First attempt with pastels

There isn't enough art stuff in this group, so I thought I'd bite the bullet and post a work in progress. It's what my art tutor calls a 'transcription', though I'm more inclined to say 'copy', of a Georgia O'Keeffe oil painting of poppies. Sorry it's a bit blurry.

Please note, that my class is an beginner's one, and I haven't 'done' art since school. Be nice .

Thats looking beautiful, I love how the colours flow.

Thats looking beautiful, I love how the colours flow.

That'll be the blurriness of the photo .

Thank you . I haven't quite got the hang of it, so I'm putting down far too much colour. The original is rather bright so it's difficult to match that without it looking garish.

Yes, I know I've sketched it the wrong way up .

Personally i think it looks great! And i'm not just saying that either. I can't paint for anything, my kids gave up asking me to draw them things after the first attempt Keep it up!!

Personally i think it looks great! And i'm not just saying that either. I can't paint for anything, my kids gave up asking me to draw them things after the first attempt Keep it up!!

Thanks . I love Georgia O'Keeffe's work so it feels a bit sacrilegious to be attempting to copy it.

I've found that I really like working with pastels, and even if the end result doesn't live up to my unobtainable quest for perfection, I do enjoy the process.

and enjoying it is all that matters! There is no such thing as perfect anyway, even the famous pictures are imperfect (apperently)

and enjoying it is all that matters! There is no such thing as perfect anyway, even the famous pictures are imperfect (apperently)

I know, but I'm a perfectionist .

The problem is I think real, gifted artistic ability is innate. Not having that gift, I'll never be able to produce the work I really want to. :sigh:

I used to have this thing for drawing spider plants using chalks on black paper I did loads and got pretty good at them, not sure why I did that though

That's shaping up very dramatically Hecate

I love it already, and looking forward to seeing it finished

I'd forgotten my avatar is my first attempt at pastels in *mumble* years, but it's been severely photoshopped since - it was a pandrol clip drawn in blue/purple/black on blue sugar paper before I mangled it

I'll have to dig some progression photo's out and show people

That's looking really impressive. I'd also like to thank you for pointing me in the direction of Georgia O'Keeffe. I'd heard the name, but not studied the work. Its lovely stuff isn't it?.

I'm quite envious of your success with pastel. I recently had go with it myself, but couldn't get to grips with the way its never properly attached to the painting surface (even after using fixative). I think I'm too used to paint!.

Anyhow, do let us see the finished work. You're quite right - there are far too few art related posts on here!.

Ps - are you intending to show it at the Great Sheff Art Show or anywhere?.