View of Stafford with Castle - Pastel. by Alan Bickley

Dreamy Alan. Like the format and the colours zing.

Beautiful warm glowing landscape Alan.

I like the colours Alan and the patchwork effect fields.

Thanks Andre, Carole and Louise, I have always enjoyed pastels but don't find them particularly easy.

Some gorgeous colours in this pastel painting Alan. I tried and failed with pastels, too messy for me!

A lovely rawness to the study Alan but what a beauty full with delight

Oh yes Alan enjoyed the letter we'll dine with the prize you had said you were thinking off doing some pastel and no excuse now

It should have said well done

Congratulations Alan on your win, I read your letter, well done. A terrific palette, they look quality pastels to use and I particularly like this format. I’m looking forward to seeing more of what you do with pastels and landscapes, hoping I can learn from you.

Thanks Dennis and Margaret, Fiona, you won't learn anything from my pastels but thanks for the confidence.

Beautiful warm colours, and I love the wide format for landscape. Congratulations on the Star letter, I'll look forward to reading it. I wish you lots of creative enjoyment with your prize.

Thank you Sandra, this make of pastels do appear to be excellent, they are similar to Daler Rowney soft pastels that I have used in the past. Whether or not I can do them justice remains to be seen.

Lovely colours and attractive format, Alan - I like the foreground detail.

You already are doing them justice Alan.

A beautiful ethereal, atmospheric painting, Alan..... Also like the panoramic format, it is very effective.

Love this Alan !

A lovely landscape Alan,

Lovely use of colour and shapes Alan.

Gorgeous pastel, Alan, beautiful colours.

Yes I read your Star Letter Alan. Could tell many a story like that. You need a tough skin in this trade lol. These pastels are not truly soft, I would call the medium. I do have some. I used to make my own. Soft pastels should go on like paint, wonderfully immediate feel. You could cut your 30 minute painting down to 20 minutes lol.

Thank you all once again, I don't use pastels all that often but they really are a wonderful medium, and so forgiving. Thanks John, yes, you are right of course, I have used some really soft pastels previously, I should still have them lurking somewhere, I think they were Rowney.

You have to try them

Like the feel of this.