Snow scene by Terence McDonald

wow, nice and soft. well done.

Am catching up on your paintings, Terence. They are all so delightful. This interests me particularly as I have just resurrected my own pastels after a number of years. Did you do this with Shminke stick pastels or pencil pastels , please? I would be interested to know which you prefer, or probably you use both? I find that it is almost impossible to get a sharp white on top of darker colours, but you have done that beautifully here. Mind tend to blend in with the base colour. Regards.

Hi Ruth, thanks for your kind comments. I did this picture quite a long time ago and it has been sold for quite while too, so forgive me if I can't give too definite an answer. I used only soft pastels in this picture and I think they would have been mainly Daler Rowney, Schminke and Unison. I do have odds of other types but find those three brands suit my style the best. I have stopped using paper as a support and work on Hermes 500 grit wet and dry paper nowadays. The white was most probably Rowney silver white which they have stopped making in the soft pastels for some mad reason! This was the crispest of all the whites i have tried and I am down to my last stick of it now. There is a slightly 'non purist 'method of getting a clean white on other colours. Firstly, spray a small area with fixative, when dry apply the white over the fixative, then soften the edges of the fixed area. always remember, light colurs show best on a dark background.

Hi Terence....To my shame I have only just found your detailed reply to my query....What I hadn't realised, in my newness to the site was that comments can go on to a second page, so have just found yours. I live north Wales and am limited by health reasons for travelling etc, these days. I love all your work, and will pick up my pastels again one day soon....perhaps you would do me the kindness of commenting if you see a pastel of mine? I do believe I even have an ancient DR silver white somewhere...or a bit of one....Thank you again for advice.

This is fabulous Terence, those trees are to die for! Marvellous icy water as well