Tuesday, August 17, 2010

more experiments with surface: pastel

top:pastel and watercolor on wallis
bottom: pastel and watercolor on marble dust/gesso panel
Whether in pastel or oil I am searching for a way paint my concept. Both surfaces had pluses and minuses.

The wallis takes watercolor beautifully. The effects of dripping and smooshing the watercolor are the best. I also like the way the calligraphy rides the surface.
The marble dust can be dreamier since I can alternately smoosh the pastel into the lines or let it ride the top. Each way has a different feeling. Good to put both together.
So much of the dreamy quality depends on the object looking solid enough, yet whisper enough to look through them. Let go of edges and containing things.

Just looking at these you know it is hot and very humid.

11 comments:

Donna T said...

Thanks for sharing your surface experiments, Loriann. I like the way the heavy, humid atmosphere is visible in your marble dust/gesso example. Which board would you reach for on a clear cloudless day? Does it matter to you or do you make the surface work for you regardless of the effect you want?

Caroline Simmill said...

Do you have photos of the watercolour under painting Loriann?
My question is the same as Donna as I also wonder if you know what surface to use regarding weather conditions.

Carolyn Jean Thompson said...

Your observations and experiments are very helpful to me right now. I am preparing to take a Richard McKinley workshop in Sept in our area and am practising in advance. I just ordered more white kitty wallis so I could try it now as well as have enough for the workshop. I've been practising on white Pastelbord and the watercolor is just sucked up in the clay and I'm not happy with the results so far. Thank you!!!

Casey Klahn said...

This makes me want to go buy some marble dust - stat!

harry said...

i haven't tried working with marble dust. Is it died, or does it just create a texture and the colour added with the pastel?

Double "D" said...

Hi B, just checking to see if this goes through.

Double "D" said...

Hi B, well it worked so now I can leave a comment.
I really like both of these. Such great color combinations. I think I like the one on Wallis, it seems more spontaneous and the reflections in the water are mesmerizing. Is Wallis a toned paper?

Now I'm going to try smooshing watercolor.
pb

loriann signori said...

Hi Everyone!!! Thanks for all your wonderful comments! I just love opening my blog and seeing comments!

Ok, one at a time,
Hi Donna!
And thank you. Choosing the support more about whim than it is the day. I have many different types in the back of my car and in my flat files in the studio. It can be like choosing an ice cream flavor. We have favorites (coffee health bar crunch) but like variety (peppermint stick). The I just ry to make it work:-)

Hi Caroline!
Believe or not I do have photos of the underpaintings. I will post them at the bottom of tomorrow's post. Like I said in Donna's answer..the choice of support is by whim!

Hi Carolyn
You are sure in for a treat- Richard's workshop is an eye-opener! Enjoy!

Hi Casey! Enjoy your marble dust...cheap fun!

Hi Harry,
The surface was white when I began. I just mixed marble dust and gesso and placed it on gator board. Two thin coats.

Hi PB, The wallis was white. I knew that would be your fave....wallis is a watercolorist's dream paper. Now go smoosh away!

Jala Pfaff said...

I really love both of these, Loriann. The subtlety of color and atmosphere are just superb.

loriann signori said...

Thanks so much Jala! I love your newest abstracts too!

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Great! Great! Great! I love how each surface provides a new set of opportunities for discovery. I brought some hot press watercolor paper and Bristol with me. Time to experiment!

The Wallis paper has a regular surface while your marble dust offers a variety of surfaces, depending on your application of the dust. Anything can happen! I'm excited to see what happens next!