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Pastels
by
Ann
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About the Artist
My
present home is Indianapolis, Indiana. Having lived in
several other
states, I returned to my Hoosier roots in 1997. I began drawing as a
child, copying pictures in horse and dog books and sketching family
members and friends.
At junior college I majored in fine arts. Years later I completed a BFA degree at Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, now a division of Indiana University/Purdue University (IUPUI). For several years after graduation I put my degree to good use as a graphic artist, as I searched for my favorite media.
In the mid nineties I took my first pastel class. The drawing aspect and easy flow of almost pure pigment soon took hold of me. For the past ten years pastel has been my medium of choice. In my many travels I have had the opportunity to photograph interesting and exciting vistas and subjects. I weave these into a realistic composition, often combining several elements from different photos. I have an extensive portfolio of landscapes and waterviews. Rivers, lakes and oceans are particularly challenging and complex in their variety. There are many framed pieces for sale on this website.
My Process
Painting
in soft
pastel chalk challenges
and stimulates my creative spirit. The paper
quality is very important. The best is a fine sanded surface, allowing
the pastels to glide like butter. I always strive for an
immediate likeness by depicting the vitality of the subject in a
realistic portrayal. The photos you send me are key in this
process. In recreating your photo(s), I build layers of pigment
from the darkest shadows to the lightest highlights, which
create form and depth. Pastel is a very forgiving media, and a simple
matter to correct or redraw. But as a finished piece, pastel
work is very fragile. It is easy to smudge and destroy the fine layers
of color. I never spray or fix my work which can easily remove the
highlights and flatten the color. Therefore, I always frame the piece
under glass as soon as possible to preserve the painting.
