Cynthia Hayes Art: Pastel Figure Drawings: Part II

In my last blog post, "Pastel Figure Drawings: Part I" I recounted many years of drawing from life on Friday nights. The first three illustrations in this post are all of John, one of my favorite models who posed throughout the years at those Friday night drawing sessions. A yoga and meditation practitioner, John was able to hold dynamic and challenging, often contorted poses for much longer than any other model I've ever worked with.

The underpainting for this pastel drawing is muted and earthier in color when compared to the vibrant examples in my last post. The limited palette forces one to focus on color temperature. Cool turquoise highlights reflect off the warm skin tones illustrated with shades of rust, brown, maroon and plum.

John I

chalk pastel and oil paint on printmaking paper

22.5" x 30.5"

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This underpainting is applied leaving wider gaps between color blocks, allowing some white paper to be exposed. The painted marks have an open airy quality similar to that of the hatched chalk marks of subsequent layers.

John II

chalk pastel and oil paint on printmaking paper

22.5" x 30.5"

Monochromatic gestural paint marks underlie the third pastel drawing of John. These marks activate the space around the introspective figure.

Blue substitutes for black in the very limited palette. The cooler hue to contrasts with the dominant warm sepias and burnt sienna browns.

The strong pyramidal composition of this piece lends stability. The model's downward gaze directs the viewer to follow the longest diagonal line.

John III

chalk pastel and oil paint on printmaking paper

22.5" x 30.5"

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The following pastels are also drawn on monochromatic painted grounds done with gestural marks which allow white paper to remain exposed. Dusty rose or mauve colors give impressions of the warmth of the live bodies. Immediately the figures seem more alive than if they were drawn directly on a white background. The middle value of the mauve provides the opportunity to work with highlights as well as shadows, working out from the center value in both directions.