gail sibley

Menu

Gail Sibley

BACK TO BLOG

Gail Sibley

HOME
ABOUT
Shop
CONTACT
BACK TO BLOG
SIGN UP
SUBSCRIBE

More risk and another pastel in the standing figure series

Share
Share

The third in a series, the pastel that I am about to show you has been half, no, more than three quarters finished since September last year. (I only know this from the notes in iPhoto on the progression photos – I couldn’t believe it’s been a year!) Sometimes pieces need to sit for awhile.

And then comes that dang question: Is it finished? (You can read my ruminations on this topic in a previous blog.) With regard to this piece, I do believe it is.

(To see the other two pastels in the series click here for the first one and here for the second.)

Okay, let’s get going. Pushing my risk-taking even further.

 

1. The figure drawn up with a colour on each side. Unlike the other two pastels, in this one, I decided to turn the paper horizontally which then meant the figure would be cut off at the top and bottom. I also moved the figure to the far left of the page.
1. The figure drawn up in charcoal on Wallis paper with pastel applied on either side. Unlike the other two pastel paintings in the series, in this one, I decided to turn the paper horizontally. This meant that the figure would be cut off at the top and bottom. I also moved the figure to the far left of the page. This all felt like a bit of a risk!

 

2. Now the figure has been given a first layer of colour.
2. The figure has been given a first layer of colour.

 

3. I've moved along quite a bit with colour on the figure and also second and third layers on the background. I had no plan, just applied pastel as the whim and inner voice dictated.
3. I’ve moved along with second and third layers on the background. I had no plan, I just applied pastel as the whim and inner voice dictated. I love working with colours in the same value range (this is happening on the right side of the figure).

 

4. More pastel goes on and I am beginning to get the sense of figures in the background.
4. More pastel goes on and I am beginning to get the sense of figures in the background. It’s certainly interesting how this pastel developed in such a different palette to the one I usually use.

 

5. The background figures become more apparent
5. The background figures become more apparent. And this was where I left the piece last Fall, never intending to let it sit for so long!

 

6. After much deliberation, I felt that the figure was too disassociated with the background so I soften it and removed the extremely dark areas. This is the final pastel at 18 x 24 in.
6. After much deliberation, I decided two things – that the main figure was too disassociated with the background (so I softened it and removed the extremely dark areas) and that the subsidiary figures needed to be defined a bit more. This is the final pastel at 18 x 24 in.

 

7. I thought I'd include three details of the 18 x 24 in pastel. Here's the first one.
7. I thought I’d include three details of the 18 x 24 in pastel. Here’s the first one.

 

8. A second detail of the 18 x 24 in pastel
8. A second detail of the 18 x 24 in pastel

 

9. And the third detail of the 18 x 24 in pastel
9. And the third detail of the 18 x 24 in pastel

 

For those of you who are interested, I used Mount Vision pastels as the base with Holbein’s making the more drawing-like and finer marks. And the model, once again, is my friend, life model and Monsoon Coast Spice Girl, Andrea.

 

 

And you know me, gotta stick in a few quotes!

 

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The person who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.

~ Dale Carnegie

 

If we are to perceive all the implications of the new, we must risk, at least temporarily, ambiguity and disorder.

~ J.J. Gordon

 

I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can’t see from the center.

~ Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

 

What do you think of this new pastel? Once again, I think the risk has been worth it! I have to say I’m really pleased with this piece and the way it’s moving me forward on a path of more abstracted figures. Now to keep going!

 

Thanks for sharing your time with me.

 

~ Gail

 

 

PS. I’d like to share something very special to me. I had been to the IAPS convention back in 2003 and was spending time painting en plein air with some new artist friends. Frank Frederico was one of these wonderful people. He wrote on the cover of my pastel box:

 

Frank Frederico's inscription on my box of Mount Vision pastels, bought 10 years ago!
Frank Federico‘s inscription on my box of Mount Vision pastels, bought 10 years ago!

 

12 thoughts on “More risk and another pastel in the standing figure series”

  1. Sandy

    Congratulation’s very well done as you said the risk was certainly worth it the figure has always been a favorite and it has been interesting to watch it develop it may be my imagination only but one of the supplemental characters seems to be wearing a monks habit?

    Reply
    1. Gail Sibley

      Thanks Sandy :-)))
      A monk’s habit? Really? Let me have a look. Oh yes, I can see how you could see that. Viewers bring their own experience with them to the piece. I hadn’t seen that before but you have opened the door on that possibility. And what would you read into that, ie one figure wearing a monk’s habit??

      Reply
  2. Vicki Canada

    Loved walking through this process with you, Gail! Thanks so much for sharing it. Love how it evolved. I borrowed a friend’s pastels to try going over some old failed watercolors and it was a ball, plus I got a couple I really like. Unfortunately, the dust really bothered me and I have to really watch my lungs. Do you wear a mask and if so, what kind? Best regards, Vicki

    Reply
    1. Gail Sibley

      Thanks so much Vicki! Glad you enjoyed using the pastels – I just love ’em!

      I don’t use a mask (I’ve tried but just can’t stand the feel of it). Instead, I am very careful with pastels and dust. For instance I NEVER blow pastels to remove excess pastel. If I am working flat and particles collect, I take the paper outside and give it a shake (beat from the back). Also, I use paper that really grips the pastel to it. Yes there is dust that falls to the easel shelf but then I remove that fairly quickly. The main thing is not to disturb the dust. Hope that helps 🙂

      Thanks again for commenting. It’s always nice to know someone is reading my blog (otherwise I don’t know!).

      Reply
    1. Gail Sibley

      Thanks so much Sally!!
      And yes, I am lucky having Frank’s words and signature 🙂
      Lucky you getting to New York. I haven’t been there since I was about 18! Guess I need to enter a PSA show……G

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts
Tags
Archives
Scroll to Top

For Collectors

Gail Sibley

Send a Message

Social

How to pastel website logo

Sign Up

Hi! Thanks for your interest in my work. Please join my mailing list! You’ll receive my blog, HowToPastel and lots of other goodies that I share with my communities! 

Your email is precious and will not be exchanged, lent, rented, sold, or become viewable by any third party.