Adriano,

Thank-you for that informative demonstration. I can see why your method results in such lively skin-tones in pastel.

There are two painters, both American that work with complementary colors in the skin-tones. Frieseke and Stuart, the artist who did the famous portraits of our first president, George Washington. They have quite a few of his in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Even though he painted in the 18th century his skin-tones are as impressionistic as Klimt. I was quite amazed when I saw them in person.

I don't have time now to post a Frieseke now, but his skin-tones and paintings are a riot of color.

What are your colors, how many pastels do you have and what brands?

I've got a little box (45 pastels) and i use few colours for the portrait.
About ten for the complexion ! I usually buy Rembrandt ,just becouse
I don't know other brands.
Do you think that this procedure will suite to the oil painting ?
I saw that your oil painting looks like a pastel.
Adriano

Adriano,

You do so much with so few pastels, I have, I am embarrased to say, about 3,000 at least.

I have found some example of Frederick Carl Frieseke, an American artist who lived in Paris around the time of Monet, in fact they were freinds and lived within walking distance of each other.

His work vibrates with color. I had never heard of him until I came across a magnificent painting of his in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

This man knew the laws and meaning of color.

Hi Sharon
THanks for these beautifull pastels !!!
I suppose they are quite big ,aren't they? I knew Frieseke, but sometime
I thought his pastels were oils. Anyway Idin't know them . As soon as possible I' ll work for a similar pastel trying to get the some effect.
Thanks again
Adriano

Actually Adriano, they are beautiful oils.Here is a link to his work on the Art
Renewal site: http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=2056

Hi sharon
Thanks anyway becouse now I have somebody to be inspire by for my oil painting!
Ciao

Adriano,

Here's more from another of my favorite painters.

You should see these close up. We have quite a few of his at local museums as he was a New England native. He actually taught at my school, the Boston Museum School, unfortunately way before my time.
The school, though still well known has really gone down hill. They taught me how to mix sand with my paint when I was there.

"Sic transit gloria!" Sigh!

I am not familiar with any Italian artists that are impressionists, past or present. Are there any?

Hi Sharon
You 're so nice!!!
I know him very well.Once I made a copy of his painting and I 'll send it to you in the future.I got many books about American Impressionism. One of my favorite landscape painters is Willard Metcalf, but I like Robinson, Twatchman ,Hassm,Chase too.
They all don't paint "alla prima" and some of them (Robinson and Benson)helped themselves by using photographs.. In Italy there was a movement called "divisionismo", that means that the painter used little complementary strokes to make a texture obtained by scratching the surface after painting . Some of the painters were Segantini,Pellizza da Volpedo,Previati , Morbelli. Now the best impressionist master I now leaves in Milano . I 've got two books of his and tomorrow I'll send the photos to you.
Ciao
Adriano

Adriano,

I would love to see them!

Actually, from what I read about Impressionism, it would be very difficult to do Alla Prima. Monet's work were all built up layer by layer, they are quite crusty.

It is too bad you cannot see the Benson's up close. They have a surprisingly rough surface and the color is built up of myriads of little specks of color. They really are quite beautiful.

The seascape painting is at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum., quite near where I live. Eleanor is at the Boston museum, not to far as well. I love to study them.

I know he used photography, but his color sense was so refined and intuitve, he coould make a dull twig sing.

[QUOTE=Sharon Knettell]Adriano,

Hi Sharon
You may be don't know an extraordinary site that enhables you to get the blowing up of a painting.
Go to http://www.terraamericanart.org/coll...urrentrecord=1
You'll be able to see every level of his painting.
Ciao
Adriano