All I asked Pastel

I refer to my own pastel pieces like "paintings" and have often wondered about this terminology. Very often I cover the "earth" (surface) I'm working completely with pastel. So my paintings, crayon pieces are considered. Occasionally you see a job that leaves a lot of pastel ground exposed. When this is the case the piece is considered a sketch pastel. Since pastels are so versatile and each individual artist uses the technique, the work can really go from a pastel sketch of the rudimentary basis of a painting with every bit of surface covered in multiple layers of pastel.

As I mentioned earlier, this medium is extremely versatile, so terribly fun to work with. An artist may choose to leave a few well placed shots on paper or blend with your fingers, cotton balls, makeup applicators or instruments created and designed specifically for the job. If you select a plot with more "teeth" multiple layers of pastel can be applied - one directly above the other. Then you can decide to merge or not merge - whatever suits your artistic imagination.

There is no drying time involved, so you can see your progress immediately with no color change expected along the way. Pastel is easy to work because there is no need to wait between the layers, you can start, and finish work spontaneously, and this medium can be portable enough as long as you limit the number of crayons that you take with you for the plein air excursions. There are many beautiful trestles, boxes of crayons and other necessary equipment available for pastel artists should you decide to take your work outside the studio.

Another question I am often asked is with regard to the permanence of paintings in pastels. In reality, pastel is the most stable of all media of art if it is painted or drawn on a plot of storage and properly framed using archival products necessary and proper techniques. This is where you pay to go to a framer expert / professional to ask for assistance and get the job done right.

Only a few days ago I heard a worker trained in a frame shop to say to someone who was perfectly fine for a pastel piece to be placed directly against the glass. As a professional artist pastel I would never do this as the crayon needs a place to dust powder to fall. This can be achieved through the use of a mat spacer, double or something like that a framer who knows the specific needs of the medium should be able to recommend. Ask questions in advance so you will not be disappointed in your latest piece pastel.

Finally, I would like to emphasize that it is pastel chalk and crayons not only create light, airy, colorful paintings. I often hear, "I do not know you could produce all these bright (or bright, or bold) with the pastel colors!" The crayons are available from different manufacturers are really in every imaginable color and pastel artists, like me, they long for each of them add to their collection.

In conclusion, if you are an artist or a connoisseur of art because it does not give the wonderful old medium of pastel a new look? You will certainly be impressed .......