The Color of Light: An Artist's Blog

Lately I've been obsessed with direct mark making - no underpainting, no scumbling layer after layer. There is something so freeing about laying down a mark in pastel and leaving it alone. I believe it's one of the reasons I come back again and again to pastel as opposed to other mediums. It is such a direct form of painting. The pigment is between my fingers being applied right onto the substrate - no brush between us.

I also love the way direct mark making appears in a successful piece. It's a no hold barred approach to getting an impression on paper, no fussing about or overworking. Here is an example of a piece I painted this week with a very direct approach.  I think I'll be working this way for awhile - I can't get enough of it.