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• Pastels - Definitions and History
• Brands of Soft Pastels
• POLL: Which is your favourite make of soft pastel ?
• Brands of Hard Pastels
• POLL: Which is your favourite make of hard pastel?
• Pastels: Technical data about their composition and permanence
• Reviews of Brands of Soft Pastels
• BOOKS: About Pastels
• Soft Pastels - Dark and Light Sets
• Making your own soft pastels
• Pastel Supports - boards and papers
• Lots of different ways to store all your pastels
• Tools for working with soft pastels
• BOOKS: The "Best of Pastel" Books
• Artists who work in Pastels
• The latest posts on my art journal "Making a Mark"
• People who blog about Pastels
• User perspectives on different Pastels and Pastel Supports
• Pastels Suppliers (UK)
• Pastels Suppliers (USA)
• BOOKS: On painting with pastels by Albert Handell
• Working with Pastels - Tips, tricks and techniques
• Framing and Glazing Pastels
• BOOKS: About pastels by Jackie Simmonds
• Different ways of learning about Pastels
• The Pastel Journal Videos
• BOOKS: On Plein Air and Landscape Pastels
• Societies of Artists working in Pastels
• Pastels - Exhibitions and Competitions
• BOOKS: Portraiture in Pastels
• BOOKS: More books about Pastels
• Forums for artists working in pastels
• Pastels and Pencils - Fine Art by Katherine Tyrrell
• Comments and Suggestions

Pastels - Definitions and History 

Pastel - by Wikipedia

Wikipedia entry for pastels

Oil Pastel - by Wikipedia

Wikipedia entry for oil pastel

pastel: Definition and Much More From Answers.com

pastel ( ) n. A drawing medium of dried paste made of ground pigments and a water-based binder that is manufactured in crayon form

about pastels by Conneticut Pastel Society

Information about pastels

Pastel Society of America - About the Medium

Includes an article on the care and preservation of pastels by Marjorie Shelley,
Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge of Photographs and Works on Paper, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Brands of Soft Pastels 

Links to all the makers' websites for all the soft pastel brands on the Internet

Pastel Set Photos

Photos of various brands of pastels - in sets - contributed by members of the Wet Canvas Pastels Forum (and co-ordinated by the wonderful Sooz RIP)

UNISON COLOUR Soft Pastels

Unison Colour Soft Pastels - hand made in Northumberland, England. For more information contact info@unisoncolour.co.uk

Art Spectrum Soft Pastels

Australian soft pastels which come in two sizes but are not always easy to find. Their colour chart provides information about light fastness

Daler Rowney Soft Pastels

UK pastel. Soft round stick is smaller than most but is available in 194 tints

Girault Pastels

A french pastel - one of the oldest handmade pastels in the world. Until the 1940s, Girault used to supply several fine arts manufacturers and important stores with pastels. Later the pastels were sold both at the workshop's shop and by Lefranc-Bourgeois. Known as Pastels Girault until 1987, they then used the trademark Quentin de la Tour until 1995.

Available in France and the USA - distributors listed on website. 4 colour charts and 82 main colours and 444 shades (mixed with white, with white and black, or with other colours) making 526 hues in total. Plein air case contains 300.

Mount Vision Pastels

USA based pastel company based in Mount Vision, New York state launched in 2000. Very informative website

Talens - Rembrandt Soft Pastels

Popular medium soft pastel found in a lot of art stores. Link provides a colour chart in pdf

Schminke

Schminke Pastels are pigment rich and very soft. There are 400 colours classified in 80 rows with 5 colours each.

Sennelier Pastel "A l'ecu"

Soft French pastel available in 525 shades.
All tones are made up of delicate shade gradients, tending towards white. These pastels are available in 3 sizes. The range of "Grand soft pastels à l'écu" includes 62 shades.

They have a reputation for breaking up once the paper cover is removed.

