Pastels, like wild horses in the art world, are vibrant and versatile. They’re bright, versatile, unpredictable, and have a lot of vibrancy. This is what makes pastels so fun to paint! Pastel adult painting classes can inspire creativity in both newbies and experienced artists.
Imagine sitting down at your kitchen counter with a white sheet of paper. A box of colors is lying open. They gleam in the light. Take a pastel and drag it along the paper. The pigment glides across the paper, leaving behind an intense trail of soft color. It is almost magical how seamlessly they blend together and layer.
Pastels don’t really require water or brushes. They’re straightforward–just grab one and start drawing. This instantaneity can be liberating for those who might feel overwhelmed with other mediums.
There’s still a lot of technique involved. It’s important to understand how colors are layered. This can make the world of difference between a dull image and an image that really pops. To begin, lay down the lightest tones first. Then gradually add darker shades. By doing this, you will avoid muddying the colors.
A pastel artist also has a trick for blending. Use your fingers or cotton swabs on smaller areas. Even tissues work! Just keep them clean and you won’t get any color mixing.
As for dust, yes. Pastels can be dusty. A damp cloth can be used to wipe hands and work surfaces periodically. You can also use fixative sprays, if you really want to be tidy.
Let me tell the story of Jane, a friend I met last year who was experimenting with pastels. She has always enjoyed sketching, yet she had never ventured beyond pencils. This changed when she discovered an old set in her grandma’s attic. She was fascinated by their potential.
Jane began by painting landscapes. However, she quickly found herself engrossed in the process of blending sky into sunsets or fields into forests. She loved pastels for their forgiveness; if she made an error, she could easily layer it over or blend it.
Jane began to experiment with other media, but pastels gave her the ability to express emotions vividly. The tactile nature of those sticks allowed her to directly connect her hand movement with her feelings. This was an artistic alchemy that turned raw emotion onto paper.
Why should we dive into this colorful experience? Aside from being extremely fun (and somewhat addictive), using pastels helps you develop skills such as color theory and composition, without bogging down with technicalities.
No fancy supplies are required. A set of soft pastels or oil pastels with a good quality paper specially designed for pastels that has enough texture (texture to hold pigments firmly but gently) will allow for smooth transitions.
Ready? Grab your sticks. Grab some sticks!