Blog Archives
Q: Do you plan your work in advance or is it improvisation?
Barbara’s studio
A: My process is somewhere in between those two. I work from my own set-up or on-site photographs and make a preliminary sketch in charcoal before I start a pastel painting. Thousands of decisions about composition, color, etc. occur as I go along.
Although it starts out somewhat planned, I have no idea what a pastel painting will look like when it’s finished. Each piece takes about three months, not counting foreign travel, research, and a gestation period of several months to determine what the next pastel painting will even be.
Comments are welcome!
Q: What’s on the easel today?
Preliminary charcoal sketch in progress.
A: I am starting a new preliminary sketch for my next pastel painting. This will be number nine in the “Bolivianos” series!
In 2018 I made six new pastel paintings, which is more than usual. The last time I created six in one year was 1996!
Comments are welcome!
Q: What’s on the easel today?
Preliminary sketch
A: I’m working on a preliminary charcoal drawing for my next large pastel painting. It will be number seven in the “Bolivianos” series.
Comments are welcome!
Start/Finish of “Survivors,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 20″ x 26,” 2017
Erased charcoal underdrawing
Finished and signed
Comments are welcome!
Start/Finish of “Conundrum,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 38″ x 58″ image, 50″ x 70″ framed
Rough charcoal drawing on sandpaper
Finished
Comments are welcome!
Start/Finish of “Charade”
Charcoal underdrawing
“Charade,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 38″ x 58″
Comments are welcome!
Q: What’s on the easel today?
Preliminary drawing
A: I am ready to start a preliminary charcoal drawing as a study for my next pastel painting. It has been a while since I worked with the Mexican figures in the photo on the left. It’s like a reunion with dear friends!
Comments are welcome!
Start/Finish of “Poker Face,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 38″ x 58″image, 50″ x 70″ framed
Preliminary charcoal sketch
Finished
Q: Start/Finish of “Epiphany,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 38″ x 58″ image, 50″ x 70″ framed
Roughed out in charcoal
Finished, signed lower left
Start/Finish of “Incognito,” soft pastel on sandpaper, 38″ x 58″ image, 50″ x 70″ framed
C-print and preliminary charcoal sketch
Finished
Comments are welcome!
