I just wanted to use pastel yesterday and I foun d inspiration form a book on oil painting by Edward Seago.  I love his work and both his method and style are quite fluid and relaxing to look at.  There was recently an article in the Artist magazine about his work, very accomplished artist. I used Touch pastel paper by  CANSON : MI-TEINTES TOUCH : PASTEL PAPER PAD  size A3.  I used both pan pastel for some background colours, then I built up more layers with my Unison pastel sticks,  very creamy to use, I sketched out the scene in pastel pencil first (brown) I tried to limit the amount of dust and frequently scrapped the surface with a plasitc card to be able to keep adding more colour and pigment.  My attempt is very impressionistic and need to take a look at adding more detail in time, but for 3 hours I loved the mind engagement this exercise gave me.  I may attempt more images like this not just in pastel but be brave and do more oil painting!  

I have done this scene a few times now and each time I get to appreciate the style and method of Frank Rines. It looks simplistic and yet it takes some effort to use the graphite in such a basic stroke.  I have been helped by the books of Frank Rines for a number of years now.  Having done this in a recent class demonsttration, it never ceases to amaze me how each student produces the same image but in such a different way, each unique to their own style an skill level. I have done this particular scene before in ink and H2 pencil and the result is quite pleaseing.  I would like to use both pencil and ink more in the future as well as pencil and watercolour washess more as well.

I have done this task for my classes before, but this one was for a new class at Merthyr. I have enjoyed using both mediums to work together. Despite drawing this sketch a few times it always makes me feel engaged with the project and the experience of wellbeing always seems great in the moment. I always like to use ink sometimes more than pencil on occasions, as it is immediate and can feel accomplished with little effort.  Pencil or graphite studies take more time and the graduation of tone is always subtile and more like a completed drawing than a quite sketch.

This was my second attempt at this scene for one of my classes. I like Rob Adams work. This took 3 hours in the classroom and I just like the style of the markmaking.  I get such enjoyment in doing this kind of image.  It is so easy to adapt the method and here I applied ore colour to the image.

This image was done in class, after Rembrandt. I had already done this for the task paperwork.  I also attempted a painted border to frame the scene. I like the effect. This scene, again by Rembrandt, was of the same style and method. I enjoyed creating this image as well.