Terry Ludwig Pastels

Very soft pastels with some amazing dark shades - which are also super soft
From the website
Pastelist Terry Ludwig has developed a comprehensive process for handcrafting an unprecedented array of exceptionally soft pastels. Described as buttery and velvet by the Pastel Journal, these pastels surpass the spectrum of color and quality of pastels manufactured for other art suppliers.

Winsor and Newton Soft Pastels

UK based pastel with 200 colours: 40 full strength colours also available in 3 lighter tints and 1 darker tint

Mt. Vision Pastels - Color Chart

Highest quality handmade pastels for the professional artist - displayed in all the colour sets

Great American Art Works - Soft pastels

Soft pastels at Great American ART WORKS, researching, refining and manufacturing soft pastels.

Conté crayons

Brief wikipedia description about the origins and composition of Conte crayons

Henri Roche - profile

Story of the background to Henri Roche Pastels

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Natural Sanguine

Rich red chalk from Tuscany. Native iron oxide with clay. Use as a soft pastel for drawing (as did Leonardo da Vinci).

Diane Townsend Handmade Pastels

From their website: Townsend Pastels are hand made pastels for artists. Choose from three types of pastels; Soft Form Pastels, Terrages, a larger pastel with added pumice which enables the artist to open up the surface of paper and work in more color, and lastly our new Thin Line Pastel, a pencil-like pastel for detail and delicate work. Pastels are available individually and in box sets

P R I S M A C O L O R Soft Pastels

From the website: Artists' quality for every level of expertise
Rich, soft, creamy pigments for easy blending and shading
High quality, brilliant pigments create vivid colors
Available in rectangular length sticks provide the convenience of coverage as well as line definition

POLL: Which is your favourite make of soft pastel ? 

Brands of Hard Pastels 

Lefranc et Bourgeois - Conte A Paris

LEFRANC & BOURGEOIS distribute the CONTE à PARIS fine art range of pencils, crayons and pastels.

Conté crayons are most commonly found in black, white, and sanguine tones, as well as bistre, shades of grey, and other colors and are particularly suitable for fine hatching.

POLYCHROMOS Pastellkreiden (Artists' Pastels)

Polychromos Artists' Pastels
From the website:
POLYCHROMOS pastel open up an almost inexhaustible variety of colour. They contain a high proportion of light-fast quality pigments. These pastels have impressively bright colours and a fascinatingly silky "feel".....The characteristic square-cross section allows you to draw fine details with an edge, or shade extended areas with one face. The crayons have a uniform consistency, are economical in use, and adhere excellently to paper, card, wood, and stone. They need only a minimum amount of fixing for permanence.

P R I S M A C O L O R Nupastels

Nupastels®
From the website:
Artists' quality for every level of expertise
Rich, creamy pigments for easy blending and shading
Stronger than traditional soft pastels create less breakage and easier clean-up
Ideal for illustration or tightly rendered drawings

CRETACOLOR ART MATERIAL: Pastels

From the website: The square (carré in French) CRETACOLOR hard pastels have been recognized by artists all over the world for their brilliant colors and high pigmentation. Their square shape lends itself well to painting both large surfaces and small details.

POLL: Which is your favourite make of hard pastel? 

Pastels: Technical data about their composition and permanence 

Winsor & Newton - Artists's Soft Pastels

The table in this link provides technical information on the composition, permanence and characteristics of Winsor and Newton Artists' Soft Pastels.

* Permanence ratings will tell you how long your painting will last over the years...
* The Chemical description will tell you exactly what pigments make up your colour and...
* Transparency and Opacity ratings are key indicators to how your colour will perform when layering colour

Art Spectrum - Soft Pastles

Professional Quality Artists' Soft Pastels
Websites states that all Art Spectrum pure pigment pastels are free from heavy metals, asbestos or other toxic substances.
No fugitive (*) colours according to website.

Information on colour chart about lightfastness - as determined by Art Spectrum - and the details provided on the label.
Label states carries the ACMI AP seal indicating compliance with ASTM D4236 (health and safety labelling practice - ACMI AP seal means that products contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans or to cause acute or chronic health problems.")

