Painting Snow in Pastel

Mar 16, 2013 | Pastels

Snow PAstel

Winter Harbor Wet Heavy Snow

Painting Snow in Pastel is full of dsnuance. In pastels I have two large trays of whites- I have them sorted by warm and cool colors. I pick from these trays the whites that are right for the scene I am observing and for the feeling I want to create. This is our dusk the sky is a deep purple blue but down by the horizon are pinks and warm yellows – NOT COOL yellows I have to be very careful not to mix these two.

Snow is essentially a rounded geometric form so once i have identified from which direction the sun is coming I form the snow accordingly. The sun’s light was warm so began with warmth then as the mound moves into shadow it is cool then there is reflected warm light then darker shadow. Then of course there is the snow in deep shadow which I build up with middle values blue greys. The last step is I find the pattern of light I want dancing through the trees and go in with my lightest warm white and layer it on. In life, this makes the whole piece pop and gives the patterns cohesiveness.