Hello,

Does anyone do pastels and know of some good websites that talk about their use and techniques. Or a good simple book? I'd like to play around with them some as I got a bunch of art stuff from someone and it included a nice pastel set, brand new. But I have not clue on how to use them.

Thanks.

Hi Rainy,

If you pop over to Wet Canvas there is a forum on pastels, with some wonderful demonstrations & lessons.

You don't say if you are using oils or "dusties". They are different and will need different methods. I am a dusty myself, they are the one's that some people wrongly call chalks. The soft pastels (dusties) are pure pigment held together with binding agents.

The wonder of pastels is that the result is so immediate - and the colour is fabulous!!

You can check out Maggie Prices' Book and her blog site Maggie Price ArtBlog.

Also there is The Pastel Pointers Blog (it is pointers not a typo) it is Richard McKinley's hints & tips on Pastels.

It is not only the pastels that you need to play with but also the paper / support that you use. My favourite is Art Spectrum Colorfix - it is a sanded type surface that holds the pastel well and the best bit is if you muck it up you can hose it off!! - I kid you not! There are so many papers that you can get some samples of a number of them from many art shops in the States, and it is worth trying them out.

BUT the most important thing would be to go along to an art class or weekend course - there is nothing like the immediate feedback to get you travelling along the right path as far as the handling, care of, and effects that you can achieve with your new toys.

I hope you can feel my enthusiasm fo this medium come through here - and a little of it rubs off when you start to play.

Don't be afraid of the blank page - get in there and experiment!! Its only paper afetr all.

Wow, thanks tons Bigs!!! Your enthusiasm for the medium is infectious. THe pastels that I have are a set that is from Derwent and has pastel sticks and also pastel pencils. . . bunches of them. I looked at your gallery and OMG, I love you work. Especially the dogs as I adore dogs and one of my goals is to be able to do mine justice in art.

Thanks again!

The trick with the dogs is to have great photos.

My sister shows dogs so I lob along to a show and there are umpteen people who are happy to show off their potential 'Best in Show' winner. The dogs sit or stand like a statue - fabulous for what I want - my own will stand well on a lead so I enlist a 2nd person to assist getting them to behave, and I click away.

If you have a feel for the animal and an understanding of their conformation it really helps to get things looking right. I worked as a veterinary nurse many years ago and also grew up looking at the conformation of dogs and horses.

As a Registered Nurse (working for too many years in operating theatres) I am also familiar with the human body and its underlying structures.

In order to feel comfortable being able to look at your animal picture and say "Ooh that makes it look down at pastern" you need to watch animals every chance you get and read a few books.

If you seem to know what you are on about you will get more commisions too.

Don't let me bamboozle you though - and don't wait till you've read the books - just do it and corect any problems as you go.

Thanks also Bigs for the paper recommendation. . . I'll look for that. I have some Canson Pastel paper in multiple colors in a tablet that I'm using. My first attempt was a bit awful which is why I had posted this question about getting more info on the medium. I am going to check out the sites and I also picked up a book at the library yesterday. So tonight or this weekend, I'll play some.

Great advice you've gotten from Sue here Rainy. Paper choice really does make a difference and Canson - the mi-tientes - is truly awful paper - at least in my eyes. The rough side has a chicken wire sort of effect which isn't pleasant. If I use that paper, I use the smooth side, its much nicer to work with.

The colourfix is great paper as are Ampersand pastel boards too. But practice first to get your technique down then worry more about the paper.

Thank you again guys! Here is something I just did for practice in my sketchbook (so I'm sure the paper is not great for pastels probably even though the cover says for dry media?) Its just to play around. . . I've not used them before and they are so different than pencil. . . they grab the paper (at least the ones I have did). Anyway, here's my first try. . .

Wow! Great job. Especially for a first try.

Thanks! I live alone so no one around to show my budding attempts at art to so its nice to have someone take the time to comment!

hi rainy!
(I knew I read this before ... )
you did it very well in my opinion. and - as told - I started also a try with pastels so I know exactly what you mean ... I don't know if I could make such a great drawing as I think I don't like them very much. so let's have a new try ...
nice drawing - like it really very much!