Daler Rowney - Pastel pigment listing

Pdf file of the pigments used in Daler Rowney soft pastels. This includes:
- colour name and tint designation
- pigment name(s)
- C.I. names and C.I. numbers
- degree of permanence (star rating)

Colour charts on the website also indicate lightfastness. Sets includes moderately permanent (**) and fugitive (*) colours.

Reviews of Brands of Soft Pastels  

What the pastel artists thinks about different pastels

Making a Mark: Unison Pastels: the Darks and the Lights

Image of and commentary on the dark and light colour sets of Unison pastels

Making A Mark: Unison Pastels - The Blues and Greys

Commentary on the bluer end of the Unison range plus three completed pastels to demonstrate what they look like

Making A Mark: Unison Pastels: Blue Greens and Blue Green Earth

I'm very attached to my Unison blue green and blue green earth sets. It might be something to do with my favourite colour being duck egg blue or it might be because they are just so useful when doing skies, water, trees etc. I know that it was these two sets which first got my plastic twitching!

Making A Mark: Unison Pastels - Greens 1-36

All the greens - except the blue greens and the yellow greens! This is the third in the series of posts about my Unison Colour Value sets. The Greens come in two boxes 1-18 and 19-36.

Making A Mark: Unison Pastels - Yellow and Yellow Green Earth

Unison Yellow and Yellow Green Earth: pictures of the pastels and examples of them in use

Making A Mark: Unison Pastels: Red, Red Earth and Brown Earth

Pictures of and commentary on three sets of Unison Pastels at the red end of the spectrum

Pastel: Unison Review

Casey Klahn reviews Unison pastels

Pastel: Diane Townsend Pastels Review

Casey Klahn reviews his favorite brand of pastel - Diane Townsend Artist's Pastels. These handmade jewels come in three styles: Soft Form, Terrages and Thin Line. By way of explanation, consider the Soft Form to be a classic shape, Terrage ("Earth Gesture") to be a large rectangular shape, and Thin Line to be as described by their name.

The Studio News - Sennelier Pastels

Lisa Bachman uses soft pastels from several different manufacturers, and their texture ranges from hard, to very soft. However her biggest collection of very soft pastels are made by Sennelier - which she writes about in this review

Pastel: Sennelier Critique

Casey Klahn PSA - on why he likes Sennelier

Barry Katz Homebuilding - Westport, CT Pastel Article- HOT ON THE TRAIL OF THE WORLD'S BEST PASTELS

HOT ON THE TRAIL OF THE WORLD'S BEST PASTELS A detective story by Barry Katz During a recent visit to Paris, he devoted a good deal of my time to tracking down what are reputed to be the world's best pastels - Henri Roche - and found the source!

Wet Canvas Product Reviews - Soft Pastels Product

WC members comments on different soft pastel products for professionals

Dakota Art Pastels - the list of pastel brands in order of softness

This is a classification of generally how soft different brands of pastel are. Bear in mind the hardness or softness of individual colours can vary due to the nature of the pigments used.

Censura Reviews: Pastels (Soft/Pro): Roche Soft Pastels

Rating and review of Roche Soft Pastels

BOOKS: About Pastels 

books from Amazon

The Pastel Book

The Encyclopedia of Paste...

Pastel for the Serious Be...

Pastel School (Learn as Y...

Creative Painting With Pa...

Soft Pastels - Dark and Light Sets 

Making a Mark: Unison Pastels: the Darks and the Lights

These two are my most recent acquisition - the Darks and the Lights. They've not been used a lot as yet - but they are very well liked my me already - some of the shades are what I missed from the original range. The nice thing is that the darks are not at all scratchy - which often seems to happen with dark colours in some brands of pastel.

