"Fall in Zion National Park" by Jane Kolbaska

From the Artist: First I toned the canvas board with pastel chalk. Colors used are pink, purple and blue. I drew the trees in with a rigger brush using black ink. With acrylic paint I added leaves using yellow, yellow orange, dark and light green. Once the acrylic paint was dry, dark pink and yellow pastel was added to enhance the highlights. Using brown and gray pastel and black vine charcoal on the tree trunk and limbs accentuates its form. I put yellow and green acrylic in the foreground being sure not to completely cover the pastel under painting. Once the painting was dry, I sprayed it lightly with a fixative to support the pastel chalk and vine charcoal.

This was a very intriguing project for me as I've never used pastel chalk, vine charcoal or black ink in the past, let alone all at the same time! All of the media used in this painting, including acrylic, lends itself to a quickly created painting. This project took about two hours to complete.

I deliberately stayed loose and non-controlling, allowing myself the liberty to learn the differences within each media used. Consequently, I believe I created an authentic depiction of Fall in Zion National Park.

From the Painting Guide: I always get excited when someone's tried something new in response to a project challenge. I think your painting has a lovely sense of leave changing color, and of the space and depth within the foliage.