EXERCISE 2

USING THE PAPER AS PART OF YOUR TONAL COMPOSITION

I must admit that, with most of my pastel paintings none, or at least very little, of the underlying paper surface is visible in the finished picture. However, very effective work can result from allowing the pastel paper to represent your lightest or darkest tones – just look at the two sketches below and right, one on light paper and one on dark. Now try painting different subjects using this technique

▲ This sketch of a railway engine was painted on a dark brown Canson paper, allowing the creation of the dark interior of a station. Notice how I have used blending to create steam and smoke, giving the picture atmosphere

◀ A simple sketch of two white flowers in a jar, painted on light grey Canson paper