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Author: Phyllis_Franklin, Contributing Editor
| Making soft pastels is a time-consuming messy job but well worth all the trouble when you are successful making that one special color that you have not been able to find anywhere else.
You can create your own custom pastel sizes that fit your hand and the techniques you like to use. Not only that, you learn a great deal about color during the process and can make them cheaper than buying commercial pastel crayons. Making your own pastels also allows you to make your pastels as soft or as hard as you would like them to be. Commercial pastels have to be made hard enough to withstand breakage during shipment. Because you do not have to concern yourself with shipping you can make softer pastels that are more yielding and do not dig into the under-layers as much as the harder pastels do. The paint quality will be richer, and the colors more intense. The softer the pastel, the easier it is to make thick layers of color. Light colors can be applied with real impasto effects, which are especially brilliant with soft pastels. Knowing what goes into your pastels is another advantage. You can be the quality control technician. You can choose the best ingredients available, proven permanent pigments, safe binder, and preservatives to prevent mold. You also will know that your pastels are free from trash contamination that sometimes happens in larger manufacturing places because you will assure your supplies and tools are as clean as possible at all times. If you have ever picked up a pastel and made a stroke on a painting and found that pastel left a scratch or tore the paper, you know exactly what trash contamination can do. |
 | Gather your supplies and let's begin.
Here are a few suggestions: 1. Old Clothes to wear, plastic table cloth 2. Dust Mask, disposable gloves 3. Notebook for formulas and adjustments 4. Glass or non-stick Work surface 5. Measuring Spoons and cup, spatula, 1/2 tsp. & 1 drop graded dispenser |
 | 6. Ivory Clear dishwashing detergent, water
Note: Work Clean,when gloves get too dirty you can throw them out, when tools get dirty, wash and begin with clean tools and work surface. 7. Pigments, and precipitated chalk 8. Putty knife, (forming knives are nice) 9. Sponges, paper towels, babywipes, 409 10. Storage bottles for binding solutions 11. Dry pigments, Binder, preservative 12. Newspaper, plastic wrap 13. A bucket half full of water for clean up and rinsing off the tools. 14. A sense of humor! |
 | You will notice as you go through this article that none of us have on eye protection, or aprons. When working for an extended period of time, it is advisable to protect yourself to the upper most degree. Better to be over protected and uncomfortable now than under protected and be sorry later. We did use extreme care to not touch the pigments with our bare hands, or create dust as we mixed our pigments. We also worked a very short time.
Here are a few precautions for your consideration that are particular to pastel making. As always, all safety measures should be followed using any materials, art related or not. Common sense will guide you with this. |
 | When working with dry pigments, wear a dust mask and protect all exposed skin from dust particles as best as you can. Use protective skin cream before you begin work. Check with your art supply dealers for different types.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the studio. Although these pictures look like a kitchen scene, this is, in-fact a studio equipped with a large sink for clean up and a large table covered with a new white plastic shower curtain. The shower curtain can be taken outside to remove any dust, and then washed to be used again. |
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