This project was based on an image by MustangJoe from Pixabay. I used Colourfix Smooth in Blue Haze all three times, as well as using the same palette.

All three efforts were failures, but at least I learned a few things.

Attempt #1

First time around, I did an underpainting (of the dark areas only) using a Blue Violet NuPastel. Using this color was a BAD idea! Why? Because I would later add a dark gray-green, and a reddish brown on top of that blue violet, which made mud. Ugh!

First time around, I also used too heavy a hand, in effect scribbling with the pastels trying to cover the paper. Bad idea — too heavy a hand can ALSO create mud.

First time around, the pine trees were cartoonish. But I was so frustrated with the mud mess I didn’t care at that point!

Attempt #2

• My second attempt was successful in that I maintained a much lighter touch. But I still had mud because I still did the Blue Violet underpainting before using the dark green and the reddish brown.
• The pine trees were rendered a little bit more like the photo, which pleased me.
• I struggled with laying down color with certain pastel sticks. I ended up mostly with broad strokes done vertically, which doesn’t really work for the sky.

Attempt #3

• This time I skipped the underpainting — whew! Still had mud because the gray-green and the orangey-brown are NOT a good pairing!
• Had better luck with making marks for the sky, but the colors are not quite right to my mind. In analyzing the source image, I realize there is more of a lavender hint to the darks rather than green brown.

I need to try colors with more purple and less green and brown. I may need to experiment with papers which have more grit.