Pastels

Pigment-rich soft pastels are sometimes used to extend an idea originally developed with watercolour washes, which remain partially visible through the hatched striations. Vigour and clarity in the final array of strokes rules out rubbing or softening of the colours. Drawn onto very heavy, smooth (“hot pressed”) watercolour paper, the pastel lines sometimes follow the forms, or sometimes cut across them, drawing attention back to the surface of the image, in contrast to the illusion of depth. All of these works are made in direct response to the subjects.