Overcast Lake

Overcast Lake, pastel on paper, 12x9"

Hugh and I did a return visit to the park with the lake, with the dog. This time the weather was overcast, windy and cool compared to bright, sunny and hot yesterday.  I sat uphill from the Lake to draw this time.  Because the light was static I used local color for the ease of drawing during my time constraints.  

static I used local color for the ease of drawing during my time constraints.  

Sandy Beach

Sandy Beach, pastel, 12x9"

I took my dog to a large park with a lake in the middle. We found this small beach, to serve as a point of launch for him to get in the water. While he was sunning himself afterwards, I pulled out my pastels and did this 20 minute sketch to use as a reference for a future painting.

Across the Fence

Across the fence, pastel on paper, 12x9"

I felt like working outside with my pastels this morning, but I couldn't venture too far. I have colorful views all around me so I just picked one and began. This one turned out to my liking. The sun was high, the light was bright and the colors vivid. Nothing better.

Heading into Moab

Heading into Moab, pastel on paper, 9x12"

I enjoyed the pastel sketches I did on site(s) during my trip trip.   I have been feeling under the weather today, so I decided to take a paint-break and work with pastels again. This "wall" of red rocks was one of the views on the twisty road into Moab.  I was taking non-stop photos as we rounded one amazing turn after the other. I liked them all, as usual :-)

Capital Reef morning

Capital Reef Morning, pastel, 9x12"

This is a drawing I did while staying at the Capital Reef National Park lodging. This was my hotel view and it was breathtaking to open the door to this first thing in the morning. We took a horse trip all through the layers of this incredible park. I took a lot(A LOT!!!) of pictures of open range cows that added another dimension to the landscape. I'm in awe of Mother Earth

Red Rocks 2, Moab

Red Rocks 2, Moab,   pastel, 5.5x8"

Here is another quick sketch that I did while in Moab, UT. If you have never been to Arches National Forest, I highly encourage you to. What a valuable national park! We hiked in 108° heat. I have severe joint pain that keeps me from doing certain things and wipes my formerly "bottomless pit" endurance out, but remarkably, I was pain free. I just had to stay hydrated which was challenging.

Red Rocks, Moab

Red Rocks, Moab, pastel, 5.5x8

It has been really liberating to be out of the studio in some ways. Doing these quick sketches from life is fun!  Here are massive red rocks from Moab, UT.  Because I worked on this for less than 20 minutes, I tried to convey the rock striations rather that get too detail-y.  Works better for my brain to sum up an area and work quickly.  These wide open spaces and fresh air are just what the doctor ordered. Now I know why Georgia O'Keefe stayed in Taos.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/celia-kelly/red-rocks-moab/402605

Hotel pool sketch, Moab, UT

Hotel Pool sketch, Moab, UT, pastel on paper

I haven't painted in a week because I am currently on a trip around the west. Thank goodness for Hotel Wi-fi.  I am doing sketches from life that may become paintings. We shall see. Here's a quick sketch I did while sitting by the hotel pool in Moab.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/celia-kelly/hotel-pool-sketch-moab-ut/402372

French Landscape

French Landscape, pastel on paper, 5x8 inches

I have been looking online at some abstract landscapes done in pastel.  I find myself enlarging sections of them and looking at the layering of color, completely amazed. I have to admit, I have done very little work in pastel, but I have always wanted to learn. So, throwing all caution to the wind, coinciding with me not wanting to paint in my freezing cold studio, I found  a reason to work upstairs again with a new medium. This photo is from my sister's collection of her tour de France back in July, that I had on my list of photos to paint from. It was a simple scene to start a small pastel journey. I left the photo unedited so you can see the small size and the bound sketchpad that I am working on.