Wave Over Rocks Pastel Pencil Advice

Alice sent me her painting of the ‘Wave over Rocks’ exercise and has asked for help, Alice writes:

This took me a few hours yet I just can't get seem to quite get it, any tips would be greatly appreciated...

The main problem is the contrast between the dark rocks and the white wash which relies on confidence as well as ability, but there are answers. Another problem is that the white tones has been affected by the greys to such an extent as to dull them down this has added to the contrast problem.If Alice concentrates on just strengthening the dark rocks and adds the blues and green colours to the water this would increase the contrast and save the picture. It might also be possible to add more white to the spray areas with either the white pastel pencil, or even better a white pastel stick which has more pigmentation therefore will be brighter.Alice should not feel too bad that this has not turned out as she had hoped this is a tricky subject, but it would be worth trying it again taking into account the tips I have given.Learn to draw this and 55 other landscapes by joining Colin Bradley Art.