The reasons why I start to paint a picture vary. I may be inspired by a face, a scene, a photograph taken at a re-enactment event, or an historical television programme such as "Tales of the Green Valley".

 

I always print A4 colour and black and white photographs before doing at least one tonal sketch before beginning a painting. Usually I do several additional sketches using pastel or watercolour pencils in order to decide which parts of the scene to emphasise and which to eliminate.

Butser Ancient Farm inspires me to paint people living in the Iron Age (before the Romans came to Britain). I wondered how effective a portrait would be with the conical roofs in the background. This is a pastel and charcoal sketch using photographs, including several that I had taken during a visit. However I did not follow up this sketch with a final painting.

I passed a group of people in costume at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum and liked the composition. However I wanted to reduce the colour range so did this pastel sketch simplifying the figures and using only a few colours.

Since attending Totton Art Society's workshop with David White in April 2009 I have been painting with acrylic paints.

 

The next pages include general tips on painting a picture together with tips on using soft pastels.

Additional Pastel Workshop Pages

1 - 2 - 3

 

EMAIL Di Alexander