UNISON COLOUR | Pastels

Light Set

UNISON COLOUR | Pastels

Unison Dark Set

Terry Ludwig Pastels: 30 Intense darks #1

Intense Dark Set #1

Terry Ludwig Pastels: 30 Intense Darks #2

Dark Set #2

Making your own soft pastels 

Useful links if you'd like to have a go at making pastels for yourself

Making Professional Pastels by Paul deMarrais | Daniel Smith Art Supplies

Paul de Marrais discusses how to make pastels

Sinopia.com | How to make your own Pastels

A San Francisco pigment supplier discusses how to make pastels

Making Pastels - by Phyllis Franklin

Making soft pastels is a time-consuming messy job but well worth all the trouble when you are successful making that one special color that you have not been able to find anywhere else.

How To Make Pastels by Tony Johansen

A very detailed guide to making pastels

pastel making

Pastels are very easy to make and the savings over store bought pastels is enormous. Pastels are made by mixing a gum solution with pigment, shaping into sticks and allowing it to dry. That's all there is to it.

The Colorist: Get Busy Making Pastels

Have some fun, and save money on expensive pastels, by making some of your own sticks. It's easier than one may have heard. Some of the information online is positively frenetic with how complex and difficult it should be. Don't believe it!

The Colorist: Making Pastels - Continued

Yesterday, we gathered our tools, and I promised to show you how to make pastels with no expensive purchases, just to get you started. We are going to make a stick from your easel tailings (dust that fell off of your paintings in production). Then, we'll just briefly touch on repairing broken sticks, and then we'll talk about making your own authentic colors.

Daniel Smith Art Materials: Making Professional Pastels

Making Professional Pastels: Paul deMarrais discusses how to make your own soft pastels and the materials you'll need. A little know-how can lead to a lot of satisfaction.

Pastel Supports - boards and papers 

Some are designed for pastels and some just work well with pastels

Kitty Wallis Pastel paper

Wallis paper is a sanded paper available in two archival standard versions - 'professional' and 'museum'. Kitty Wallis's forum on Wet Canvas. Get a free sample and find out what you can and cannot do with this paper - available from all major art suppliers in the USA. See next link for UK supplier

Jackie Simmonds - UK supplier of wallis paper

Jackie Simmonds works closely with Kitty Wallis to supply Wallis paper in the UK. This link provides good quality information about Wallis paper.

Art Spectrum Colourfix

Colourfix provides a toothy surface which is not harmed by water. The manufacturer's informative webpage provides details and colour charts for Pastel Primer and Colourfix Paper. the paper is available in different weights and different sizes.

Canson Mi Teintes

Paper comes in 50 different shades - but what is available in reality will depend on country and supplier (EG Dick Blick lists 42 shades). Paper is: 65% rag (cotton), tub sized, antique wove, roller marked, variable grain direction and has a textured surface.

IMO this paper has a horrible chicken wire pattern on one side which can very apparent in artwork but the smoother side is great. It comes in sheets, rolls, and pads.

Beware - the colour of this paper is NOT lightfast.

Canson Mi-Teintes: which side and why?

The Wet Canvas Pastel Talk Forum discusses "Canson Mi-Teintes: which side and why?" and identifies some real concerns about lightfastness

Fabriano Tiziano

Marion Boddy's review of Fabriano Tiziano paper.

Ampersand Art Supply - Pastelbord

Pastelbord is a clay and gesso coated hardboard panel with a granular marble dust finish comparable to a sanded pastel paper except more durable and more versatile. It can be used with wet or dry traditional pastel techniques or with acrylics, and more! (I've used it with coloured pencils and fell in love with it!) The coating is pH neutral and non-yellowing, making it a truly permanent museum quality surface.Available in Gray, Green, Sand and White.

Making a Mark: Abrasive Supports for Pastels & Coloured Pencils #1

The first post in an overview of seven abrasive supports for pastels and coloured pencils. Includes links to more infomation.
Covers: Ampersand Pastelbord, Art Spectrum Colourfix and Ersta Sanded Paper.

