Sometimes there are no words, nor man-made colors that can adequately describe mother natures brilliant kiss of color in the sky and over water when she gives us one of her delicious sunrise spectacles . . .
Magical Sunrise, an oil pastel (8×8) was painted on an artist canvas board. This piece was started with an all purple underpainting in gouache and then two coats of clear gesso for a good amount of tooth allowing the OPs something to grab onto. Purple was used to get a deep, rich base of color started. Oil Pastel brands for this painting were Holbeins and Mungyo-Gallery. No blacks or whites were used in this painting, because I wanted all the colors to be as pure to the pigment as possible, except where blended. What looks like white is actually Holbeins Hansa Yellow.
So here is where I ran into trouble – 95% done and guess what. The board was cut wrong by the manufacturer, by about 1/8″ on the bottom left-hand side – so this threw off the entire horizon line. I accommodated the problem as best as I could so late in the game. Can you believe this? So what to do? First, let the manufacturer know and second, measure the surface (no matter what it is) before I start painting ~
I’m going to let the painting setup and go back at a later date to straighten out the horizon line a bit more. Click onto the image for a larger view ~
Based on a reference image from Janina Suuronen, who is an awesome photographer and artist from pmp.
DON’T TAKE MY IMAGES!! MY ART IS COPYRIGHTED.
PLEASE DON’T COPY OR USE MY IMAGE WITHOUT RECEIVING MY PERMISSION FIRST – SEE DISCLOSURE ON THE RIGHT PANEL.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Hi,
I know Derrick Knight. How great we all connect. This is an art blog! How cool!
I’m Janice. I came to thank you for visiting my site today. I’m glad you liked my interview.
Nice to meet you.
Janice
Thank you Janice – nice to meet you!
Beautiful! Brave use of reds!
Thanks so much Leslie – it was great working the reds, burnt sienna’s and purples in this scene.
Glorious color saturation here. Magical for sure.
Thank you so much Elena – oil pastels was a great medium to build up the layers of color for the scene.
Such wonderful color!
Thanks Brenda!!
i tried to comment on this, but the slow connection stopped that idea from happening! wow, it’s disappointing when a purchased product isn’t up to specs. the horizon line is something that, to me, is very important, so i can understand why it bothered you.. i would not have noticed it, however, but of course it will always bother you unless you tweak it…
it’s presently raining, more water for the mosquitoes, but the landscape was thirsty. am glad i’m in town using fast internet, and i’ll be home by noon tomorrow! yay, and the yard won’t need water.
i can go straight to work on the painting!
So right Z! I’ll probably wait until this weekend and work on the horizon a tad just because I know the problem and every time I look at it I’ll see it. If you can believe it we have had so much rain in North TX really non-stop from March through now the whole of May that all our lakes have been replenished and are at 100% replenished, with only a few at 50% or so – we are very lucky. But that creates an even more dangerous situation with the mosquitoes, we happen to live right in the bulls-eye area for the last two years for West Nile Virus – seriously, we are very lucky not have caught anything with them. Take care and happy you’ll be home tomorrow – happy painting!!
i’m glad that the rains have been restoring your water tables, even though the mosquitoes are multiplying. stay smart, and i know you will – dodge mosquitoes, even if the best perfume is one of mosquito repellent!
One of the hazards around here lately, we stay lathered with stuff every time we go out. I only have to look as far as you to get confirmation bad things do happen with those guys. Take care ~
for 25 years i’ve been careful, but i had run out of repellent and dragged my ‘feet’ in buying a new bottle.. something so very simple, but i was staying in town at my friend’s hostal and thought nothing of it.. until he vanished and hs mother shrugged and said, ‘he’s gone to the hospital; he has dengue…’ ‘uh oh..’ i thought.. i went to four places before i found repellent, but it was too late!
Too hard of a lesson and price to pay – so sorry for what you’ve been going through. I’m sure your family is worried sick.
ha.. i can write this here: a good friend told me that my former husband said, ‘i don’t know what her parents made her from, but it was some strong stuff…’
i will forever be thankful for the parents and life i was given, and that i awaken happy and positive most every day of my life. i am blessed.. and my family knows that/// it cannot be faked!
What a beautiful thing to write. You, Z are a special and amazing kind of person ~ love it!
ah, we can thank the difficult lessons in life that help us grasp a larger picture, one of loving all and realizing that we’re all here to learn.. and to teach.. and to help others along the way.
still raining here, btw.. the mosquitoes are breeding!
Breathtakingly beautiful!
Thank you Maniparna!
What a gorgeous portrayal of a sunrise, Mary! The colors are so vivid and feel very true to life. How frustrating to realize the bottom of the canvas was crooked. That must have been a maddening moment for you. It looks so great, though. Excellent work!
Hi Jenna, thank you so much for your generous comment. Here is what’s so frustrating, I measured w/a T-bar for the horizon line before I got started – so in the end not only was the manufacturer off, but I totally didn’t pay attention to what the T-bar was showing me. A good lesson learned.
