Category: Blitherings

Pastels

I have had a few boxes of pastels, hard (Nupastel) and soft (Rembrandt) lying around for years. I finally found a class on pastels through the local adult school. It’s 8 weeks long, so a lot can be learned in that time. The teacher is also good, organized, and capable of teaching a wide range of people. I am learning a lot about a medium I have never really used, and that makes me happy. I always think of pastels as “drawings” but it turns out they are actually considered “paintings” because of their being made of pigments. I guess charcoal and pencil produce drawings.

In each class there is a focus.  The one below was the very first one – paper and strokes, and a study on how to set up the Rule of Thirds in a painting.  The photo we worked from was quite different than what we were instructed to do.  Simplification of the overall photo along with placement of points of interest where the lines of the Rule of Thirds intersect.  We also experimented with different strokes, atmospheric perspective, and color.  I like the colors and textures I got here.

This one is one I did on my own. I tried to catch the coldness of a winter day. I used a blue paper for the base, and worked at keeping the distance simpler than the foreground. As usual, I really do struggle with depth and perspective, and had to work on this a bit.

Below is our study from last week’s class. The focus of this lesson was atmospheric perspective, meaning how distance and atmosphere change with distance. The sky is lighter at the horizon than higher in the sky. The further things are from the viewer, the more the atmosphere changes their detail and color. The foreground is brighter and darker (though I cannot quite get what the teacher means when she says that – I should ask – but I think she means the colors are more intense). Distance means paler colors and simpler shapes. I really worked a lot on this one once I got it home – my foreground was just a mush of color all in the same tonality. I laid in a lot of white and lighter colors to create the sandy soil in the foreground for the final image.

This next week we will be working on clouds during the day – not sunset, not sunrise. I saw a video on YouTube about this same thing, so I plan to watch it before next Monday’s class.

Patio Sketches

Where-oh-where does time go?  I have been busy – so busy – that I have not sat down with a brush or piece of paper in ages it seems.  Sewing socializing, health, family, photography, hiking, knitting – just some of the things taking up my time.  I can’t use cold weather as an excuse.  I’ve been more busy than I am used to – and enjoying all of it.

And yesterday?  The weather was lovely, so out into the dog free zone I went, travel palette, cup of water, a paper towel, water brushes.  The 6×8 Bee paper is perfect for just playing – it’s a decent paper, 100% cotton, and heavy enough to mush a lot of water around on both sides.  I just played, using the daffodils in a vase inside – brought outside – plants on the patio, fruit and vegetables from the kitchen.  I could tell I was rusty – but had fun anyway!

I need to remember my promise to myself when I retired: paint or draw every day! Like a vitamin or a prayer – good for the soul.

Pause for 24 Hrs.

Sometimes you have to step off the treadmill – road – pathway – of your daily life.  All sorts of things can require this:  health, family, work, emergency.  And then you have to get back into the daily rut.

I’ve done this from Sunday until yesterday.  On top of everything, I came down with a 100.3+ F temperature, which is high for me.  Misery compounded!

Today, do-nothing-I-don’t-need-to-do day!  Slept in.  Coffee. Shopping for tonight’s dinner (Roasted Mushroom Steak Soup with Baby Spinach and Kale).  Nap.  Coffee.  Chocolate.  Wash wool.

It’s working.  Fever is gone and feeling like my old self.

And in a bit I may go outdoors and enjoy the brisk spring winds.  Or do something else.

Simple things in life are the best!

 

I ♥ The U.S. Postal Service

I have no idea why people complain about poor service from the U.S. Post Office. I love it! The idea it could be privatized by our resident He Who Shall Not Be Named irritates the hell out of me – I expect it would destroy it completely.

The U.S. Post Office provides one of the best services available to the consumer. As with all things, costs increase as prices increase. But let’s think about it – I can send a letter 3000 miles for about 50¢. UPS and DHL and FedEx don’t do that. Here are current USPS rates for a variety of things, as shown at stamps.com:

Many times government, whether local, state, or federal, can do a better job than private enterprise. And vice versa. What works depends on the service. Roads should not be privatized, nor police or fire services. Private companies can compete with the government sectors. Not all government sectors work efficiently, nor do private entities.

Personally, I cannot fault the Post Office – it is dependable 99.9% of the time. My mail is delivered. I can track letters and packages. I can get service on Saturday, and even Sundays depending on what it is. I buy stamps so I can mail bills. If email were not so prevalent, I would write letters more frequently.

Kudos to the USPS!