This morning I felt like experimenting, using soft pastels with water. I started on my 300# cold press cotton rag. I spent the first hour working on the dry paper. At a critique last week, we were discussing reflections on water and that had me thinking. I’ve done water reflections on larger bodies of water, but I thought it would be neat to try a puddle. I based the composition loosely on a picture I took in Gladwin, but used artistic license to change it from fall to spring and of course add big puddles on the path. I also sketched out a s shaped curve, but as I added the pastels in the top curve was rather lost. But I think the gap in the trees implies the road continues through in that direction.

I took pictures of the first part since I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t ruin the whole thing once I added water to it. But it turned out great- super vibrant and watercolor like.

After zoom, I had a quick snack before heading to the pottery studio. My female figure sculpture was finished, although I forgot to take a picture of her. I love how she turned out. I added the underglaze to my students’ crosses as well as adding some sgraffito designs into the four crosses left from my absent kids. I’ll let the rest make theirs on fresh clay in a future class, or they can take one of mine.

Then I had more time so I added some underglaze to my tiny pear face sculptures. The green glaze I was using reminded me of the green patina that forms on copper. That inspired me to use the same green on my latest face sculpture. I will add some of the metallic finish and hopefully it will look like corroded metal.

Even my glaze was in a good mood today!

What has brought you joy today?