Nude in Oil Pastel

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

This is the same figure same size rendered with Sennelier Oil Pastels. I didn’t work with the background as much.

When I did the oil pastel (right) I didn’t take the Pastel Pencil version out until I finished. I was shocked how much brighter the oil pastel looked. Soft Pastel should have more intensity than Oil Pastel, because soft pastels have more pure pigment by the nature of the media, but Pastel Pencils are a hard pastel, they need more binders to create the pencil form. Alone though the Pastel Pencil version has great intensity, and the texture’s softness lends itself to flesh, and it was faster because the pencils were easier to handle blending. So, I can see them both for different purposes.

Nude in Pastel (Final)

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

I put in the highlights on the figure, and a background of greens, blues, purples to make it stand out more. Ordinarily it’s good to work from back to front, but if I do the background last in this case it will be in better harmony with the figure. I liked using the Pastel Pencils for this task, I might try the same figure in oil pastel and see what I like better.

Nude in Pastel (WIP)

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

Since I liked the looks of the pastel pencil, I wanted to try it with a figure drawing. It would allow me to do smaller life drawings, because of smaller more accurate tip. I first put in my darks and started the mid-range tones. I’ll finish it up tomorrow. 8.5″x10″ Brown Pastel Paper

8 Apples

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

Before I proceed I wanted to compare media sided by side to see what I liked better. Not only how it looks but how I liked working with it.

The Top two are the most popular Hard Pastels Cont’e Crayons and NuPastel. The NuPastel’s Red was more pinkish and the darks aren’t as dark. The Cont’e is more brilliant, less waxy. The Carbothello Pastel Pencils was the most brilliant, which surprised me because it’s the hardest, harder pastels contain more binders. Pencils are much easier to use too, sticks don’t always land on the paper where you expect. The Semi-hard would make a nice underpainting for soft pastel.

Out of the two soft pastels I have, Mungyo and Rembrandt are very similar, I would like to try Sennelier’s soft. Of the Oil pastels, NeoPastel and Mungyo Gallery, the Neo’s are slightly more brilliant, if one pushes hard the Mungyo’s are more likely to leave crumbs on the paper.

Conclusion: For illustration I’m leaning toward Carbothello’s for the precision of the pencil and intensity of the color, if I used any of the other pastels I would have to make the illustrations bigger. I like the Cont’e crayon for life sketching and drawing, because it’s broad but still precise with the square stick. Between the soft pastel and oil pastel, I like the looks of the oil pastel, to me a bit bolder and I like making marks with it.

Valley Fields Painting

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

Another Postcard painting for the exhibit. I sure don’t like working this small, not to mention, I need reading glass to paint it! Acrylic on Canvas Board 4×6″ I need to rephotograph the painting, the light is it hitting it in a way that makes the canvas show up more.

Thunderheads Painting

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

I’m making some paintings for a post card exhibit. All of the paintings must be 4×6″. I prefer not to paint that small, but I’ll do it for the exhibit. I enjoy the project anyway. I love thunderheads, I like to watch them grow.
I painted this with Golden Open Acrylics on Canvas Board. Just a couple hours.

New Live Female Nude (WIP)

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

Our Life Drawing Drawing Group didn’t meet for 3 weeks because of conflicts, but we finally did last night. I really missed it. I enjoy the challenge and the company of other artists. This is a rough in of the lightest and darkest areas of the figure. Next sitting I will go and fill in the color without the model. I tried Sennelier Oil Pastels, they’re smoother, and softer. I am interested to see how it comes out in full color. Strathmore Brown Paper, 18×24″

Sudanese Family (Color)

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

I put the family in the proper village. I love these huts! Ideally it should be populated in the background, but this gives me a chance to try methods. I have yet to find a picture of one with a door, are they hard to see? Anyway, this is hard pastel and pastel pencil on brown Strathmore Brown Pastel Paper. I like the pastel pencils, they are Carbothellos, they are nice for small details like on the people. I think it would be best to have them sitting so they can be bigger in the picture. I still don’t know if the pastel paper is the best way to go, or use watercolor underneath. I have to find a smooth watercolor paper with enough tooth for pastel.

Sudanese Family (WIP)

Posted on by Tracy Bezesky

I searched the web for Sudanese Art. I want to try a more stylized approach. I like the elongated figures, expressive features, and all of the color. I incorporated this into my concept sketch of a family (I will need a larger family but this is a test). Next I will do color rendering with a village behind them.