Edge of the Woods 4

An associate member Pastel Society of America, I call my work “Roadside Landscapes in Pastel”. As I travel, I look for the beauty in the ordinary scenes along Michigan roads that we all see every day. For me, learning to draw is learning to SEE. I photograph scenes I find compelling; the quality of light, subtle colors, patterns of foliage & old farm buildings settling into the ground that are of interest to me. I distill the images in the photographs to simple massing, looking for graphic patterns which I draw focusing on layers of color, contrasting patterns and textures. Pastel and watercolor underpaintings are used to enhance the luminosity of the layers of pastel. Spray fixative is often used to enhance the layering of color and to add texture to the final pastel layers. I label each drawing with its location which seems to delight the viewer. For me, it’s a rewarding way to reach out with my art.