Author Archives: Richard

Pastel Pointers with Richard McKinley | IAPS 2013 | A Pastel Family Reunion

IAPS 2013 workshops

The tenth biennial International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) convention was held recently in Albuquerque, N.M. More than 600 artists who work in pastel converged at the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town for what has come to be referred to as a “Pastel Family Reunion.” Full Article

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Painting Sites | Revisiting Old Friends

061013A-mckinley-pastel-pointers

Painting at the same landscape site again and again allows a pastel landscape painter to add more depth of purpose to his or her work. Full Article

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Pastel Techniques | Answers for a “Mounting” Problem | Part 2

Neutral pH bookbinding adhesive and Double Tack mounting film

Most custom framing businesses are capable of doing various dry- and wet-mounting methods of pastel surfaces that meet current archival standards. But, due to the expense, many artists choose to do it for themselves. When doing it yourself, your first consideration has to be the archival quality of the products you use … Full Article

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Pastel Techniques | Answers for a “Mounting” Problem, Part 1

pastel-pointers

Since the inception of the Pastel Pointers Blog nearly six years ago, one of the most frequently ask questions I hear concerns how best to mount pastel papers in advance of wet underpainting techniques. Artists that utilize a wet painting technique on a paper surface understand the issues involved in retaining a flat working surface. This has lead to procedures involving sizing, stretching and mounting of paper prior to painting. Full Article

Posted in Art Mediums & Drawing, Get Pastel Journal, the Ultimate Resource for Pastel Artists, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More, Richard McKinley's Pastel Pointers Blog, Top Art Blogs | Tagged Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More | Comments Off

Pastel Pointers | Shades of Green, Part 2

pastel pointers may 20, 2013

Green can be a tough color to handle, but with color temperature finesse, sensitive observation, wise selection, and artistic permission to sometimes tweak reality for the sake of a harmonious outcome, a successful lush painting can be achieved. Full Article

Posted in Art Mediums & Drawing, Get Pastel Journal, the Ultimate Resource for Pastel Artists, Landscape Painting: Techniques & Tutorials, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More, Richard McKinley's Pastel Pointers Blog, Subject, Top Art Blogs | Tagged Landscape Painting: Techniques & Tutorials, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More | Comments Off

Pastel Pointers | Shades of Green, Part 1

pastel pointers with Richard McKinley May 13, 2013

Put two or more landscape painters together and inevitably, the topic of how to handle green arises. Skillfully finessing green requires an understanding of its relationship to and interaction with the other colors of the spectrum and ultimately a degree of theatrics. These skills are even more pertinent during the season of Spring when the bones of Winter begin to adorn themselves with the most intense green foliage. Full Article

Posted in Art Mediums & Drawing, Get Pastel Journal, the Ultimate Resource for Pastel Artists, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More, Richard McKinley's Pastel Pointers Blog, Top Art Blogs | Tagged Landscape Painting: Techniques & Tutorials | Comments Off

Painting En Plein Air, Part 2 | Field Sketch Painting

Field Sketch Painting

In last week’s blog post, I described the thumbnail/value sketches involved in the first part of a plein air painting process I refer to as “Field Sketch Painting.” Once these sketches are evaluated to see if the composition is worthwhile, it is time to start the pastel painting. Full Article

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Painting En Plein Air, Part 1 | The Field Sketch

pastel-pointers

Every serious artist understands the importance of working from life. Whether it’s the still life, portrait or landscape, there’s no reference material that can replace the experience of interpreting subject matter one-on-one. While it’s never easy to progress from painting from photo reference to painting from life, it takes special concentration to do so in the landscape with the ever-changing lighting and conditions. This, along with the overwhelming vastness of the landscape, can stymie even the most technically advanced pastelist. Full Article

Posted in Art Articles: Education & Topics, Art Mediums & Drawing, Get Pastel Journal, the Ultimate Resource for Pastel Artists, Landscape Painting: Techniques & Tutorials, Pastel Art Techniques Painting Landscapes & More, Richard McKinley's Pastel Pointers Blog, Subject, Top Art Blogs | Tagged Landscape Painting: Techniques & Tutorials, plein air painting | Comments Off

Maggie Price | A Pastel Artist Remembered

richard mckinley pastel pointers

On April 4, 2013, the pastel community lost one of its most beloved champions, Maggie Price, to a short but courageous battle with brain cancer. Maggie began working with the medium in 1990 and her love for it blossomed eight years later into The Pastel Journal magazine, which she co-founded with fellow artist and friend, Janie Hutchinson. Maggie served as editor and art director, while her husband Bill Canright, an artist as well, handled the advertising department. Full Article

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Lessons From Da Vinci | When Is Your Painting Finished?

mona lisa

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” A Da Vinci exhibition I saw at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Ore., reminded me of the struggles artists have deciding when a piece of artwork is finished. The exhibition was filled with models and examples of da Vinci’s creative and scientific ingenuity. Of particular interest to painters were the sections dedicated to Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Full Article

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