This is magnificent! the colors are so beautiful! i ❤
Thank you so much Dsaquarelles!
Fiery and spectacular!
Thank you Fiona – not quite as soft and calming as your gorgeous sunrises, but I was thinking about you as I painted this piece.
The colors are so beautiful and warm! Stunning, Mary!
Thanks Francesca! Glad you enjoyed the piece ~ You’ve joined a new site with other bloggers for cooking – will you still maintain your blog and what is the new blog site address? Would love to see what it is all about.
It looks flawless to me and captures the glory so brilliantly…but I always appreciate hearing your process, even when it is a frustrating manufacturer’s mistake. Thanks Mary.
Thank you so much Jet, appreciate your kind thoughts and feedback!
Beautiful colors! Great work Mary.
Thanks Jess!
I love the blues added to all the warmth ❤
Thanks Angie!!
Mary, wonderful painting. I love all the vibrant colors! I am catching up on reading posts as I was a way for a while and then sick. I enjoyed seeing all of your paintings. Have a great week!
Thank you so much Janell – the colors were a fascinating combination to workout in this piece. I so glad you are feeling better and back at it. Have a great week too my friend.
Fantastic work, as always! Good to see your paintings. They are amazing! xoxo
Thank you Patricia – continuing to work hard, have fun and explore.
Superb work, Mary! What a beautiful sunrise! 🙂
Thanks Jackie!!
Spectacular Mary! XX
Thank you Susan!!
Absolutely gorgeous, Mary! 🙂
Thanks Sylvia!!
Magical, indeed! Your sunrising painting is stunning, that no camera can capture the moment and colors, Mary. ❤
Thank you so much Amy – appreciate your generous comment.
So rich and expressive! I agree with someone elses comment “dont worry about the cutting”. I don’t notice anything. Usually when someone points something out I might see it but in this case I do not. Beautiful work Mary.
Thanks Catherine for your feedback – I really appreciate it. Was a great scene to work out. Thanks again ~
I think you are getting mighty close to duplicating nature here! 🙂
You are so kind Dorann, thank you! Glad you enjoyed the scene.
Unbelievably beautiful! Great work, Mary. Don’t worry about the cutting.
Thanks Heidi – appreciate your gracious feedback!
Nice vibrant colors Mary. I like the lights peeking through. ~Rita
Thanks Rita!! The colors are pretty intense for me, but this was a great scene to develop. Thanks for noticing the lights ~
This is beautiful…and I love the idea of the purple ground and not using any black or white. Had you not mentioned the horizon line, I wouldn’t have noticed….
I remember when Mount St. Helens erupted in the States (I was in the States at the time) and for one year afterwards the skies were spectacular. People had sunset watching parties:)
Thanks for starting my day so well, and wishing you a good one. Janet.
Thank you so much Janet, great memory and they were gorgeous. When I lived in San Francisco there were the most amazing sunsets I’ve ever seen and as a backdrop for the skyline – awesome. Thanks again ~
I think you captured it beautifully Mary, the colors are gorgeous. 🙂
Thank you Karen, glad you enjoyed the colors!
Wow, it’s gorgeous:)
Thanks Linda!
Your treatment is magical too Mary
Thanks Derrick!
Oh my! The colors are breath taking. The clouds are fabulous. I love it Mary.
Thanks Rhonda – so out there for me right? Wish you could see the clouds in person – so many layers and colors. Thank you my friend.
stunning composition as always 🙂
Thank you Malvika!
Fabulous colours, Mary.
Thank you Gallivanta – glad you enjoyed the colors, it was a whole lot of fun developing this one.
Mary, this is stunning! Delicious sunrise, indeed.
Thank you so much Geralyn!
This is so stunningly beautiful!! ♡
Thank Lorrie!
Truly magical….it borders on a fine work of abstract art!
Thank you Cynthia – I was going for a little punch! It was fun going outside my own boundaries. Have a great week ~
Wow this is breathtaking
Thank you! Nice to meet you ~
Nice to meet you too Mary, your work is so beautiful
Movement, power, reflection, and great natural beauty captured on canvas. Now that is the definition of an artist!
Thank you A! – appreciate your generous comments. Thank you ~
Fire in the sky!
Thank you Pauline!
Mary this is so very gorgeous! Thank you sharing this with us.
Thank you Nicodemas, glad you enjoyed the piece.
What a spectacular sunrise, Mary!!!!!
Enjoy a …magical week, my dear friend! 🙂
Thank you so much Marina – I’m looking for all the magic this week. Have a beautiful week too my friend!
No matter the cut, it’s beautiful, Mary! I love the colors.
Thanks Jill – was great to play with such vibrant colors.
Beautiful!!!
Thanks so much!
Mary, it’s absolutely beautiful!! Cher xo
Thank you Cher!