PASTELS TROUBLESHOOTER

 

 

   Although pastels are really enjoyable to use, and good results can be quickly achieved, I know there are times when frustrations sets in, so I hope the following few tips and hints will be helpful.

 

       

How many pastels do I need? There are so many to choose from!

 

       A boxed starter kit of 36 is a very good beginning, and you can add more when you can afford to! Just make sure you have lots of subtle shades and a good variety of "coloured greys" - blue-grey, green-grey, red-grey for instance - to add life and variety to "neutral" areas; there is nothing more boring than one single grey used for shadows, for instance.

 

How do I know what colour of paper to use? There are lots of those, too!

 

       Neutral, mid-toned pastel papers are easiest to use, because they are unobtrusive. If you want lots of sparkle and drama, select a dark paper. If your image is very light, choose a pale paper. A warm colour will add warmth to a cold scene or to a picture painted with lots of "cold" colours. Whatever you choose - try to cover as much of the paper as possible, as paper colours sometimes fade!

 

 

After I've worked for a while, my pastels seem to skid about and it's hard to add more colour.

 

       Pastel paper is the most commonly-used support for pastel painting, and it has a slight texture. It is easy to fill up the little indentations in the paper with pigment if you work with a heavy hand. Once this texture, or "tooth" as it is called, is filled, further marks will skid around on top sometimes. Try working with a lighter touch in the early pages, allowing your pastel marks to "dance " on the surface. Reserve your heaviest, juciest marks for finishing touches. If you want to add layers, to put one colour over another, or just to make your painting more "positive", then add layers gradually, and try applying a little fixative very lightly between layers. Some colours may darken slightly when you do this, so if you are unhappy about this, don't "fix" at the end of painting - just frame your masterpiece instead!

 

How to I make flat areas of colour look more interesting?

 

       Try experimenting with different techniques. For example, holding your pastel so that its side is on the paper rather than its pointed end, stroke one colour gently over another. Or, create areas of "broken colour" with, say, 4 blues instead of 1, using the side of short pieces of pastel to creat short overlapping marks. Try stippling, or cross-hatching with similar colours. Anything goes, to make a vibrant, exciting work!

 

Are you are trying pastels, and have a question you would like to put to me? I'll do my best to answer. Send me an email to jackiesdesk@gmail.com.

Every month, I will select one email correspondent to "win" a free copy of one of my open edition prints, such as this one:

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

Majorcan Patio Pot