A recent pastel

Steve Craighead · 03-13-2007, 07:23 PM

99% of my commissions are in oils. I really miss pastels though. I guess its the tactile nature of it. I've been trying to encourage folks to commission pastels and did this one recently as a sample for one of the portrait agencies. I've gotten a couple nice compliments, just thought I'd share it with the forum.

Steve

Claudemir Bonfim · 03-13-2007, 08:17 PM

That's lovely Steve. Not only the model is pretty, but the whole composition and colors too.

David Draime · 03-13-2007, 09:35 PM

Steve,

This is really, really fine. You have captured such a beautiful countenance - she is so very lovely. Your handling of this medium is perfect, I think. The colors are just right, as well as the degree of finish. Exquisite!

Would it be possible to post a close-up of the face?

David

Chris Saper · 03-13-2007, 11:37 PM

Steve,

WOW. WOW again. It is such a delight to see your work, I always learn something new from seeing your paintings, and from talking to you!

Beautifully handled edges and value/color transitions.

I saw Susan's portrait of you and it is also spectacular. Perhaps she can post it

Linda Brandon · 03-14-2007, 12:49 AM

Steve, this one is outstanding. You've handled these values so sensitively and with such enviable skill. I love how you've vignetted this, too. It's always a pleasure to see your work.

Karine Monaco · 03-14-2007, 07:25 AM

Steve,

I rarely see paintings that look so alive, and it's just a photograph of it (I am sure I could spend hours looking at it "for real") !

Many people are skilled enough to do good portraits, but you are more than that. You are very talented, and this one is excellent ! I can feel that you admired that little lady's soul. You must have had a great time painting her, especially with pastel.

I thank you very much for sharing with us.

I must admit that I didn't know your work quite well, but you are now on my favorite painters' list ;-)

Sincerely,
Karine

Sharon Knettell · 03-19-2007, 02:13 PM

Steve,

I forgot where to put the c in Duveneck!

I saw it in a book I have. I will try and find you a link.

I have been experimenting with life sized pastels myself and buy any book that has an example. I believe either Largilliere or Boucher did a 60" pastel of Madame Du Barry or Madame Pompadour. In the 18th century pastels were all the rage until the Salon refused to show them. The pastels were more brilliant that the paintings and the oil painters were jealous and prevented them from being shown, thus the decline.

Karine Monaco · 03-20-2007, 08:29 AM

Hi Steve, and thank you for answering my question.
I will try to find some pumice similar to yours here in France and give it a try.

Concerning de La Tour, this artist is well-known for wanting to always create perfect artworks. He also spent all his life trying tons of recipes to obtain the perfect fixative, that would not alter the colors, and that would protect the paintings from time damages. I remember consulting a website about this matter. They were showing differences between his different artworks when using such or such fixative of his own. Specialists of his work say that he finally found "the" recipe, but that no written notes about this fixative has been discovered to this day.
I unfortunately do not remember the website's address, since I saved it on another computer. I will try to find it again.

De La Tour was also known in his times as the pastel painter who could show his models' souls. And it is true that his portraits were very strong. You really can feel how he perceived people's minds. That is impressive.
Thank you for posting these two portraits, Steve. I LOVE to see pastel portraits, expecially De La Tour's.

And Sharon, thank you for the information about pastels not welcomed into Salons because of the oil painters competition. This could explain so many things, to me.
Did you, Sharon, post some of these nudes on the forum? I would love to see them.

I myself generally paint almost life-size pastel portraits and nudes. I will think about posting some in the nudes section, for any critiques you may have.

Sincerely,
Karine

Sharon Knettell · 03-19-2007, 01:46 PM

Steve,

She is so lovely.

I love pastels as well. Have thousands of the little sticks myself. There is a wonderful freedom about pastels that is hard to describe.

Duvenek did a wonderful full sized nude in pastel.

Do some for yourself. Don't wait for a commission.

Steve Craighead · 03-19-2007, 02:02 PM

Thanks Sharon. That Duveneck pastel sounds very interesting. Do you have a link or photo?