"a moment of reflection" 12"x16" pastel on black Uart 400
A dream is a seed. Vision plants it. Imagination nurtures growth. Opportunities create blooms. Reflection becomes reality. Donna McGoff
I went for a walk with a friend and stopped by a pond to talk. It was a beautiful winter day and the reflection on the water was inspiring to me. All through our conversation , I kept looking at the scene and commenting on it.
I took some photos with my iPhone. It wasn't that great - but it planted the seed in me. I wanted to paint what I was FEELING about my conversation with my friend and the reflection (representing my own life reflections) on the water.
The photo was only the seed, the inspiration.....
I started in my sketch book with a pencil drawing blocking in the shapes and values. I pulled out some pastel pencils and did another small sketch with some color ideas. I worked on some other drawing ideas but this one kept speaking to me.......
Next, I decided to pull out my pastels and painted some quick 20 minute small (6"x9") paintings from my reference photos to get down what seemed important to me. I liked this small painting so much, it said what I was feeling. I almost stopped there.
I have continued to struggle with painting with my life changes. I don't have a studio space and living temporarily with a friend - but it was time for me to pull out my pastels and set up to paint this idea in my head.
I had painted the quick small painting on black UART 400 paper and decided to stick with it for a larger version. I blocked in the darkest values and painted on....
black UART 400 with darkest values as starting point
a small detail half way through the painting
progressions of the sky and water reflection.
I still favor my quick 20 minute version of this idea. These quick paints force me to put down what is important with no worries about trying to make it a beautiful painting. I hope you enjoy the final version. It is more from my imagination inspired by the scene and my feelings. Comments are always welcome.
Art is not a reflection of reality, it is the reality of a reflection. Jean-Luc Godard
