Sunset in soft pastels

[Nancy]

Okay, here's my first real painting done in soft pastels. I bought a really cheap set of soft pastel sticks just so I could try them out and see if I liked them. I figured if I liked them, THEN I would go out and buy a good set. Well, I love them, but I'm not so sure I have done all that well for my first pastel painting.

Anyway, obviously it's a sunset done on suede board. The bush is done with a black Faber-Castell pastel pencil. I've done a large painting in only pastel pencils, but this is done entirely in soft pastel sticks (except for the bush). I wanted to try a sunset because I friend wanted a picture from me and she likes sunsets.

Anyway, what do you guys think? You can be honest and tell me if I need to hang up my pastels and stick to cp's.

BTW, the ref pic is from Pindiyath100 at Morguefile.

Edit: I just looked at how the painting looks posted and it is horrible compared to what it really looks like in real life. The colors in real life are much bolder. I guess I blended the colors in the sky too much, especially since it's on suede board and already looks fuzzy to begin with. Oh well. :(

First is the ref pic, then my painting of it.

[Greg]

Ooooh!!!! I like!! Look at all that color!!! Woo Hoo!!!!! Really great job Nancy. I always enjoy your work. If I could offer any critique, it would be that the values in the sky could be pushed just a little more. As always, your work is really good.

[ex-limey]

I like it! :clap: :clap: :clap: Just one thing! I would add more darks on the bush! If you look at the ref. photo you will see that the centers of the branches have a darker value than the edges! If you can't add it with the pencil try using your soft pastel.
Jean :bye1: :bye1:

[Debee]

You've done very well for your first. You'll never grwo if you don't try. Every medium has it's own challenges. The variety of supports that you can do pastels on will keep you working for a long time too. :D

Greg & Jean critiques are good suggestions for sure. I would also add that you may try adding a little irregular movement to the hill edge too. It's rather smooth and flat.
Saw a video on doing leaves on trees that was real interesting. I've used it with my watercolor and pencil work. Make little x's for your leaves instead of trying to make individual leaves. As they group together it leaves nice open areas for the sky to show through as well as looking like a clump of leaves on the branch.
DON'T HANG UP THE PASTELS. :clap:

[Norma69]

Great advise you are getting in these replies - I think if you just go a little further as suggested by all three you are going to have a great piece of work

Norma