"Cricket Fan"

A lazy afternoon in front of the television gave me the opportunity to let my mind (and charcoal pencil) wander. This guy just materialised while I skipped channels and settled on a cricket broadcast.

So an initial charcoal sketch turned into a complete pastel adventure, whilst a victorious Australian team romped ahead to the delight of Aussie fans worldwide and some guy with a stack of pastels and some time to kill..

Funny enough, I really only discovered pastels about five years ago, and since that time I have been learning something different about them from each picture I use them in. I use mainly (brand) and a fixative for layering work. They really suit my fondness for line and when manipulated with an eraser, can give marvellous effects.

I love the hands on feel of working with pastel where you can rub away or blend with your fingertips. It is a medium that can be unforgiving however especially if you muddy the picture by not cleaning your hands regularly throughout the session.