Emma Colbert

Reflecting on Portrush

Jackson’s Painting Prize 2020
Pastel
Paper
69 x 101 cm

“This big pastel was done from my own photos pieced together of the scene. Portrush is a pretty special place on the North Coast of Ireland and I always love and excuse to paint part of this coastline.
The piece was done on a full sheet of velour pastel paper mounted for strength. At over 100cm wide it took many hours to create the detail in the town. But the water reflections are something I always love to paint as you can be more free in that part of the painting.
The soft pastel sticks I use are perfect for blocking in large areas of colour, or broken up they can be used to create very fine detail. I like to work methodically from top to bottom on a piece like this so I never muddy what I’ve already done.”