Archive Mode. Call 2022 DAKOTA PASTEL COMPETITION - FIRST QUARTER ended on 3/16/22, 11:59 PM. Call settings are read only. See Current Open Calls
This image was just a joy to pastel! It was only my fifth human portrait as I usually focus on animals and wildlife but I was utterly captivated by the joy expressed in the girls' smiles and open posture. The colours are vibrant and I liked the dynamic diagonals of the composition. I was particularly drawn to the older girl's unselfconscious, slightly 'gawky' pose, as she and her sister encapsulate everything about childhood and the joy of summer on a beach! I mainly used my fingers to blend but also applied pastel with a Sofft tool which enabled more accurate blending on the Pastelmat. A few Faber Castell Pitt pastel pencils helped too.
