Pitcher with Three Pears, 11 x 14 pastel on Ampersand Pastelbord

I did this still life as a demonstration for a chapter in the book I'm writing on Color Choices in Pastel. The chapter is on observed color. I like the challenge of using black and more neutral colors, and really like the way they set off the greens and reds of the pitcher.

I wasn't sure about this picture at all until I put in the grayed geens in the background and it suddenly came alive. I'm finding this combination of complementary color (cool reds and warm greens) along with the blacks and neutrals to be very pleasing. Now, how to work that into landscape???