Cascade Head, Proposal Rock Sunset (Pastel)

Pastel painting/sketch of Cascade Head, viewed from Proposal Rock, at sunset. Pastels on 9x12 Bristol board smooth.

A study for an oil painting I've been wanting to do... Perhaps I should create a new category called "Painting Fail" because this sketch turned out as IT intended rather than what I had in mind. Even so, it gives me some ideas about what I do (and don't) want to do in a larger work.

By the way, Proposal Rock is the spot where we lose people every year because of sneaker waves. In fact, you see one coming at you right now! This is just 9 miles from my home base. ...Last year, there was a story about a guy who took his fiance there to propose to her and she got washed away by one of those waves. It was heart-rending enough to make national news. We also lost a middle-aged woman here just last week, but that probably didn't make it to Fark and Drudge. It's like a beautiful death trap. I just thought I'd share that with you.

Nestucca River Oregon Pastel Painting

At last, a new work! ...It was high time I worked with my pastels again; as a teenage artist I was known for my pastels but for some reason I've just drifted away from them. Today, pastels are back.

This work was completed just this morning. Total time to complete: About 2 hours. I've painted this subject before, but it is a beautiful area and I wanted to revisit it. Now, I did this using my plen air drawing board and paper (Canson 9x12 recycled). Had I used a paper with more tooth, I could have added additional values but the paper was saturated so this is what we have.

As it has been a while since I worked in pastels, it felt a little awkward at first. But I got comfy fairly quickly. I could be wrong but I think it's a keeper.

UPDATE: I used this painting as a reference for a slightly larger version. That painting was entered in the local county fair art competition. It won FIRST PLACE for landscape on paper and BEST IN CLASS (All works on paper).