I decided to translate another pastel painting that I had done en plein air about three years ago at my favorite place to vacation. Located on the north coast of California, on a beach just outside of Trinidad.
I always enjoy translating a painting to another medium but for some reason I didn’t enjoy this one as much because having to draw it out and being “careful”, it was boring. Yes, I do like to live on the edge of my seat, you haven’t noticed that yet? I decided to use an opaque white not that I didn’t save my whites (or did I?) for the breakers, I did it just because. I am not so sure if I liked how it turned out. In the original it doesn’t look so stuck on as it does in the photo, a little easier on the eyes in real life.
My husband will be coming home on Wednesday from a fire assignment up in the northwest corner of the state. I’ll be spending some time reacquainting myself with having my husband back, I might go missing for the rest of the week. Who knows I might sneak back in here or go paint and post, we’ll see!
Learning points:
- Go plein air painting just for kicks when I am needing a little more excitement!
- Learn the fine line between being careful and letting loose, I prefer letting loose.
- Keeping my whites and not getting lazy about it is key.
- Paint when inspired! it shows in the painting if I am ho hum.
Yuba Gold 
Not having ever tried pastels, I’m first just so impressed by how beautiful you did that first one! And the translation is lovely… it’s so cool to see these converted to watercolor. I particularly love the distant rocks in the second one. Really nice work!
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Thank you Charlie! I wouldn’t mind trying it again but instilling the same feeling and drama that I have in the pastel. I am beginning to understand that sometimes it takes several passes to get what I want.
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what fun! what lovely colors! its a great idea to do a subject like this, in two different mediums and see the effects from both. I liked that last learning point too!! lol
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Repeating a motif always provides something new to learn. Sure, you’re bound sometimes to like one version more than another. Whenever two things are compared one usually becomes the “winner.” Nothing wrong with that. If you do another one in watercolor, no doubt, you can address still different aspects of the scene. And it’ll be as though you put that landscape inside your brain — and what a lovely landscape to have hidden away in one’s thoughts — a beautiful beach with dramatic, enormous rocks!
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you are so right! it is only natural to choose which one is better or the favorite when comparing. Yep, nothing wrong with that.
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wow – so talented to be able to do both and do them so well!!!!
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thank you Jodi, you warmed my heart 🙂
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The original pastel water looks amazing – so real and fresh! Your watercolor is a fabulous variation. This reminds me of something my mother in law told me – never plant just two of the same plants in a garden because you’ll always compare one against the other. Plant one or three or more! LOL
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exactly!
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Emotional Freedom !
Aleks.
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😉
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I love your pastels!
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thank you!
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Nice! That’s also one of my favorite spots on the planet.
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yep! been going there over 20 years!
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You are so talented to be able to work so beautifully in both of these mediums. I think it translated well; love the glare of the sun on the ridge top and the gorgeous colors of the water in both – it’s like I’m right there. Thank you, Margaret. ❤
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awww! I try! believe it was magical being there on the beach painting the first one in pastel.
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It looks like magic on the page, that’s for sure!
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