Lake Michigan Beach #3

Same beach...I really did love it there! Sunset towards the south.

Lake Michigan beach #3      8x10 pastel on Canson paper

Lake Michigan Beach #2

Same beach as #1, but another time of day. Can you spot the differences?

Lake Michigan Beach #2 8x10 pastel on Canson paper

Lake Michigan Beach #1

One of my favorite places on our road trip this summer was a campground along the shores of Lake Michigan when the day was warm, the water clear and cool, and we had the beach all to ourselves. It was a golden time...a rich memory that I want to keep forever! I thought about doing a painting while we were there, but was too busy just enjoying the sun and sand.We spent the whole afternoon in our swim suits on the beach. Ahhhh. So I took pictures instead, and here is my first pastel painting of the area...and I think it won't be the last one. :)

Lake Michigan Beach #1 8x10 pastel on Canson paper

Fall River Lake, Kansas

Fall River Lake,Kansas 8 x 10 pastel on Canson paper, textured side

Lake Hasty

Lake Hasty, 8 x 10 pastel on blue Canson paper

The sun was already sinking, so this pastel was done quickly, in only 30 minutes. It was a very hot evening in eastern Colorado

Watching for the Bear

Watching for the Bear, 8 x 10 pastel on orange Canson paper

Sonora Bridge Vista

Finally, my first published artwork after waaaaay too long! At our campsite the day before, I had time to sit and paint an image of our view. There were a few things I didn't like about it, so it is now called a "study", and today, using that reference, I repainted it to share with you here. My favorite parts of the picture are the colorful sage bushes in the forground. The southwest certainly has wonderful shades of green that look beautiful against the reddish colored rocks and soil!

Sonora Bridge Vista 8 x 10 pastel on gray Canson paper

Sarah wondered if using pastels is called drawing or painting, and the best answer would be "both". Pastels can be used for drawing, and many people use them that way, but when the entire support (paper) is covered with color, it is called a painting. Drawing is generally done with lines, whereas the way most pastel artists use the medium is by applying it with broad strokes and blending on the paper....sort of like painting with your fingertips. That's the way I work, and so I refer to my finished pieces as paintings. Good question!