Stan Bloomfield

Arizona, USA, Antero Spring, pastel, 16 x 20" (40 x 50 cm)

Finalist My Inspiration

Loving nature, I’ve made both Colorado and Arizona my lifelong homes. Mount Antero, a 14,000-foot peak in central Colorado, has been a particular love for both its fantastic scenery, and as an added bonus, its aquamarine crystals. Rocks, fallen trees, as well as mountain streams are a favorite source of material. Antero Spring is not a place but a combination of memories. Indeed, all my paintings are not of a specific place but an expression of my past experiences.

My Design Strategy

I like to begin a painting with a powerful abstract pattern; use of a dominant value, color or object. For Antero Spring, a dominant diagonal shape (triangle) is repeated with a smaller horizontal. Contrast is created through dark hardedged rocks countered by soft-edged water. This conflict is hopefully balanced by the mid tones of the remaining rocks. These impressionistic rocks create unity and harmony throughout the work and balance the hard-edged shapes.

My Working Process

Each painting for me is an experiment in material (ground) and application of the media (pastel). Working on Crescent Illustration Board, I lay in an overall value pattern (notan) using hard pastel sticks (Nupastel or Cretacolor). To create texture, I wash off the image and reapply pastel. I do this as many times as necessary to achieve the desired effect. Happy accidents occur, leading me in new directions. This approach is a result of my years in watercolor. Soft pastel is then used to restore value and color. I tend not to finish all areas, leaving the viewer to mentally connect the dots.

My Contact Details

» Email: stanbloomfield@suddenlink.net

» Website: www.stanbloomfield.com