Warm Glow over the Marsh

'Warm Glow' 14x11 pastel on board

I invented a new underpainting technique today much to my alarm. I wish someone was here to see my face when I sprayed my painting with window cleaner...yes you read that right! Let me explain. I started this marsh painting last night and it was originally all red and bright orange. It is based on one of my Creighton Island plein air pieces but I was trying to change the colors. I hated it! I am not one to give up easily so I decided I would spray it with fixative and try a different color scheme. I picked up what I thought was my can of fixative and sprayed my painting very liberally. It didn't look right though....it seemed too wet. Then I realized I had picked up a can of window cleaner!!! I read the ingredients...water and alcohol...oh that might be good I thought...so I took my finger and smeared the pastel and waited for it to dry. I got a nice underpainting to put my lighter colors on top. Maybe I'll try window cleaner again!