Introduction to Pastel
A MEDIUM OF IMMEDIACY
Although some artists argue over whether pastel is a painting or drawing medium, many agree that it combines the best of both worlds. It offers the color and richness of painting with the control of drawing—and because there is no brush or palette between you and the paper, you’ll find it an intimate and tactile experience. The medium is extremely versatile in appearance; you can create delicate strokes, bold strokes, soft blends, rough textures, or airy sketches. And pastel involves no drying time, so colors stay as true as the moment you stroke, making it perfect for the spontaneous artist who treasures immediate results.
Pastels are powdered pigment mixed with a binder and packed into sticks. They are available in both hard and soft varieties, with the softer pastels containing a higher pigment-to-binder ratio. You can also find them in pencil form, which offers a clean alternative to sticks.
Oil pastels are much different from the “dry” pastels mentioned above. These oil-based sticks have a creamy consistency and yield more vibrant hues. They aren’t used in combination with dry pastels; however, they can be used effectively alongside oil paints.
Paper is an important part of the pastel equation. No matter what type of pastel you choose, work on paper that has a textured surface so the raised areas catch and hold the pastel. You might also opt for toned (or colored) paper, which eliminates distracting bits of white from showing through your final piece. —ETG
READY TO START?
Here’s what you’ll need: pastels (a 12-piece set is a fine start), textured paper, soft rags for blending, blending stumps, drawing board or tabletop, and newspaper to place beneath your textured pastel paper.