The first painting in 2010

Today I started my pastel painting - using a watercolor underpainting shown here.  I am using Ampersand PastelBord in white.   I used the waterbottle to spray water on, then tapped the sky colors in, let them spread and bleed.  Then I used a papertowel to dab out the  clouds, and a hairdryer to stop the spread.  Next I tilted my board and did mountains and foreground, so the moisture would bleed down instead of up into the sky.

Break time!  I hope to work this afternoon and tomorrow morning on this ... I have the easle up and ready to go ...

I have a lot of busy times ahead!  My Mom is moving up here tomorrow!  I'll be helping her unpack and get settled in her new home.  Then, this weekend my husband and I leave for a vacation in Costa Rica.  We are packing very, very light.  No computer.  So, I won't be posting to my blog.  But stay tuned, we will be back in a week and I'll tell you (and maybe paint) the beautiful butterflies and birds that are in that tropical country!