Many years ago I purchased a HUGE set of PanPastels and an assortment of pastel sticks. It was a dismal failure. Everything I did looked mushy, poorly executed, and I quickly abandoned the thought of working with pastels. As I recall this was a similar experience I had with watercolor over 30 years ago. I tried it, hated it and vowed never to touch it again.
“OH!….. I am a big fat failure”, I thought. (Each time!) I don’t know if this happens to you but when you try something new and it doesn’t exactly work out, you blame yourself and quit. Something begins to stir in me and I realize I am not “a quitter”. I may struggle, abandon it, but eventually I end up returning to whatever it is as it haunts me until I “get it”. Perhaps it is because I have Art Attention Deficit DisOrder. (AADD…LOL!) I love all kinds of art and I love learning, even if it doesn’t work out the first time, the second time, the third time…… If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
This is exactly what I did with both Watercolor and now Pastels. I searched the internet and found other artists who were doing awesome pastel work and I researched the papers and techniques they were using. I started out doing familiar subjects so I didn’t fuss over composition or drawing issues. This made it easier and more fun.
So for the past few months I have been doing pastels of insects and birds. I took the plunge and joined my local pastel society, Pastel Society of Central Florida They had a call to exhibit. It was required to submit 8 pastel paintings and luckily I had 8 to submit. 3 of the pieces were accepted! The exhibit is at The Mount Dora Center for the Arts. I was really excited and went to the opening. To my surprise one of my pieces, “Homage to Colomychus talis” received a Certificate or Merit! It was inspired by my love of this little moth and Art Nouveau. The moth in real life is relatively small. My painting is framed at 24 x 20. The painting is available for sale at the gallery along with the Roseate Spoonbill and the Sandhill Crane.
If you are in Florida, stop by and see the show. It is up until April 21, 2024! If you are interested in purchasing any of these works you can direct email me:Mlighthipe@mac.com
Thanks for sharing your beautiful work and your struggles/persistance. It resonated with me. Those are three of my favorite Florida birds.
Thanks Gina! It is always a struggle to learn something new and exciting at the same time! I wanted to start with Florida birds since they are big and colorful. The Costa Rica songbirds are so small, but colorful. I was afraid to do something so small and delicate so I decided to go big and bold!
Congrats!! The new pieces are gorgeous—with that special “inner light” that pastels capture so well. Are you using only Pan Pastels, or are you working with other forms of pastels, too? Also: do I sense a new course in the offing????
Hi Cathy, I found that Pastelmat was the trick for me! It really helped me over the struggle. I am starting with PanPastels and doing the detail work in pastel pencils this has made a big difference and I am excited about it!
The Homage is just beautiful!
Thanks Donna! It is a beautiful little moth and now it is HUGE!
What a show piece – love the colors! You definitely have mastered the pan pastels. Congrats on your accomplishment!
Oh gosh Linda…. that is so nice of you to say. I don’t know that I have mastered it….but certainly having a ton of fun!
Beautiful Mindy!
Thanks Michal. I amorally enjoying it!
Hi Mindy, Congratulations on your submission. It is beautiful! You are an inspiration to not give up!
Thanks Sandy! I did give up for a long time but something was nagging at me and I decided to give it ago again….. then all the pieces felling place. Now and I excited to learn and do more!
I love these pieces. It’s so wonderful how you convey the beauty of these creatures with your composition, colors, and technique.
Thanks Inge! I have started to do mammals too! We have a lemur sanctuary near me and I have started to do Lemurs! I know you would appreciate it! I will post soon!
Really beautiful, Mindy, a whole different look, luminescent, very soft. I hope you’ll give us a class someday.
Thanks Anna!