new to pastels [Archive]

Roan

01-25-2001, 01:21 PM

Welcome to WetCanvas, Shari!

Personally, I think drawing helps regardless of what medium you are painting in, but that's me :P

As for arranging pastels, everyone seems to have a different method. Some don't arrange them at all, but prefer to keep pieces in a bucket and root through for colors. Me, I prefer to arrange mine by color family, then brand. For instance, I keep all my burnt umbers in one spot and either rank them by brand name or by favorite shade. I do keep my Nupastels separate from the rest tho, because I usually use them first and they're easier to locate when left in the boxes.

Just my 2 cents.

Oh, I also recommend that book that Barry pointed out. It's one of the best.

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Roan
Nan dèanadh mo làmh mar a dh'iarradh mo shùil!
-- If my hand could do as my eye would desire!
RoanStudio.com (http://RoanStudio.com) <-- pastel open stock vendor sources & reviews!

LDianeJohnson

01-25-2001, 03:23 PM

Shari,

Welcome to WC! So happy to hear you wish to start in pastels. I agree with Roan, it is essential to get your drawing skills up as this is important no matter what style you end up working in with pastel. However, you can learn to use the material of pastel in tandem with learning to draw. Experiment, play, and get the feel for the media. There are many articles here on this material. Also search past pastel forum conversations for advice as well.

Additional beginner books for pastel are:
<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891347895/thecritiqueshop/104-5880759-8843967">Creative Painting With Pastel</A> Carol Katchen
<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891343962/thecritiqueshop/104-5880759-8843967"> Pastel Painting Techniques : 17 Pastel Painting Projects Illustrated Step-By-Step With Advice on Materials and Techniques </A> Guy Roddon

Essentials for learning to draw:

<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891343377/thecritiqueshop/104-5880759-8843967">Keys to Drawing</A> Bert Dodson
<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/089134361X/thecritiqueshop/104-5880759-8843967">Getting Started in Drawing</a> Weldon Blake, Ferdinand Petrie

And have fun painting! Please let us see what you are doing so we can help you all we can.

Diane

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2001 L. Diane Johnson Plein Air Workshops (http://www.LDianeJohnson.com/workshops)

Roan

01-25-2001, 08:14 PM

Oh, one more book I'd highly recommend. If you are thinking of delving into the world of portraiture, check out:

<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0891346708/o/qid=980477824/sr=8-4/103-8598176-1802257">"How to Paint Skin Tones"</A> by James Horton and Hazel Harrison. I feel it's a "must have" for any pastelist -- or artist -- doing figurative work.

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Roan
Nan dèanadh mo làmh mar a dh'iarradh mo shùil!
-- If my hand could do as my eye would desire!
RoanStudio.com (http://RoanStudio.com) <-- pastel open stock vendor sources & reviews!

Roan

01-25-2001, 08:37 PM

Psssssssst! Barry! It's Bill Creevy, not Richard Creevy. You had me confused until I followed the link :P

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Roan
Nan dèanadh mo làmh mar a dh'iarradh mo shùil!
-- If my hand could do as my eye would desire!
RoanStudio.com (http://RoanStudio.com) <-- pastel open stock vendor sources & reviews!

Shari

01-26-2001, 12:02 AM

Hi, I am just beginning to explore the world of pastels. I have been an artist and craftswoman for many years and have tried many mediums but this is totally new to me and I am in love with it! I am looking for a teacher but am having fun playing with pastels in the meantime. I don't draw well which is a detriment and I am starting drawing classes soon. Any advice? Does a person need to be a great drawer to be a good pastel artist? Also, how do you organize your pastels, do you put them all together by values or by softness/hardness, etc. I would appreciate any help.

Shari

bk7251

01-26-2001, 12:15 AM

A good place to start is "The Pastel Book" by Richard Creevy.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0823039056/qid=979967361/sr=2-2/ref=sc_b_2/103-8385938-5067868

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Barry Katz

4vincent

01-26-2001, 05:51 AM

Hi Shari, and welcome:

Along with the other advice, you may find some helpful videos on the market; one I would think helpful would be by Daniel Greene. He also has a very informative book, "Pastel", which covers a lot of basics in pastel application, drawing, supports, etc., for the beginning pastelist. Ken

Shari

01-26-2001, 06:50 AM

thanks for the suggestions. Where might I find that video? Also, I would really like to know what brand of pastels most people like the best. Any suggestions there would be helpful.

Shari

4vincent

01-26-2001, 07:09 AM

You can order the video through his studio at PO Box 438, North Salem NY 10560 (I think it's around $70) but I think some have found it at online auctions cheaper.
There are a lot of good varieties of pastels on the market, and come in a variety of numbered sets. I myself work with several different brands. There are also half stick sets, which enable you to get more colors for the same money. Pastels go from harder sticks like Nupastel, Rembrandt, Windsor-Newton, to softer like Sennelier, Schmincke and Unison. Personnally, some of my favorites are Girault, Schmincke, and Sennelier.

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http://kenhardy.artistnation.com

Shari

01-26-2001, 09:52 AM

Thanks for the info. I checked out your site, your pastels are beautiful. What do you think of Unison pastels? I ordered some rembrandt to start with since they were less expensive. I tried out a couple sennelier, they are so soft and nice but very $$$.

Shari

Shari

01-26-2001, 01:14 PM

this is helpful, thanks. I adore your site, a lot of good information. It is great to be able to compare prices. I have been reading a lot of books, watching videos and gathering information and supplies, but I have not yet "gotten in the water" so to speak. I have been playing around some, but I am afraid to start with anything very expensive or to use great paper in the beginning. What is glasspaper? Where do you get it? I have heard that is good. I am waiting to get into some classes here. I live in a fairly remote area, so there isn't an ongoing class in pastels. I did order the drawing book that was mentioned.

Shari

Roan

01-27-2001, 12:04 AM

Shari:

Unison pastels cost two to three times more than Sennelier, depending on where you get them, of course. If you are looking for costs and softness ratings, you might want to check out my site (link at bottom of message). I currently only have open stock resources listed, but you can compare the costs per stick between each brand. They'll be priced in the same tier if you buy a set.

As for favorites, your best bet is to just buy a few of each and decide on your own 'cause everyone will opt and argue for a different brand :P

Rembrandts ARE a good starting point -- you won't outgrow them. You might want to also consider the harder Nupastels. The rest -- have fun deciding :P

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Roan
Nan dèanadh mo làmh mar a dh'iarradh mo shùil!
-- If my hand could do as my eye would desire!
RoanStudio.com (http://RoanStudio.com) <-- pastel open stock vendor sources & reviews!