Mary River Rocks
Artists Palette|No 169
This pastellist doesn’t generally work from photographs, because the camera sees things so differently … and she tends to lose the mood, spontaneity and enjoyment of the work when she views a camera’s images of a landscape she has been painting.
Alison Worsnop
Mary River Rocks

MATERIALS

• Red Canson Mi-Teintes paper.
• Steel outdoor easel (Italian made) – heavy enough to be stable and easy to carry and set up.
• Tripod table: An adapted cheap plastic tray which can be screwed onto a camera tripod.
• Pastels.
• Fixative spray.
• Drinking water, hat, sunscreen, a small tarpaulin for shade; and (sometimes) a painting dog for company.

THE PASTELS

I keep my ‘outdoor’ set in a cheap plastic fisherman’s box – the kind with compartments used to keep hooks and lures. I pack the pastels in with cotton wool or rice, so the rougher the journey, the cleaner they get. I use all kinds from the softest Unison, Schmincke, Sennelier, Art Spectrum, Winsor & Newton, to the relatively hard Rembrandt, Conte sticks and pastel pencils, and now the American Pan Pastels. The more colours the better. I never have enough. In this painting I used a wide range of colours, hardnesses and makes of pastels – but the indispensable ones were: Art Spectrum Flinders Red Violet and Flinders Blue Violet; Schmincke Dark Green and Grey Green; Red, Green, Purple and Black Pan Pastels; Rembrandt, W&N and Unison Grey-Pinks, Grey Mauves, Reds and Oranges; Pan Pastel and Unison White, Light Greens, Warm Yellows, Oranges and Warm Blues.

This story is from the No 169 edition of Artists Palette.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the No 169 edition of Artists Palette.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ARTISTS PALETTEView All
Eye of Observation
Artists Palette

Eye of Observation

Draw, draw, and draw some more; develop your artist’s eye of observation. Sterling advice from a lady who believes that seeing shapes in paintings requires a truly ‘arty’ eye.

time-read
6 mins  |
No 172
Pelicans To Portraits
Artists Palette

Pelicans To Portraits

This lady has painted everything from pelicans to portraits. She has completed commissions including cats, dogs, horses, possums, numerous beach scenes … and even a Scottish piper.

time-read
5 mins  |
No 172
Gregory John Brennan: Lost Profession
Artists Palette

Gregory John Brennan: Lost Profession

Looking back on his early career as a bulldozer driver, this rural New South Wales painter laments the days when he was too young to appreciate his outstanding potential as an artist.

time-read
3 mins  |
No 172
Pastels: Once We Were Important
Artists Palette

Pastels: Once We Were Important

A simplified and well named painting tells a powerful and interesting story. This clever pastel artist is delighted to share her techniques for the benefit of others.

time-read
4 mins  |
No 172
Fibre Art
Artists Palette

Fibre Art

This artist feels that the hardest lesson she had to learn was to believe in herself … and once she did that, everything started to fall into place and her confidence grew.

time-read
5 mins  |
No 172
Water Lily Magic
Artists Palette

Water Lily Magic

Instead of paper and paint, this artist uses fabric and threads … and she uses a sewing machine instead of a brush. The textures, colours and prints of fabrics thrown together with threads fascinate her, and often give inspiration for her designs.

time-read
2 mins  |
No 172
Loading Wheat – 1920s
Artists Palette

Loading Wheat – 1920s

It is rare to see an artist displaying this level of skill and understanding in capturing the activity and atmosphere of bygone days from Australia’s agricultural history.

time-read
1 min  |
No 172
‘Jama' – King Cheetah
Artists Palette

‘Jama' – King Cheetah

This exquisitely talented lady believes that every artist has failures … but it is important to remember that every success is better than the one before.

time-read
5 mins  |
No 172
Blahuta's Ute
Artists Palette

Blahuta's Ute

Early in the year we ran a feature about ‘Utes in the Paddock’ – a landmark project by several notable artists. In this article, one of those artists shares his story and some of his views … and describes the process of creating his own piece of an amazing collaborative work.

time-read
4 mins  |
No 172
Artists Palette

Artists' Easels

Many important tools are employed by artists in creating their paintings. Artists’ easels are now available in a host of styles and configurations to enhance the creative process. Some of your favourite art materials suppliers are more than pleased to highlight a selection of the many products being offered.

time-read
7 mins  |
No 172