For pastel paintings, base layers and background are painted using a 'sofft' sponge with soft pastels & panpastels to define shape and colours. Pastel pencils are then used to gradually build up layers and depth to give a more realistic look, taking between 15-40hrs for each painting. Abstract paintings are made with acrylic paints and palette knives, painted on a canvas board.
![Soft pastels and pastel pencils](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/8293ecd8-9e9a-4413-bbf8-46df3289617d_rw_1200.jpg?h=0a91f0b0ba764d95ca4161c04f5dd98b)
Soft pastels and pastel pencils
![Panpastels](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/a4e4f66e-0c64-497c-aa0b-ae3815ab6b95_rw_1200.jpg?h=9a88f3621683dae9c2579c150fb2db25)
Panpastels
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/c2b07612-7fae-45bd-82f4-f0eba6308a0c_rw_1920.jpg?h=99b66d7149e6d205a7e854e153912996)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/0c9cf9ad-38f7-4ac0-ae75-3255b9e72fec_rw_3840.jpg?h=360632c739df692b7271aafd8a61aa32)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/b1a698ee-e479-4d2d-abb6-90a3defda8d3_rw_3840.jpg?h=458271753f2e956dec19a6bd003a05dc)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/ce0f34f6-20ab-4ade-ac9d-5adcacc89dde_rw_1920.jpg?h=d6990337685dd5954470241845341f59)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/f7ac2be7-c615-45bd-8362-dfcc230246d0_rw_3840.jpg?h=159016485eabc5d295222e85019f1fed)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/d7b775cd-b35e-4b08-a6d4-2cac0ed27a95_rw_1920.jpg?h=9612f08960d1dd74e761b99f038b68e5)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/04ffa16b-d0db-4922-8853-5348449a725a_rw_3840.jpg?h=9298e3266c8d43ae3f5c8378f71e43f3)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2ee3344f-de03-48ad-acc7-e2996ad217c6/1cdf4b50-99da-439f-830b-b60f999fe7e7_rw_1920.jpg?h=ef1c41d540649ea558b4a02252d885bc)
Reference photos used as the basis and inspiration for these paintings are either taken by steve or downloaded from royalty free or royalty paid sites, e.g. wildlife reference photos