ARTtalk Artist Pastel Pastels Tips Techniques Soft Oil Paper Painting Color Art

Recovery Effort Praised – The head of INTERPOL has praised police authorities in Germany and Ukraine for their “exemplary international collaboration” in a recent operation in which a stolen Caravaggio painting was recovered and an alleged international art theft gang broken up. The painting, known as the “Taking of Christ” or the “Kiss of Judas” and reportedly worth tens of millions of Euros, is considered a national treasure in Ukraine. It was stolen two years ago from the Museum of Western European and Oriental Art in Odessa.

Soft, Luminous and Alive Pastels

Working in such a spontaneous and rich media as pastels has many rewards. The instant application of color and shape as well as the ability to blend colors to the exact hue desired are two of the most important aspects of working in pastel. There are, however, many differences in them and many different manufacturers from which to make your selection.

Cost is one aspect of any art material that seems paramount to the artist. You might ask yourself why there is such a wide spectrum of differences in the costs you encounter. Pigment content is the main reason. The more rich and luscious pigment you have, the more coloring power and the higher the cost. The best suggestion is to try different brands to find one that affords you the best coverage, the widest color range and the best value. One way to explore the differences is to select a limited color palette and purchase the same tones in different brands. Do tests to see which ones work best with your style and manner of application.

Soft and hard pastels give two different looks to artwork. Soft pastels render a smooth, rich line that seems to be floating on the surface of the paper. Hard pastels give bold, well defined lines and are great for sharp, clean definition. Both have wonderful application possibilities for different creative needs.

Storage of sticks and pieces in drawers or small cartons, grouped by color family, facilitates quick retrieval. Selecting a portable unit in which to store your pastels makes field work/plein air work easier. And when one color migrates to other sticks, sprinkle dry rice/wheat grains in the storage drawers; the abrasion helps the pastels to stay nice and clean.

See your retailer for all your creative needs when working with pastels: General’s Pastel Chalk Pencils from General Pencil Co. and various fine pastel papers from Strathmore.

Some Subjects That Can Be Found In The Pages Of ARTtalk!
art, arts, paintings, painting, airbrush, airbrushes, airbrushers, paint, sculpture, sculptors, printmakers, printmaking, pencils, pencil, brush, brushes, decorative, women, drawings, pens, inks, papers, illustration, boards, canvases, portrait, collages, colors, studios, exhibition, crafts, classes, workshop, drawing, pen, ink, workshops, magic markers, landscapes, portraits, history, paper, canvas, color theory, arts and crafts, studio, competitions, exhibitions, news, oil, pictures, software, figure painting, erotic art, tattoo, framing, mat cutting, matting, holidays gift, guide, kid's, children's, newsletter, materials, products, marketplace, stores, supply, material, retailers, wholesaler, organizations, books, frisket film, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, carving, fine art, aquamedia, magazines, lessons, artists, painters, printmakers, potters, weavers, weaving, textile, pottery, lithography, screen printing, silkscreen, carving, wood, poster, tools, prints, compressors, museums, galleries, schools, lessons, instruction.

Art Supplies Manufacturer's
Eclipse airbrush, Iwata airbrushes, Medea Textile Colours, Artograph, Alto's, Sakura of America, Medea Com-Art Colours, Savoir Faire, Ampersand Art Supply, Artool, General Pencil Co., FM Brush Co., Borden & Riley Paper, Da Vinci Paint Co., Gagne, Inc., Silentaire Technology, Strathmore Artist Papers, American Art Clay Co., Graphic Chemical, Tara Materials Inc.

Get a Copy of ARTtalk at These Art Supply Stores
Blick Art Materials, Jerry’s Artarama The Artists’ Supplier and Resource, Utrecht The Trusted Resource, Artcetera, Dixie Art Supplies, Sedona Art, Artist and Display Supply, Triangle Art Center, Reuel's Art and Frame, Discount Art, Prizm, The Artist's Supply Store, Hyatts, Hartiens.