"Field Games" figure, pastel, 11 x 14"

"Field Games"  1 x 14" pastel

I was doing my usual strolling through the living museum of Colonial Williamsburg when I saw this young lady, dressed in full colonial garb, playing field games with a group of kids.  She must have been very devoted to her work because it was  mid July and scorching hot with an intense light and heavy humidity.

I hoped to capture the atmosphere  and energy of the heat around her as she bent to pick up the ball and paddle.  She very kindly posed for several photos, and I hope to paint more of her.

This painting was unusual in that it was the my first attempt to use watercolor under pastel instead of my usual diluted pastel underpainting.  I used Winsor and Newton's Quinacridone gold on a sanded pastel paper to create a value structure. Much to my surprise the sanded paper accepted the watercolor almost as well as watercolor paper.  You can see some of the gold tones of the painting under the drawing.  My next challenge is to try to leave more of the painting showing under the pastel.