fine.

The reference photo I used was taken about two years ago from a little island at Rotary Beach. This small island is only accessible during low tide. Its a beautiful place where many of the locals like to hang out on a sunny afternoon throughout the year. The vista from this little island is looking out across Tongass Narrows toward southern end of Gravina Island beneath cedar limbs hanging out over the rocky beach.

Well back to the drawing board to start another drawing.

Kodiak Harbor

"Kodiak Harbor" (Detail)
7" x 11"

"Kodiak Harbor"
Pastel on Wallis Paper
7" x 11"

Here is a pastel drawing of Kodiak Harbor done on Wallis paper. It was an interesting drawing in that most of the under drawing was done using charcoal pencil. Took a photo of the harbor from the hill next to the bridge going over to Near Island. I was inspired to do a more formal drawing after re-discovering a sketch I did some years ago. Perhaps one day it will make to a oil painting.

Oil Pastel Studies

View of Guard Island
Oil Pastel on Paper ( 7" x 11")

View towards Metlakatla
Oil Pastel on Paper (8" x 11")

View south looking down Tongass Narrows
Oil Pastel on Paper (6" x 11")

Spent time experimenting using oil pastels and solvent thinner on drawing paper. It was interesting to just let loose permitting the medium to dictate how the drawing will turn out. The oil pastel seems to melt under the use of the solvent which is great for spreading out the material as an under painting. But I found the surface of the paper wouldn't take a second layer of oil pastels even after the solvent dried. I actually think it had more to do with not enough surface tooth with the paper to take additional layers. Going to try the same process on various other surfaces such as Wallis paper.

Arctic Brothers

"Arctic Brothers"
Pastel, 9" x 12"

Pennock Island Boat Yard

'Pennock Island Boat Yard', September 2010
Pastel, 8" x 14"

Work In Progress
Tools of the trade.

Summer Bay Harvest

'Summer Bay Harvest' - July 2010
Pastel, 14" x 8"

Pastels - Settlers Cove

Beach Stroll - Settlers Cove

September 2007