Moon Pastel Sketch 16.5 ~ 17 Day Old Moon

[markseibold]

On July 7th ~ 8th I spent two nights sketching this as the largest pastel of the moon that I have produced yet as the disc of the moon is rendered at 16.5 inches in diameter on 20" X 24" black Strathmore Artagain pastel paper. Seeing conditions were average. Observing was done through a 10.1" f/4.5 Newtonian with 32mm and 9.7mm plossl eyepieces.

In some areas I have exerted more details than others due to time constraints after a total of 4.5 hours work. Other areas were left as roughly blended and impressionistic.
Mark

[jjjnettie]

Mark, you've done a terrific job on that. I envy you your talent.
Do you exhibit your work at all?

[manny]

Excellent work mark

[bojan]

Beautiful.. brought me back to the days when I was getting into astronomy (~50 y ago), swallowing piles of books with sketches like this one.. such a special feeling.. hard to describe. Again, beautiful.

[markseibold]

Thanks Bojan, Manny and Jeanette

Yes, I got some fine responses on this one but I felt that it was really unfinished. I have many more at the Cloudy Nights Astronomy Forums Gallery; 7 pages and counting) >

http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showgallery.php?ppuser=37924&cat=500 (http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showgallery.php?ppuser=37924&cat=500)
Also, a large but site that is in need of house cleaning >
www.myspace.com/marksolarprophet (http://www.myspace.com/maarksolarprophet)

And more at >
www.markseibold.com (http://www.markseibold.com)

I have had a gallery showing in recent years but that was for my award winning astrophotography. I am hoping to arrange another gallery exhibit here in my home town of Portland Oregon soon. Many of my works have also shown in NASA's Spaceweather.com and once in Astronomy Picture of the Day on November 17th 2006.

I have also lectured quite often at schools, colleges and observatories but hope to do more of this. If any of you have suggestions on where I could perform a lecture about the art works, I carry them loose in a large portfolio and set up many easels to exhibit and provide a brief talk about the importance of producing the pastel art from observation at the telescope. Australia would be a great trip to make from Portland. Would a science institution in Australia invite me to provide a lecture? Would they cover the travel cost? I know that this is quite entertaining for students and amateur astronomers alike. *See photo of lecture I provided at a local college planetarium here in Portland recently. (below thumbnail image.)

-Mark

[Inmykombi]

Excellent work Mark.
I found myslef just looking at your sketch for a godd few minutes, taking in all the detail.

Kepp up this lovely work.

[Kal]

Great Sketch Mark. Viewing through your portfolio I would rate this lunar sketch as your best to date. While the detail level may vary, the detail that you have chosen is very striking.

[markseibold]

Thanks Geoff and Kal

I'm glad the you liked it.

I have just added another new one today here in the Solar System Images. It is a little more at [art] and an homage to the 40th anniversary of the first steps on the moon. -Mark