Information courtesy of Winsor & Newton™
Pastels, as we know them, have been in use for more than 250 years. The great attraction for artists is the immediacy of pure pigment applied directly to the paper. First popularized by Rosalba Carriera, it is perhaps the drawings of Degas which make pastels so very famous. The earliest pastels were of quite a hard texture but as artists began to use more and more color, the need for softer pastels increased.
Information courtesy of Reeves™
The Nature of Soft Pastels
Pastels are very soft in texture, and can be easily blended, either with a finger or a cotton ball. They come in a huge range of vibrant, strong colors and are water-soluble. Pastels are ideal for creating quick, Impressionist-style work, and they are used for both drawing and coloring. It is possible to use the length of the pastel to make broad slabs of color, or a sharp corner to draw, as you would with a pencil. The technique does create a lot of pastel dust, and finished pictures benefit from being sprayed with fixative to seal them. Choice of paper is an integral part of pastel technique. Textured and colored papers will add interest to your work.
Information courtesy of Reeves™
Unlike chalk pastels and watercolors, which have existed for centuries, oil pastels are a relatively new medium. Whereas normal pastels can be diluted with water, oil pastels are soluble in turpentine, and can even be used in conjunction with oil paint. The advantage of oil pastels is that they are completely dust free, and form a strong, durable bond with the paper. This gives the finished piece a waxy sheen, which is quite different to the matte, powdery look of a traditional pastel drawing.
December 04, 2007 in Drawing | Permalink | Comments (1)
Used for drawing, coloring and any classroom or home studio project, newsprint offers various styles and surfaces that make drawing fun! Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
