Paper and supports?

[Tony Perrotta]

Hi all, I am getting my things together for my first foray into the pastel world, almost there. How do you usually mount your paper to the board, what kind of board is used? I have some thin foamcore 1/4" is this heavy enough to paint on or should I use a wood board? Like was suggested I will take 2 boards with paper on both sides. Should I then use my tape to fasten and mask it to finished size? How many sheet of newsprint under the paper is needed? I know lots of questions but you guys are the experts!!!!!!!

Thanks Tony :)

[jackiesimmonds]

sounds like you are planning to go painting out of doors - ?

If you tape paper to both side, and plan to work on both sheets on paper, then you will need to protect your finished piece no. 1 before you turn over. I personally would not recommend taping paper to both sides, because whatever you lean on, be it knees or easel, you will disturb the pastel on painting no. 1 when you turn the board over, even if you have covered it with a sheet of paper. Particularly if you are using thinnish Fome Core.
If you work at an easel, the painting "at the back" will be resting on the easel's central bar, and the pressure of doing your next pic, will create a mark in your pastel. Also - thin Fome Core is no good if you work at an easel and intend to work large - say full sheet size. It will bend when you work out at the edges. So either take a few thin boards for greater stability, or use thicker Fome Core, or thinnish lightweight plywood. Remember, pastelling involves pressing onto the paper, it's not the same as stroking a sheet of paper gently with a brush.

If you intend to paint more than one image, take several sheets of paper with you. I tend not to use tape, I use bulldog clips, SO much easier than fiddling with tape when out on location. When I have finished the first pic, it goes to the back of the pile of papers (I sometimes take 3 or 4) or into my portfolio if I have taken it with me.

When I have finished the entire painting session, I clip either a clean sheet of paper on top of all the others; or else mostly, I use one of those large, rectangular plastic bags that you get when you buy sheets of paper flat, or, a big enough piece of plastic cut from a bin bag or something stronger. ( If you have a plastic bag big enough to put your entire board, and all the paintings, into, that's good too, but they aren't always easy to find anywhere except art materials shops.)

If I intend to sit, and have the bottom of the board resting on my knees (the top either on my easel's bar or the handle of my painting bag), then I simply unclip the bulldog clips at the top,(putting them back to keep the paper in place), then I allow my plastic sheet to drop down onto my knees leaving the bottom bulldog clips in place. This acts as a marvellously unobtrusive apron!

When painting a scene, it is quite a good idea to draw a rectangle onto your paper, the size you feel comfy with, but leave a good margin all around the edge. This can be used to try out colours, and also, if the pic is a success, it will go under the mat at the framers. Dont worry if the rectangle is drawn freehand - the framer will crop in to suit you, and you may want to crop the picture further anyway.

maybe description like this is difficult to imagine. Have a look:

Pic clipped onto board, with plastic sheet over top (could have several more clean sheets under this one if you want. I tend to have about 3/4 sheets of pastel paper.)
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Apr-2004/1805-P1010069.JPG

This one shows pic with plastic sheet "dropped down" but still attached to the bottom of the board with clips. It would have protected my knees from pastel crumbs beautifully. If you work at an easel, you simply fold it up and replace it when you have finished painting, to protect your work. Works really well, I have road tested this thoroughly! Notice the "margin" left around the pic. Also, because the paper did not stretch quite to the bottom of the board, I held it in place with just little corners of masking tape, which was more than enough.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/01-Apr-2004/1805-P1010070.JPG

Hope this is helpful
Jackie

[Kathryn Wilson]

Ahhh, I see you are getting to go out and paint - good! The only thing I see might be a problem with foam core would be wind because it doesn't have enough weight and that not taping your paper down on all four sides could be problem. Even a gentle breeze could get up under your paper. I've bought drafting tape that I use - it goes down nicely, holds well, and when I take it back up, it does not tear the paper. You do have to be careful when buying the tape as there are so many kinds - make sure that it says drafting tape that lifts up with no tearing.

Not sure about using both sides of your board either - how do you plan on transporting both paintings home? I think that needs some thinking through.

Hope you have a great time - I plan on getting out on Sunday for a day of painting!

[doe]

Another option is Ampersand Pastelbord - a coated piece of masonite that won't flap in the wind and has a really rugged surface. It's certainly more expensive than paper but you might want to try it out or make your own panels.

