Gotta start somewhere!

Nandie · #1 01-15-2005, 01:22 PM

Hi everybody

Allow me to introduce myself.... I've been on WC! for almost two years now, but I mostly hang out in the watercolor or portrait forums. I've decided to try a new medium - soft pastels - in the hopes that it will improve my color awareness and sketching skills.

So anyway... I'm an absolute beginner at pastel, so here's my kindergarten effort for critique. An apple and an orange... both done from a Walter Foster instruction book to get the idea of how to use pastels. Next I'll try them from a photo.

I know the shadow is kind of heavy around the apple but that's how the book showed to do it. It was fun anyway!

I also tried a portrait in pastel that turned out hideously so I'll spare you the details...

Thanks in advance for c&c!

Muffin_4377 · #2 01-15-2005, 04:09 PM

Hi Nandie, and Welcome.

I also made the jump from watercolour to pastels about 6 months ago. I've been having a blast with them....so different from watercolour (but then again...what isn't)....And watercolour can be used as an underpainting for your pastels

I really like the texture on the orange....awesome first go at it!!

What kind of pastels and surface are ya working with?

BTW....Love your wc work...

ponting · #3 01-15-2005, 04:21 PM

Hello Nandie from Squamish....

....you are certainly off to a running start because these are great and you've gone about it in the right way....starting simple although I don't know if I would say that about a portait.

How are you liking it so far......I call it the 'chocolate' of the painting mediums and it truly can be.........

Cheers, Dianna of Abbostford.

PAKI · #4 01-15-2005, 05:59 PM

Look at the way the light is jumping around on your paper, it sure is on my screen. It is hard, not, to fall in love with these medium. I warm you, sketching first, then more expressive serious work, then ...... well you will get hooked. Chocolate of painting medium....hmmmmm....That really says it! Bet you can't eat just one!

Nandie · #5 01-15-2005, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome ladies!

Muffin, I am working with Nupastel, a set of 24 colors for portrait painting. I already wish I had more colors as I'm discovering you can't really "mix" your colors the way you do with paints. The paper is Aquabee for pastel and charcoal, in assorted colors. I know absolutely nothing about different types of paper, and couldn't find the brands recommended on this forum. It seems to have a nice rough surface though, I'm getting some nice texture effect with it.

Dianna, thanks for popping in and commenting! I've decided I want to paint like you when I grow up.... lol.... I have a looooong way to go! Wish I could get together with you some day and watch you in action (I'm a visual learner). This is soooo different from watercolors!

Paki, thanks... I think the texture of the paper helped to get the light dancing - total fluke on my part, but it seems to work!

Paula Ford · #6 01-15-2005, 08:05 PM

Hello Andrea

and welcome to the Pastel Forum!!

Both of your paintings are wonderful!! I started with an orange and by the time the painting was done, orange pastel was everywhere, including on my eye lashes LOL. So, my advice to you is "Don't Blow!!"

Have a great time with a great medium!! Looking forward to seeing more of your paintings.

Paula

khourianya · #7 01-15-2005, 11:55 PM

These are fabulous for first efforts - definitely leaps and bounds ahead of where I was at the start!

I love how you have managed to capture the form and texture on the orange. The apple seems a little flat to me, but that might just be an illusion from the shadow.

Overall - great job! Now keep dusting up a storm and coming back to show us! I'm looking ofrward to seeing how you make those pastels work as you get more practice with them.

Khadres · #8 01-16-2005, 12:30 AM

Great beginnings, both! And welcome to the dustiest forum on WC! What we lack in housekeeping skills, we make up for in enthusiasm!

Mikki Petersen · #9 01-16-2005, 01:30 AM

Hi Andrea and welcome to the dusty side. I promise you pastel has a much faster learning curve than watercolors. As Kitty Wallis will tell you, you can mix your own colors by creating your own pastels

, but by and large most of us are collectors of pastels. While 24 is a very limited set and the nupastels are quite firm, you are producing good results here. Another way to stretch the colors you have is by layering or crosshatching one color over another to achieve different effects. Have fun and experiment and start jotting down some of the colors you think are lacking...it will help you when you are ready to expand your collection.

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