Pastels are the wild horses of the art world. They are vibrant, versatile and unpredictable. It’s the unpredictable nature of pastels that makes them so exciting to work with. Pastel colors are a great way to experiment with new ideas, whether you’re an artist who is just starting out or a seasoned professional looking for something different – extra resources!
Imagine that you’re at your kitchen desk with a sheet of blank paper in front of yourself. Open a box of pastels, the colors shimmering in the light. Pick up the stick and drag it over the paper. The pigment glides easily, leaving a trail of rich color that is both intense and soft. It’s almost magic how they blend and layer.
Pastel colors don’t need brushes or water. They’re straightforward–just grab one and start drawing. It’s a great way to get started for beginners who may feel intimidated by other media.
Let’s not fool ourselves, there is still some technique to be learned. Understanding how to layer colors, for example, can be the difference between an image that is flat and one that jumps off the screen. You can start by using the lightest shades first, and then gradually progress to the darker ones. You won’t get muddy colors this way.
The pastel artist can also use blending to their advantage. You can use cotton swabs or your fingers to get more precise. Even tissues will work! Keep them clean to prevent color mixing.
Pastel can become dusty. Always keep a wet cloth on hand to wipe down your workspace and hands periodically. If you are serious about maintaining your workspace, you can use fixative sprays as you work to help set the layers.
Let me tell about Jane, my friend who began using pastels in the past year. She had always been interested in sketching, but she never experimented with anything other than pencils. Then one day at the attic sale of her grandmother’s house, she came across an old set pastels. She was intrigued by their potential and decided to give it a try.
Jane began with landscapes, but soon became lost in the blending of skies and sunsets. She also found it difficult to blend fields into forests. She liked how pastels are forgiving; if you make a mistake, it’s easy to blend away or cover it up.
Jane found that pastels let her express emotions in a more vivid way than any other medium. The tactile quality of the sticks connected Jane’s hand movements directly with her emotions, a form of artistic alchemy which transformed raw emotion on paper into visual poetry.
Why should you embark on this colorful journey? Pastel painting is not only fun, but also teaches you color theory and composition.
It’s not necessary to have expensive supplies. A basic set of oil or soft pastels is enough. You’ll also need some paper that’s designed for pastel work. The paper should be toothy (textured) so it can hold the pigments securely and gently, allowing for smooth transitions. Even if your strokes seem random at first, once you finish them you’ll realize how they all come together into a cohesive masterpiece.
Ready? Grab your sticks! Grab those sticks!