Addie Draper

Pastel Paintings

Click here to view Addie Draper's Pastel Paintings

Addie currently works almost exclusively in pastel - the brilliance of the medium, and the directness of working with it make for a wonderful surface. Pastels are pure pigment mixed with an inert binder such as gum arabic which make them wonderfully durable. They will not deteriorate if kept behind glass, out of direct sunlight, maintaining their brilliance almost indefinitely.

Addie's work is based on actual places, although it is not about a specific spot. She thoroughly photographs a place that has intrigued her and manipulate the photos to find the composition or the elements that best relate the concept that attracted her to the area. She then does a thumbnail black and white sketch to determine the placement of values and then does a small color sketch to determine color values and the ‘poetry’ of the piece. She works on a sanded paper or on board that has been prepared with a gesso and pumice surface and uses a technique that involves rubbing the pastel pigment into the paper to completely cover the ground. She builds up layers of color to get the depth and intensity of color that she is looking for - the technique has the same effect as glazing does in the oil medium.

Her artistic interest is in a simplicity and spareness of form - choosing elements carefully to relate the idea she had in mind for the piece. She is interested in the impact of color and composition in relating the mood of the work, working with the experience of a place, time of day, season, feelings, thoughts and emotions that one experiences when existing in this world.

Two of her major inspirations for concepts and philosophy of painting has been Turner and Diebencorn. Although they worked in different times they each have very unique, personalized approaches. Diebencorn’ compositional abilities and Turners explosive use of color and movement of stroke have had a great impact on her work.

Click here to contact Addie Draper.