Old Friends and New Ideas

Feb 10, 2023

Old Friends and New Ideas. It is time to dust off some old friends and get them moving again! Pastels were my medium of choice for many years. I missed them! Pastels are almost pure pigment. Scraped across a beautiful piece of cotton paper, they can leave strong, beautiful marks. They can also be as soft and delicate as a butterfly's wing. Michel McNinch, Original Paintings. Weekly Art in your Email. Free to Subscribe.
P A S T E L S

It is time to dust off some old friends and get them moving again! Pastels were my medium of choice for many years. I missed them! It’s been a while. A little practice before starting a large piece sounds like a good idea…

Pastels are almost pure pigment. Scraped across a beautiful piece of cotton paper, they can leave strong, beautiful marks. They can also be soft and delicate like a butterfly’s wing.

Immediately the scratch of the chalk on the paper woke memories for me. Ahh. I love this medium. The dust even smells good.

Here are a few small sketches to get the dust flying.

Old Friends and New Ideas. It is time to dust off some old friends and get them moving again! Pastels were my medium of choice for many years. I missed them! Pastels are almost pure pigment. Scraped across a beautiful piece of cotton paper, they can leave strong, beautiful marks. They can also be as soft and delicate as a butterfly's wing. Michel McNinch, Original Paintings. Weekly Art in your Email. Free to Subscribe.
Moon Snail, 3.5 x 3.5, Pastel
Old Friends and New Ideas. It is time to dust off some old friends and get them moving again! Pastels were my medium of choice for many years. I missed them! Pastels are almost pure pigment. Scraped across a beautiful piece of cotton paper, they can leave strong, beautiful marks. They can also be as soft and delicate as a butterfly's wing. Michel McNinch, Original Paintings. Weekly Art in your Email. Free to Subscribe.
Indian Ocean Shell, 5 x 5, Pastel

The new pastel painting is a commissioned piece, and all must be shared with my collector first (another old friend). BUT! She has seen this image, so here is a little peak at “Little John and his Kingly Court.” That’s my working title anyway…

Old Friends and New Ideas. It is time to dust off some old friends and get them moving again! Pastels were my medium of choice for many years. I missed them! Pastels are almost pure pigment. Scraped across a beautiful piece of cotton paper, they can leave strong, beautiful marks. They can also be as soft and delicate as a butterfly's wing. Michel McNinch, Original Paintings. Weekly Art in your Email. Free to Subscribe.
Little John being held by his Great Grandfather

I am planning to have a great time with this painting. Stay tuned to see the Kingly Court go in. I painted this baby’s Daddy when he was about 4-5 years old. That is how you know you are old. : )

Thank you for being here. Have a great week. I’ll be painting.

Michel

Check out this BEAUTIFUL link to the history of pastels.

Reference: Thea Burns (2007) The Invention of Pastel Painting, Archetype. ISBN 978 1 904982 12 3.

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10 Comments

  1. Roxanne on February 11, 2023 at 7:05 pm

    enjoyed the “history of pastels”. amazing the beauty and softness of the paintings.
    love the shapes and depths of your shells



    • Michel on February 11, 2023 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you! I think pastel has a “kindness” built right in. Soft edges everywhere.



  2. Amy on February 11, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    Beautiful shells!



    • Michel on February 11, 2023 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you Amy.



  3. Robert McNinch on February 12, 2023 at 6:21 am

    Portrait is going to be great ! Love the shells.



    • Michel McNinch on February 12, 2023 at 8:58 am

      Thanks honey! Thank you for helping me get the grid right on the paper.



  4. Dianne Meadow on February 12, 2023 at 8:28 am

    Great sketch for the portrait! The hands of the man are perfect as well as the pose of the baby. Look forward to seeing the finished portrait.



    • Michel McNinch on February 12, 2023 at 8:57 am

      Thank you, Dianne. This portrait means something to me! : ) Sound familiar? I am having a great time with this one!



  5. Rhett Campbell on February 14, 2023 at 9:59 am

    Michele, I so love seeing any of your work!!! Somehow it brightens the moment for me. I have been told that the pastel dust is highly toxic so please, please be careful. I am looking forward to seeing anything you create. Love, Rhett



    • Michel McNinch on February 15, 2023 at 9:32 am

      Oh Rhett! How kind you are. Would love to have you visit at Stormwater Studios!



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