Posted January 5th, 2012 - 5:58 pm by 
from Anchorage, United States (Permalink)
from Anchorage, United States (Permalink)Dear Meinsje:
It was on a trip to Buenos Aires that I plunged back into art, inspired by the tango I was dancing and the sun-lit passionate culture of the city. I am a pastel artist, and like that medium for traveling. I brought with me, on that trip, a batch of large papers and a basic set. Even in a limited 20-piece set, there is a wide range possible of pure pigment color. Add a can of Lascaux fixative (expensive, though it doesn't change the colors or values) or experiment with Degas' own favorite, skim milk and water, and the work will get home OK. Gouache (which I use for underpainting when at home) or watercolor is much messier and less flexible for sketches, at least the way I work. With the addition of hand wipes to keep fingers clean, the pastels are always ready to go and don't need me to go find a water source. Though the time I painted, with hard pan watercolors, the lilies of Monet's pond at Giverney, dipping my cup into the pond's water, it was magical!
There are more options. Some chemical marker-type pens have brush tips that are flexible; some colored pencils can be used as is or washed with water to give a watercolor effect; going B&W with an assortment of graphite pencils in grey tones is another way. How about some linoleum tiles and a few knives and gouges for making prints once you are back home? Or doing monotypes on the spot with basic black ink. . . .
Anyway, if you want to see the results of the BsAs tango trip, check out my website. I'd love to see some of your work. Like the bellydancing photo! Speaks to my tango heart. I hope some of these suggestions help.
Jocelyn
http://www.jocelynpaine.com/
It was on a trip to Buenos Aires that I plunged back into art, inspired by the tango I was dancing and the sun-lit passionate culture of the city. I am a pastel artist, and like that medium for traveling. I brought with me, on that trip, a batch of large papers and a basic set. Even in a limited 20-piece set, there is a wide range possible of pure pigment color. Add a can of Lascaux fixative (expensive, though it doesn't change the colors or values) or experiment with Degas' own favorite, skim milk and water, and the work will get home OK. Gouache (which I use for underpainting when at home) or watercolor is much messier and less flexible for sketches, at least the way I work. With the addition of hand wipes to keep fingers clean, the pastels are always ready to go and don't need me to go find a water source. Though the time I painted, with hard pan watercolors, the lilies of Monet's pond at Giverney, dipping my cup into the pond's water, it was magical!
There are more options. Some chemical marker-type pens have brush tips that are flexible; some colored pencils can be used as is or washed with water to give a watercolor effect; going B&W with an assortment of graphite pencils in grey tones is another way. How about some linoleum tiles and a few knives and gouges for making prints once you are back home? Or doing monotypes on the spot with basic black ink. . . .
Anyway, if you want to see the results of the BsAs tango trip, check out my website. I'd love to see some of your work. Like the bellydancing photo! Speaks to my tango heart. I hope some of these suggestions help.
Jocelyn
http://www.jocelynpaine.com/