Pastel by Neil Huggett
38.5 cm (w) x 21.5 cm (h), pastels on acid-free coloured-ground ‘Canson’ paper.
Date produced: 1988 - 1992

This pastel was produced on-site, directly from the subject after walking from Hallett Cove Beach railway station. I saw this handsome hillside regularly while travelling by train between Christies Beach (a previous home) and Wingfield (work). It was actually done after I had moved to Glenelg to live, when I had a little more time (during university holidays, etc.) to do such work, and I had remembered this view as being a potential subject from my previous travels. Here I’ve tried to record the colours and light I experienced, by working directly from the scene and responding to the resulting image. I was keen to capture the glow of yellow sunlight seen within the landscape. This pastel was produced during one session of about 2 hours. I did work quickly, because outside, scenes can change quite quickly.

I was especially lucky with having pale blue still, glassy gulf waters on that morning. The water was particularly calm, which meant that there was hardly any wind out there, plus there couldn't have been much wind out there for some time.

This particular view within Hallett Cove is no more - the grassy slope (below the railway line) and distant hill are now covered with streets and new homes. I am glad I made the effort at that time to record this view while it was still mainly without houses.