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Pastel Study 04 (2013)

Classic Study

A classic pastel study of a classic sort of model pose. I did not much realistic pastel drawings. Nude 12 (2013) is one of them. Previous ones not cubistic were more impressionistic. However, this one reminded me to The Rokeby Venus by Velázquez. The subtle shading in her back muscles forced me to abstain from cubist abstractions.

Diagonals

Because of the slanted body position the direction of the hatched strokes contrasts quite well. It creates a kind of feel of a slanted cross that is fallen over to the left. Therefor it lifts up the stillness of the model and counterbalances it dynamically.

Breathe into the Blue

In order to avoid a feel of separation I left much of the paper open so the body could breath and communicate with the untouched blue of the paper. That is just one advantage to working with dry pastel sticks. The colored paper gives a zesty touch to the monochromity. Just to tease the blue a little bit I added some slight hints of yellow strokes here and there.

Canson Mi-Teintes

I like the blue color anyway and this is just the Mi-Teintes paper. Canson came with the Mi-Teintes Touch paper that was quite good, only the beautiful indigo color is not available anymore. Looking for alternatives right now.

Pastel drawing on Canson Mi-Teintes paper (50 x 65 x 0.1 cm)

Artist: Corné Akkers 

Click here to see a publication of the art work in magazine Articulaction Art Review, issue September 2014. 

 

Pastel drawing on Canson Mi-Teintes paper (50 x 65 x 0.1 cm)

Artist: Corné Akkers

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