[Khadres]

I think the putting of paper on both sides must be for watercolors perhaps? That's about the only medium that would work with, I think, aside from just simple sketching and even then you'd have smudging.

I'm not sure your use of plastic would work for me, Jackie. In our ultra dry climate, plastic bags, etc. tend to get static electricity-y which could be disastrous for a finished pastel, I'd think. Even opening a bag to put trash in it can be a pain on a highly electrified day since the sides try to stick together while I'm juggling the waste bin. I'd probably be better off with a good brown paper wrap or some such...maybe a home made bigggg paper bag. I'll give both plastic and paper a shot once things get a bit less chilly around here.

[jackiesimmonds]

I think the putting of paper on both sides must be for watercolors perhaps? That's about the only medium that would work with, I think, aside from just simple sketching and even then you'd have smudging.

I'm not sure your use of plastic would work for me, Jackie. In our ultra dry climate, plastic bags, etc. tend to get static electricity-y which could be disastrous for a finished pastel, I'd think. Even opening a bag to put trash in it can be a pain on a highly electrified day since the sides try to stick together while I'm juggling the waste bin. I'd probably be better off with a good brown paper wrap or some such...maybe a home made bigggg paper bag. I'll give both plastic and paper a shot once things get a bit less chilly around here.

Sooz, haven't been to your part of the world, but have worked in ultra-dry climates, such as Morocco when it was very hot, and Greece, ditto, and provided you give the finished pastel a quick burst of fix, it should be fine. Anyway, you may want to touch it up when you get home, so it shoulnd't be a problem even if a bit of static occurs. Also...you could put a clean sheet of brown paper or pastel paper or even Glassine over the top, before clipping the plastic back on. It is just so useful as a clothing protector if your board is balanced on your knees. If you don't work like that ever, then you can use anything you want.
Jackie

[DFGray]

Hi
this board has seen april in Paris and many other places
it will be 16 years old and has had a thousand pastels throught its life
it will go to work today
I replace the duct tape every year, built out of doorskin and built the dimension of different papers, essentially a hinged box, the best part is that it's a great drawing surface
holds finished works w/o movement
yesterday presented a gallery a piece, in box....sold
regards
Dan

[Tony Perrotta]

Thanks guys, io see what you mean jackie about both sides of the board. I would think to transport home I will just clis clean paper over the work.
Pencil margin, great method. I have a few light boards to use instead of the foamcore, I can see it being caught in the wind, however I will use an easel all the time.
Dan, what duct tape do you mean, the hinge is tape?

Tony :)

[ann.bun]

Jackie, I love your books and videos. They're a great help to a rank beginner like me, and I should think to more experienced people too.
I want to know where in UK you can get glassine. Can anyone help please?

[chewie]

dick blick sells glassine in large sheets, shipped in a roll. if your work is small, i have used plain old kitchen variety wax-paper, with fine results. if nothing else, a sheet of newsprint paper taped on all sides so it can't move, can work too.

some of you may like this idea--most newspapers will sell you 'roll ends'. when printing the paper, they can only use down to a certain amt., or run out during a run, and that is awful!! (i used to be a printer) i buy roll ends for around $5, some places even give it away, and there is sooo much paper left on them, you can use it as freely as you wish, and its a great way to keep kids busy while i'm painting! i just call and ask, and they will save it for me. also, let kids decorate it and use it for wrapping paper! oh, careful, i'm almost teettering on 'craft', run! haha! this newsprint isn't as rough as the kind in a pad in art stores, so i think it may work better for topping a fresh pastel, as long as it's securely taped down.

DFGray--please tell more of this board you have. is it simply 2 boards with a duct tape hinge? and do you tape it shut? sounds like a good idea in any case, thanks!

[Khadres]

Sooz, haven't been to your part of the world, but have worked in ultra-dry climates, such as Morocco when it was very hot, and Greece, ditto, and provided you give the finished pastel a quick burst of fix, it should be fine. Anyway, you may want to touch it up when you get home, so it shoulnd't be a problem even if a bit of static occurs. Also...you could put a clean sheet of brown paper or pastel paper or even Glassine over the top, before clipping the plastic back on. It is just so useful as a clothing protector if your board is balanced on your knees. If you don't work like that ever, then you can use anything you want.
Jackie

Gotcha! And I think the glassine between the plastic and painting would prevent the static problem, too. You would never have to worry about rain drops either!