Combating Cookie Cutter Conifers
Tracey Maras
8th October, 2021
25 Comments
No matter how I tried, my conifers always looked flat and uninspired, not unlike a green frosted sugar cookie.
Tracey Maras
Tracey Maras is best known for her realistic pastel paintings of the natural world around us and life interacting with it. Working with pure pigment, her pieces are vibrant yet intimate views of Central Illinois and beyond.
Since 2000 Maras’ work has spanned many themes including wildlife, landscapes, interiors and portraits. She consistently pushes the limits of the pastel medium, exploring new techniques in each work. Maras actively teaches pastel techniques in workshops and classes throughout Illinois.
Author Archive
A collection of blog posts written by this author.
The Plan is Subject to Change
Tracey Maras
6th August, 2021
9 Comments
I am a planner (and not ashamed to admit it). While I may spend time sketching for fun, when beginning a new painting, I always have a plan.
Sometimes You Just Need A Waterfall
Tracey Maras
22nd September, 2020
16 Comments
Tracey Maras shares her thought process on revisiting a painting, long after its initial creation.
Exploratory Sketches
Tracey Maras
7th July, 2020
5 Comments
Do you work from photos or from life? This is not an either/or question. There are pros and cons to either approach and I prefer the best of both worlds.
What If? Part II
Tracey Maras
9th June, 2020
4 Comments
“What if?” can lead to a stronger painting. We hear it all the time… “Just because it is in the photo doesn’t mean we have to paint it that way.”
What if?
Tracey Maras
7th August, 2019
1 Comment
Isn’t it exciting when you stumble onto something that is totally new? That is what happened when a colleague and I were developing a series of workshops on creative underpaintings for pastel. While experimenting and asking “what if?” the technique of “Floating Pastel” was created.
