Largest EVER Pastel Painting - It All Went Wrong

[@paulabravo1989]

That was so beautiful. Thanks for showing what’s possible.

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thank you Paula!

[@erinaceus]

Beautiful work. And a very good example to keep at it even when it's frustrating (and that you can "bin a piece" even if it feels heartbreaking at the time). Thank you.

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thank you! Yes, I was very close to calling it quits but glad I didn’t.

[@paulinesturdy]

Like you this is one of my most favourite pieces of art work. Your work is wonderful, it shows anything is possible. Thank you so much.

[@AlessiaDonatocoaching]

so beautiful truly a magnificent rendition

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thank you!

[@lil7002]

Noooooo! Not the bin!! I actually shouted out “Noooooo”. 😢

[@deborahbirley1180]

Inspirational as always Emily…. But nooooooo, not in the bin😮

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

It’s a bit sad, but such a fun experiment!

[@kathleenmurray6540]

So beautiful!

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thank you! 😊

[@shivaasrari8854]

amazing work. Thanks for sharing your journey.😊

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

My pleasure 😊

[@-UrbanSurvivor]

Wow thats incredible

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thank you!

[@-UrbanSurvivor]

@@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820 You are most welcome, cannot wait to join your creator course on the 6th, really looking forward to exploring that library, going to be fun

[@Robyn19fnq]

What an enormous project ... well done Emily! You didn't explain why he just can't live on that wall?

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thanks Robyn! Oh sadly I use that wall to create other works, it's my only available 'active' wall in the room. The others have a bed against it, shelving or a window. Also, pastel work collects dust like nobody's business, so he'd need to be behind glass :)

[@Robyn19fnq]

@@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820 Oh that's sad.

[@birukhailu7113]

Thank you

[@karariekstins366]

Oh honey, I work in construction and I immediately felt your pains. For PERFECT RESULTS you might want to build a wall with drywall. It takes legit skills and know-how to get drywall perfectly smooth so building a wall might be more difficult than your MDF board, but if its a perfect surface you're after this technique will get you there. Smoothing out one drywall joint should be relatively cheap and easy in the hands of a professional. As for the paper, maybe look for a wallpaper that mimics artist paper? I'm not sure if that exists 🤔. I find wallpaper paste is a lot easier to work with and to perfect compared to adhesive, but again it takes practiced skill to work with wallpaper. If you want to peel off the wallpaper afterward, you can paint the wall in high gloss paint and the paper will come off easily with water (this idea needs more brainstorming). If you left the paper attached to the wall, there is 1/4" thick drywall and that would make the piece more portable. Anyway, we both know that to get good results in our crafts, we need proper materials and setup. My suggestion will achieve a proper setup....but building that proper setup takes a whole 'nother skillset. These are just starting ideas, it would have to be more finessed and thought-through.

[@rltreasure]

Have you ever tried double size suede, acid free Matt board.

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

no! I haven't heard of that...going to go and check it out!

[@luisxvgenovese1736]

Gorgeous!! How long did it take to to draw and paint the whole piece?

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

The actual drawing was just over two (intense) days! I could have happily spent longer but it’s headed for the bin, after all. Drawing on this paper, without fine hair details, is quite fast 😊

[@fredasidaravicius232]

It's so beautiful. Why can't you leave it on the wall?

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

It takes up a whole wall, so I can’t use my studio space while it’s there sadly. Also, this needs to be protected by glass, it will deteriorate very quickly with dust etc if not

[@1gabhriel]

I think I might of gesso the MDF and use pastel on top, have you been to the Munnings Museum in Dedham, I went as a kid but will go back this year I think. your picture was beautiful and I think it is good when artists show when it all goes wrong. As its easy to think that it is always perfect and easy if you watch too many youtube videos and that the beginner is at fault when it all goes wrong, rather than it goes wrong for everyone some times and there are still important lessons to learn in trying to push through rather than give uo. I feel you deminstrate that really well.

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

This is so true! Many things I do don’t work, it shows you’re still willing to learn and experimenting. If you only got everything right, surely it would become boring? I really wanted to use this particular paper for this project, hence all the faffing 🫠

[@pauloalvesdealmeida2989]

Exelente trabalho de um artista plástico 5estrela ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Thank you so much!!

[@brendalang597]

❤

[@francescacatlow]

Perhaps you could donate it to a local hospice or nursing home maybe?

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

I did think about this, but the price for framing is huge and no one I contacted wanted it 😞

[@wendyvernon582]

No to the bin...should have donated to a charity maybe

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

I have tried but sadly not that simple! This was a bit of a dream to recreate this, so I’m allowing myself the material indulgence 🤫🥰

[@Jorjibou]

sorry to bring such a simple comment but maybe it was just overworked

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Interesting! Where can you see the overworked areas? I think I did it on the neck for sure, I didn’t start dark enough. But some areas were easier, or came together more fluidly. Got to say that working on this scale was just amazing though!

[@jonduthiel7399]

Why didn’t you use fixative, and leave it on the wall in your studio? . Such a shame.

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Sadly I need that wall as it’s my french cleat system so I use it to paint and draw! Also, even with a fixative, it needs glass to protect it from dust etc. I did look at ways to save this, but in the end the journey was the focus this time 😊

[@shillanassi]

You have a gift for visual storytelling (cinematography and narrative), so, if you ever decide to expand your artistic efforts to filmmaking, you’re set! I can’t believe, though, that you had the heart to destroy this lovely piece. 💔

[@emilyrosewildlifeart-paste9820]

Haha thanks very much, I have to say I am very much learning on the job with a very, very cheap camera - shush! That said, it's fantastic fun. Oh I know...it was a very sad moment when he came down, but such an experience to create him at all!