I can't believe that we are in Autumn already. The year seems to fly by so quickly, especially when you are acutely aware that Autumn is considered prime painting time for soft pastel artists. All those rich oranges, yellows, russets and reds. I am determined to step outside and get at least one plein-air painting done. I don't mind the cold, but the rain tends to govern outdoor work.
In contrast, my visit to Türkiye in early October proved highly productive. I didn't take any soft pastels with me this time, but I did take watercolours, inktense blocks and a vast selection of papers. I tried to use this downtime for experimentation. Trying out masking fluid for the first time was a hoot! I painted every day, which was really satisfying.
I feel that I have always painted when I am on holiday in Turkey. It's having the down-time, the light and the views that help. So having been there over 15 years, I have quite a few paintings. Some abstract, some illustrative and some simply weird. But actually I find them deeply nostalgic, reminding me of warmer weather and happy times.
Now, I am mostly back in my loft/studio battling with soft pastels while trying to find a signature style. I feel that I am pretty much there with my ink and watercolour work, but I am struggling to find a happy method of working with pastels. Not that I am vexed by this, it's just that my approach to each new painting can vary wildly, depending on the subject and the surface used.