I work with soft pastels en plein air. Because my 'studio' is outdoors on location, I tend to choose perfect days when the day itself seems to tell you stop everything and come look closer at the world. A blue sky day when the air is crisp, the light is shimmering. All of us should listen to that call, because perfect days are like a string of pearls...a precious treasure.
It is Friday, May 22, 2009. A perfect day in Ithaca, New York. Lilacs in bloom perfuming the air, color splashes of tulips everywhere. We are still getting used to the full technicolor of spring and the return of green…the trees are now fully leafed out and even though it has only been a week or two, it is almost impossible to envision bare trees. Everyone is outside, savoring the warmth (but not too warm…in the 70s) and the light. They are thinking about mowing lawns, working in the garden.
I am thinking about those things too, and also about getting out there today and capturing the natural beauty all around me on paper.
Throughout spring, summer and fall I will be working outdoors in pastels and recording my NOTES FROM THE FIELD here, posting new work in my online gallery. Stay tuned!
