Pastel Paintings

Art is about self-expression. This is a medium that gives full freedom to the artist to express his/her feelings and convey a whole lot of meaning without using a single word. An artist can use many techniques and styles. From acrylic to oil paintings, pencil sketches and watercolors, the option depends upon the artist. Be it Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo, famous artists have had their own style to represent what they wished to convey.

As an artist myself, I have been mesmerized by many mediums. My first brush with art was with charcoal and pencil. From there on, I discovered many techniques that helped me realize which medium best suited my skills. Pastel painting gave me the freedom to experiment and give a completely new meaning to a blank sheet of paper. Even now, the joy of opening a box full of these magical colors still gives me the thrills I first felt years back. Over the years, I have discovered the magic of oil pastels and the beauty each stroke contains. And here, I would like to share with you some basics of pastel painting.

Types of Pastels

Pastels are basically small-sized sticks available in many shades. An artist can create various moods for any painting with the use of pastels. From a bright landscape to a beautiful portrait, pastels are a versatile medium that gives artists the freedom to experiment.

Various brands manufacture these pastel colors in small, medium and large-sized packs to suit the requirements of the artists. Experienced artists often prefer to choose the large-sized packs, as there are many more shades available in these packs. There are basically three types of pastels available in the market. Those that are soft or hard are the most commonly available kinds. Pastel pencils are those that are on similar lines to hard pastels. But my favorite remains to be oil pastels.

Oil pastels can be used on a variety of surfaces and in combination with other medium. When used on their own, they give an artist ample options to apply their creativity while using it on paper. Oil pastels basically give a smooth and creamy finish as compared to soft or hard pastels. The pastel painting will therefore have a very waxy finish. Soft pastels tend to smudge when applied on paper. This problem is relatively less with oil pastels. However, an artist always needs to ensure that he/she takes care of the painting to avoid the flecks of the pastels from mixing into each other.

Techniques Used for Pastel Paintings

An artist always begins any painting with light strokes. Pastels give one that opportunity to use it across the paper in any way, which is suitable to the artist. An artist can try many techniques for pastel paintings and with time, develop a style of his/her own. While using pastels, the stroke is of utmost importance. The final result of the pastel painting will depend upon the way an artist plays around with the stroke on the surface. Apart from the stroke, there are many other ways an artist can add beauty to a painting. Here are the basic techniques used for pastel paintings.

Blending: Blending of colors can be done by hand or even a brush. Art supply stores also have shapers used for pastel paintings. There are used to blend colors in smaller areas, which cannot be done with fingers.

Use of gradation: Gradation is about blending colors from a light tone towards a darker shade. This is done when an artist wants a smoother finish to a particular area.

Scumbling: Scumbling basically involves the use of blending the side strokes over the existing background.

Dusting of color: For this, you need to hold the required pastel color over the painted surface. Scrape the pastel over the surface of the paper. This creates the dust. Once the flecks fall on the surface, use a palette knife and press the flecks to the paper.

Pointillism: Artists such as Vincent Van Gogh used pointillism to create masterpieces. Pointillism is a technique that requires a lot of effort. The pastels can be used to create small dots all over the surface. The colors should be carefully chosen to get the required depth in the painting.

The techniques you use also depend upon the kind of paper. Choosing different surfaces can create varied textures. You need to check with your local art store for handmade paper or sheets that have different grains and grades. This will add a unique touch to your pastel painting.

Art is about giving freedom to your imagination. Great artists were not trained formally in the field of art. Free your mind from all the shackles and let your imagination run wild. The pastel painting you create will surely be exclusive! So, have you discovered the artist in you?