Making your Own Pastels Workshop

[rhoward]

Making your own pastels is one of the easiest things an artist can do. It's also a wonderful way to save money (costs about 1/3 of store bought), you can make custon colors and produce an endless range from light to dark. This is one home made artist's material that will easily rival anything made by the factories.

To learn how, read the article on making pastels at http://studioproducts.com/demo/demo.html It will answer all of your questions.

Here's a Pro's Tip: don't ever use a fixative. The spray fixatives change the colors and, besides, who wants to breath that stuff? Instead do what the masters like Degas and Lautrec did -- steam them. STeam softens the pastel that's on the paper an activates the glue (Gum Tragacanth) causing it to stick to the paper without discoloring. The paper turns dark when the steam is on it but dries back to it's original color...so do the pastels. I use an inexpensive drapery steamer and it works well.

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Cennini Catalogue http://studioproducts.com/quickcatalog/catalogframes.html

[This message has been edited by rhoward (edited July 05, 2000).]

[EquusAlba]

Using steam sounds interesting - I'll definitely try it on the painting I'm currently working on, since it's one I have to ship, and I've hated the effects of any fixatives I've used as a final step.

Two questions do come to mind, though:

Have you tried it to fix between layers? If so, how well did it work to 'freshen' the surface as compared to a light spray of a reworkable fixative?

Are there any particular pigments, brands of pastel or brands of paper that you've encountered that haven't 'liked' this technique? If so, which?

I've had very good luck making pastels using the pre-moistened Wallis mixes, but I've encountered a lot of problems obtaining consistent texture when mixing from 'scratch' - some very hard, some crumbly. I'll likely try mixing from scratch again ... schedule myself some time to experiment and take notes of what results I get from which mixtures.

Thanks for the info!

Judith

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Judith Northwood
Northwood Studios (http://www.northwood.org/studios)

[rhoward]

Originally posted by EquusAlba:
Have you tried it to fix between layers? If so, how well did it work to 'freshen' the surface as compared to a light spray of a reworkable fixative?


My technique is the tried and true technique of beginning with hard pastels until the paper loads up and move to medium pastels and finally to the softest pastels for the final touches. I can steam between layers, which is what Degas did. He even steamed the pastel sticks before making a stroke.

As with anyone's advice, try it on a small sample of paper and then give it the torture test.

Making the Gum Tragacanth solution and mixing with pigment is not difficult. Gum Tragacanth must sit for a day or so before it forms the right consistency.



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Cennini Catalogue http://studioproducts.com/quickcatalog/catalogframes.html

[nancymae]

I just got through reading the pastels workshop....it was AWESOME!!! I want to go out and buy all the stuff to make my own now!! Love those triangular shapes Llis!!!

I have one question--where do you get all the materials???? I don't live near any type of art store...I usually get my supplies from Jerry's...Mr. Art, etc. Do you have recommendations on where I can get these things through cataglog??????

Thanks again for the great workshop!! I enjoyed the detail in which you explained all your procedures and methods. Also, your notes.

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!! (Makes me wish I lived in the South!!!)

Nancy

[llis]

It has just been announced on the front page of WetCanvas under the NewsWire, but here is a shameless plug --> http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ArtSchool/Pastels/MakingPastels/

Or, you can visit ArtSchool and see it. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

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See you in the Cafe Chat Room (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/WetChat/index.html) ...Or, stop by ... the Virtual Cafe Guerbois (http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/cafe/) today and sign up for one of the painting/drawing projects!

[llis]

Nancy, glad you enjoyed the article, we sure enjoyed the workshop. Carly, Deb and I have really gotten to be close friends but we don't really live that close together. Deb has to travel from Florida, and it takes her almost 5 hours to get here. Carly lives a little over 2 hours from me. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/frown.gif We don't get to see each other often, but when we do...we have a blast!!! You are welcome to join us anytime. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I got all the materials from Terry Ludwig by ordering from his website (http://www.makepastels.com) . He has a kit that makes it easy.

I included a list of supplies just so if some already had a few supplies already and wanted to know what they were missing they could order from Terry or get them from other sources. If you use the kit from Terry, he includes a booklet that explains in greater detail what to do. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

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See you in the Cafe Chat Room (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/WetChat/index.html) ...Or, stop by ... the Virtual Cafe Guerbois (http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/cafe/) today and sign up for one of the painting/drawing projects!

[This message has been edited by llis (edited January 05, 2001).]

[bk7251]

Where can I read about this workshop?

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Barry Katz

[CarlyHardy]

The workshop was a lot of fun....but I give all the credit to Phyllis (the mastermind behind the plot!). She just gave us instructions and we followed! With her organization, everything went very smoothly.

Great job with the online instructions, llis!
carly

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http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/chclements/

[llis]

Thanks Carly....now, how are you coming with our next adventure? http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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See you in the Cafe Chat Room (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/WetChat/index.html) ...Or, stop by ... the Virtual Cafe Guerbois (http://www.artistnation.com/members/paris/cafe/) today and sign up for one of the painting/drawing projects!

[Deb]

Carly...What's our next adventure? http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Sorry to be so late replying. We did have a great time with the pastels but if it were not for all of Phyllis's hard work we would have been lost. She had everything organized and running smoothly. We had a lot of fun....She cooks good too http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[LDianeJohnson]

You 3 could take a trip to the Sennelier factory in France to do a live report! And of course do lunch!

[Deb]

sigh...maybe one day Diane...and of course, you will have to join us! http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/wink.gif