4 Jun 2017

Plein Air Pastel tip no.3 : The setup

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Foto: Svenja Starke, 2017

There’s a huge selection on easels available and you must find the one that fits you and your purse. I made a decision for the Mabef 23 for two reasons: I can use it in really windy situations. I rather won’t be able to draw a straight line with a brush than that my easel will be rurned over.  If it gets too windy just place a bag with sand on the end of the easel. I also can use it for pastel and oil without needing an extra easel.

Furthermore I can attach the Best Brella easily.

Foto: Anne Fuchs, 2017

With my pastels I just place them on top of the drawer. Be aware that you might want to secure with an expander.

Foto: Astrid Volquardsen 2017

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27 May 2017

Sketch: Hygieia fountain at the Hamburger town hall

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Sketch: Hygieia fountain, Guache and ink, 2017, Astrid Volquardsen

I was totally surprised that you have open access to the courtyard of the Hamburger town hall. I was immediately drawn to the fountain and it ticked off so many new ideas.

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11 Jun 2017

New address for my website

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After all those years I decided that it’s time for a new web domain and move my content to www.volquardsen.art. It makes more sense to show my pastels and my oil paintings under my name and to stop the confusion. Please update your bookmarks!

I have a new email adress as well: astrid[at]volquardsen.art (please replace the [at] with the correct @ character).
The blog-update will be send from the email address info[at]volquardsen.art.

Please add my new address(es) to your contact list.

For my blog subscribers: You don’t have to do anything we transferred your subscriptions to my new site.

A nice side effect of the move to my new web address: I can create nice looking blog udpate emails!

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25 May 2017

Plein Air Pastel Tip #2

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You don’t want to fiddle around with paper sizes so that’s why I always cut in advance my format.
It’s important that you can secure your paintings in case of rain. So a quick and easy solution comes in handy.

Foto: Astrid Volquardsen 2017

I use multiple layers of transparent paper and tuck them together.

Foto: Astrid Volquardsen 2017

Foto: Astrid Volquardsen 2017

After finishing the painting I remove the tape and put it between the sheets of paper. Just in case the painting isn’t finished I can leave it on the gessobord.

Foto: Astrid Volquardsen 2017

After that I put it in a water proved bag.

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20 May 2017

Plein Air Pastel Rügen

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Our homes for the week, Foto Astrid Volquardsen

There are painting workshops who will leave a deep impact on the artist soul and this journey to the island of Rügen was one of them. A truly remarkable group, super weather, wonderful place, hard working students,  good food, easygoing laughter,…did I forget something? Ah, sore muscles as well from carrying the material. Never trust a teacher when it comes to distance. But the most beautiful paintings came into existence down at the coast. Some motives are worth the pain.

Nachmittagsstudie, Pastell, 20×20cm, Astrid Volquardsen

We met the usual bunch of people with all kinds of comments but the house owner in Groß Stresow will be kept in my memory.

The green folding shutter, Pastel, 13×13cm, 2017, Astrid Volquardsen

Just when we needed it the most he showed up with a pot of coffee.

Dear workshop participants:Thank you for being part of this group. This was a a »living in the moment« experience.

Foto: Astrid Volquardsen, 2017

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12 May 2017

Plein Air Pastel Tips #1

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Foto: Astrid Volquardsen 2017

Ahhh, I can hear a sigh of relief from my pastel lovers: finally.

Tomorrow I will be heading towards one of the most beautiful islands Germany has to offer: the islands of Rügen in the far North East. I will be giving a plein air workshop in pastel and I thought this might be the opportunity to share some tips for painting with pastel en plein air.

How to choose a pallet

As pastel artist we need a certain collection of sticks to paint from. I usually advice not to buy the sets offered by different manufacturers but to choose from the open stock. In the end it’s cheaper.

  • Google for some photos of your painting location. Look at the colors at the different seasons. They can vary a lot so choose the colors of the season you’re travelling.
  • I work on the softer end of pastel range, because I like to blend a lot in my first layers. So I have to make sure that I have a supply of Sennelier. On top of that I use Unison or Terry Ludwig .There are artist who prefer the harder range. Just make sure it fits to your paper and painting style.
  • Be aware that you need really dark and light colors.
  • Almost more important are the neutrals colors, with low intensity. Here lies the secret of a good landscape painting. A special blog post on this follows.
  • I don’t take any black/ white colors with me. The sticks I use for the sky are light greens, or yellows or blues. This makes a sky luminance.

Then there is a point where you just have to close your pastel box and hope that you have the right color. And if not? Don’t whine but make the best out of it and find a solution that works.

 

In the photograph you can see the Heilmann Back pack Box from Heilmann design.

A much cheaper alternative in Europe is offered by Jackson Art supplies:  Empty Wooden Pastel Cases.

 

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