One of my first landscape experiments in Photoshop. Whereas I previously was working in GIMP. I just wanted to experiment with values and distance and fog and mist, etc. The female figure adds some story to the scene.
I first bought some cheap soft pastels back in 2018 and did a couple of sketches. I bought a nice set of Rembrandt pastels a few months later — didn't use them. I bought some pastel pads, none if which seemed right. September 2020, I bought a couple more sets of bargain pastels and tried a couple of pieces — no good, still couldn't bring myself to use them. Jess bought me pastel pencils for Christmas — I was too scared to use them. I even bought a pad of Pastelmat which is supposed to be THE paper to use for pastel paintings in January. I was too scared to use that as well!
FINALLY, after a few unsuccessful attempts at working with watercolour (brush issues), I cast aside my fear and thought I'd mess around with pastels. Some time later, and this was the result. I've finally broken through my pastel fear-barrier.
I've got to say, I love soft pastels and I'm excited about doing more pieces in this medium.
At the top of Pentregwenlais near Llandybie is Gwenlais Quarry. In itself, the quarry is quite beautiful with its sheer rock faces and the way that nature has started to reclaim it. This scene is one of the paths that leads down from the top of the quarry back towards Pentregwenlais. I was going to do it as a pen & wash but by the time I'd finished with the watercolour I thought it was too complex to start putting ink in there. Watercolours on watercolour paper (6x8")
My last finished painting of 2020. A morning in the woodlands of Ystradfawr Nature Reserve near my home. This is the final result of one of my colour sketches - Spring on the Line. It sold to lady in a care home who's lost her mobility. I hope it gives her a bit of the great outdoors when she's sitting in her room.
A colour study for a larger piece. Unfortunately with the larger piece, I screwed up with the thick over thin rule and consequently, the paint cracked after a few months. Frustrated at having to start it again, but lesson learnt.
Cefan Sidan is an immense sandy beach in Carmarthenshire. The site of several shipwrecks, with some to still be found in the sands, the beach stretches for miles. This view is in winter looking towards the Gower.
For our 10th anniversary this past Monday, we went on a hike at Land's End. It was cold and blustery! Got a quick sketch in from the labyrinth. Rain lines added as it started to rain by my son.
I feel like my landscapes have very traditional colors so i tried to make these look bright and exaggerated but still hold the same base color. Let me know what you think.
