This month I’m hosting Wetcanvas’ Oil Pastel Monthly Challenge and one of the duties is to select reference images for the artists to use for their challenge painting. Did I mention that Wetcanvas has a fantastic reference library? It’s worth taking browsing if you are a member.
One of the photographs selected was a mid-summer water scene with a bank of trees and a boat. I’ve only painted one other boat, so I figure this would be a good challenge for me to practice (I see a theme emerging for a new 15-day challenge). The scene had lower light and was mostly green, but my vision was of a hot summer day so the sunlight was turned up and more yellow was infused throughout the scene.
The oil pastel is 11×8.5 on cream tinted Mi-Teintes pastel paper, using mainly Sennelier and Neopastel OPs.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Love the light! I want to be there in that boat!
Thanks very much Elena! It was all about the light – thanks for mentioning.
Beautiful. It reminds me of home.
Thank you very much – a quiet scene that would be very much at home in New Hampshire.
Put a boat in the picture and I’m hooked, Mary 🙂
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the piece!
Lovely, Mary! The composition (especially the boat’s position) is so perfect and balanced!
Thanks Francesca – glad you enjoyed the piece.
Little boats like that always stir the imagination Mary .. thoughts of riverside picnics and going round in circles as far as I’m concerned 😉
How lovely this is , you were so right about your choice of colours !
The heat of the day .. sultry .. a soft swoosh against the boat side …
Hi Poppy, so right – summertime and boats, ah speaks to floating about in a totally relaxed state. Glad you enjoyed the summer heat in this piece, it seemed to work from a number of different aspects. I like your vision of a soft swoosh against the boat side ~ very cool. Have a lovely weekend.
Your painting is beautiful, Mary! I would love to get in that boat and drift off to float around for a while right now! 🙂
Thank you very much for your lovely comment – with as hot as it is outside, I’m right with you!
Gosh – that is lovely!
Thanks Fi!
I spent so many childhood days in and out of rowboats..this brings it all back. The perspective is what strikes me about this painting….how do I get to this boat? Is it in very little water? Why doesn’t it just float away? I feel like jumping down into it, but I’d probably kill myself! As you can see I’m having fun with your painting….thanks, Mary
Summertime fun Cynthia – glad the painting brought back good memories. Thanks so much and have a wonderful day!
Lovely!
Thanks Eva!
You welcome Mary! 🙂
Wow this is so so beautiful!!! 🙂 I love it!! 🙂 ❤
Thank you Line, you made my day!
It really does have an idyllic mid-summer feel.
Thank you Gallivanta so much!
Oh this is glorious. Literally took my breath away.
Thank you Emily for your beautiful comments!
I like that you raised the light and infused more yellow into the scene. It feels, warm and calm, a beautiful summers day with a boat to rest in. My idea of perfect. 🙂
Thanks Susan for your thoughts and great feedback!
Looking down upon something is hard to portray in a composition. You did a wonderful job with the view point Mary! Love your piece.
Thanks Rhonda, glad you noticed the perspective – have a great day!
I reckon boats are REALLY challenging: I say this because Stringer used to love to sketch, but always became frustrated when trying to sketch any of the squillions of boats around the Island we once lived on – including our own. 15-day challenge sounds good; I’d love to see it !
Hi M.R., ah Stringer a man who had many talents! Who knew that boats would be the “challenge”? Have a great day, very nice to see you again!
So beautiful and serene, Mary. Lovely work, my dear! 🙂
Happy Wednesday! 🙂 xx
Thank you so much Marina! Hope you enjoyed your Thursday!
This scene is I don’t know how can I put it in any better way than say “cute”! The boat is absolutely adorable! There is something really playful, young and fun about the whole scenario! The colors reflecting perfectly the whole mood. Wonderful canvass!
Thanks Eva, I really appreciate your generous comments on this piece. It’s time to get out and enjoy the summer months, it goes by way too fast – glad the painting took you to a fun place.
beautiful picture!
Thanks Jess!
Love the way the scenery fades on the right side… it’s nice & serene to look at 🙂
Thanks very much! I’m glad you noticed the right-side, I wanted the atmosphere to read of a hot, hazy summer day.
You managed to do just that 🙂
Ups sorry I ment to put 🙂 !!!!
Ha – so funny. I don’t even know how to put these faces into my comments! Thanks how far behind in technology I am.
I would take a ride in this lovely river (or lake) 😦
Cool Maria – thanks!
I absolutely love this, Mary! So captures summer time. 🙂
Thanks Audrey, glad you enjoyed this piece. It’s pretty hot down here, how about where you are?
It can’t make up it’s mind here, Mary…soars well above 100 – then drops back to mid 90’s. Guess it is better than staying in the 100’s! Hot, dry…not enough water. Gardens have to be tough!