Day 29 - Looking Forward

"Looking Forward"
 8 x 10
 oil pastel on board
available here

This was the third garden path painting in a row, and I think my favorite!  Painted on board prepared with Golden acrylic pastel grounds.  I used a Nupastel and alcohol wash underpainting.

Stay tuned for the last pieces in my 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge, and a recap!

Bethany

Days 27 and 28 - Two Garden Paths

"Spring Light"
oil pastel on board, 10 x 10
$75

"Quiet Walk"
oil pastel on board, 6 x 6
$45

Almost through with the Challenge, up to 28 of 30 paintings! We had a warm, springlike day yesterday and I was inspired to paint some garden pieces.  I'd like to go on some trips to local gardens again this Spring.  These were painted from photos I took at the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill, NC. Both are available on my new website.

Both were painted on tan rag board primed with clear Golden pastel grounds.  I underpainted in Nupastels with an alcohol wash. I underpainted on these to fill in the grooves created by the primer. I didn't want them to be dark tan in the grooves, it would be too distracting.

Stay tuned for the final finish of my Challenge!  30 Paintings in 30 Days has been a great exercise to experiment with techniques and make me paint faster.

Thanks for reading!
Bethany

Days 25 and 26 - Mountain View I and II

Mountain View I
6 x 6, oil pastel on board

Mountain View II
6 x 6, oil pastel on board

Here are a pair of Blue Ridge pieces that stand alone (above) or as a pair (below).  Both are available here on my new website!

These were painted on rag board primed with Golden's Acrylic Pastel ground.  I used underpainting in Nupastel with an alcohol wash.  I love all of the marks that you get when you brush your own ground onto the board.

Stay tuned, I am almost caught up and finished with the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge!

Bethany

Day 24 - Marina Reflection

"Marina Reflection"
oil pastel on paper
5 x 7
click to bid here

A little study based on some pictures I took in Cape Charles, Virginia at the marina.  I loved the reflections and was finally ready to try to paint some boats!  These would work well as larger pieces, as the small detail is hard to capture in this size.

Painted on Sabretooth light blue sanded pastel paper with no underpainting.  I didn't really like this surface for such a detailed piece in this size.  It works better for simple pieces like "Sunshine" seen here.

Stay tuned, and thank you for reading!

Bethany

Day 19 - Washington Monument in Autumn

"Washington Monument in Autumn"
oil pastel on paper
4 x 8
available here

I had to do this painting in honor of Inauguration Day.  I took this photo in October of 2011 during our visit to Washington DC.  We love visiting our good friend Jessica, and she always takes us to all of the best spots!  We took our daughter to all of the sights, and though she won't remember this trip, we will
have the pictures to remember her first visit to our Nation's Capitol!

visiting with Jessica
November 2011

Thanks for reading!

Bethany

Day 17 - Brunch with the Girls

"Brunch with the Girls"
pastel on board
5 x 7
available here

This was an amusing photo that I took in Charlestown, New Hampshire last summer.  Our second cousin in Vermont goes to a 4-H group called the Charlestown Dairy Club, and they were sweet enough to take me there to take pictures early one Saturday morning.  This is where all of my Holstein photos came from!

reference photo
(note I took out the right cow to keep an odd number)

This was challenging in such a small size. But it was a good study for perhaps a larger piece, maybe 6 x 12 or 8 x 16.  I only used Nupastels on Pastelbord.  I was planning on doing a wash with alcohol and then using oil pastel, but I got carried away with detail and didn't want to wash away the Nupastel. So this is the second piece in the series that is solely Nupastel.  Do I see a trend forming?

I need to get another set of Nupastels soon.   I only have the 24 color set that I have had since college.  I'd love the 48 or 96 piece sets, going to keep my eyes peeled on eBay or for any good sales!

Also have been working on a new website...going to migrate my blog back to bethanybryant.blogspot.com and have a cleaner "gallery" site at bethanybryantart.com.  Check out what I have so far here: bethanybryant.weebly.com.

Stay tuned!
Bethany

Day 14 - Cool Cow

"Cool Cow"
pastel on board
5" x 7"
available here

Day 14 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  I couldn't resist the title, "Cool Cow" but I considered naming her "Fannie."  She was staying cool in front of the fan in the barn, a girl after my own heart!

Painted on Pastelbord in Nupastels.  A change from my usual oil pastels, I was doing the underpainting in Nupastel and couldn't bear to apply the alcohol and see her washed away!  I may do some more soft pastels in the future, I just know that it will lead to more art supply purchases!  You never can have too many oil pastels, and my soft pastel supply is limited.  

Stay tuned for more catch up posts...I am finished with Day 16 already and will be finishing Day 17 today (Friday).  Stay tuned!

Bethany

Nora

"Nora"
oil pastel on paper
5' x 4"
view auction here

A quick study to try out a new paper before I use it for a large commission.  This is on UART 500 grit sanded paper.  I liked the tooth and its ability to hold up to a watercolor wash. Next I will try another technique for underpainting with the UART.

I loved this view because I thought she looks so sweet!  I love Jerseys and their feminine lashes and beautiful colors.

Thank you for reading!

Bethany

Quiet Wonder

Quiet Wonder10" x 8"
oil pastel on paper

I loved the innocence and quiet in this photograph of my daughter.  The sun was getting high in the sky, making for strong overhead light.  Painted with Erengi and Sennelier oil pastels over a Nupastel/alcohol wash underpainting.  On salmon-colored Sabretooth sanded paper.

Thank you for reading!
Bethany