I use soft pastels, which are sticks of compressed pigment held together by a small amount of binder, gum or kaolin clay. I work on black, heavy, acid-free, cotton paper. Pastel is a very permanent media which allows my artwork to remain vivid and beautiful for hundreds of years.
I shoot photos of rural scenes and gardens. I take various images and make a compilation sketch. I transfer that to my paper and make a larger drawing. I add my own dramatic light source. Pastel is applied and blended with my fingers. The finished pastel is then given to my wife Kathy, who adds her artistic flair with a custom mat and frame.
Without sunlight, all life on earth would cease. This simple law of nature causes us to be tied physically and emotionally to light. Its importance creates connections to our feelings. I want to encourage a spiritual response from my audience. I hope that the use of light in my paintings, engages the viewer in an experience that is a reminder of how vital nature is to us.
