After the Storm

STEP ONE

I make a sketch, considering tone and compositional arrangement, remembering that sunlight will be a feature of this painting. I select most colours before I start, choosing colours with reference to photographs. I consider complementary colours and often exaggerate a little for impact. I use Colourfix pastel paper (half a sheet of Blue Haze for this picture) taped to board for stability.

STEP TWO

I draw in a horizon line with pastel pencil and block in cloud area colours with soft pastels. Straight strokes (often the side of the