Making a Mark: Abrasive Supports for Pastels & Coloured Pencils #2

Covers: Richeson Premium Pastel Surface (new product); Sennelier La Carte Pastel (Pastel Card) / Rembrandt Pastel Board; Schminke Sansfix Pastellkarton and
Wallis Paper

The Pastel Pointers Blog - Mounting Pastel Paper

One of the most frequently asked questions is about mounting pastel paper-especially Wallis pastel paper-to a support before painting, and whether or not this has to be done professionally. The purpose of having paper mounted is to add stability and to facilitate the use of water-based underpaintings.

Pastel Paper Review by Mary Herbert

Mary Herbert is an artist based in Leicestershire specialising in pastel portraits of horses and dogs. She's been painting pastel pictures on mountboard for many years. In the meantime, many new surfaces have come onto the market, and the time has come to try some of them out and see if any of them can help me produce better art. This review covers five papers, all with quite different qualities.

Neutral pH UART Sanded Pastel paper - from Dakota Art Pastels

NEW (Replaces Ersta)
Dakota Pastels are offering a new industrially produced sandpaper to replace Ersta. Uart has the same wonderfully consistent machined surface that characterized the Ersta papers ? but it is produced on a neutral pH backing paper!

The papers are available in four grits ranging from P400-P800. Three size sheets and rolls available in all surfaces! The paper is a lighter, creamier color than the former Ersta.

Saint Armand Sabretooth Pastel Paper - from Dakota Art Pastels

he Saint-Armand Sabretooth paper is made in Montreal, Canada.
The rag base paper is archival, acid-free, very lighty textured and internally sized. The acrylic based sand coating is applied with a roller to achieve an incredibly even, subtle textured surface. The coating will take both water and solvent base washes and can withstand vigorous scrubbing and reworking. This is a great sheet for both soft and oil pastel. A range of nine colors is available in individual sheets of 22" x 30" or a pack of four sheets of a single color in 15" x 20".

The Pastel Pointers Blog - When Homemade Is Best by Richard McKinley

We're fortunate to be painting in a time when there are so many wonderful pastel surfaces commercially available. In the Dark Ages of pastel?not so long ago actually?it was a necessity to know how to make your own, especially if you required a sanded surface. But even with the proliferation of available surfaces today, there are times when a homemade surface fills the bill.

To create a homemade, sanded pastel surface, you'll need a substrate and the ground components (binder, grit and, optionally, a tone):

Lots of different ways to store all your pastels 

Where to put them all; how to carry them around

Making a Mark: Can you ever have enough pastels?

Most pastellists would snort at this completely rhetorical question since the answer is emphatically 'No'. Read on........

A new form of storage for pastels

These new pods provide a new and more flexible form of storage for pastels

Artbin Pastel Storage Box

I've got two ArtBin storage cases for pastels and they've proved extremely robust for travelling by air (in a case) and carrying around for plein air work. However the size of the slot will not take larger pastels (eg Unison). So check whether it will take your favourite pastel before you buy.

ArtBin Pastel Tote

This is the ArtBin storage which is the best one to use if you have odd shaped and/or larger pastels. Plus the transparent cases are useful for seeing easily which pastels to get out.

The Heilman Pastel box

Designed with input from Pastel Artists and Instructors who wanted a handy, secure box.
Used and recommended by artists Albert Handell, Anita West, Richard McKinley, Maggie Price, Margaret Evans, Lorenzo Chavez, Glenna Hartmann, Stephanie Birdsall, Alan Flattmann,Richard McDaniel and many others who use it in the field and studio.

Richeson Roz Box

I've never seen this - but I guess if it's from Richeson then it will be designed especially to accommodate Unison Pastels for artists in the USA.

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > 'Langset' Wooden Pastel Box

Well finished good quality wooden box, with four lift-out trays, 2 with foam inserts. Could hold 200+ pastels. Brassed fittings and leather carry handle. External size 36x26x14cms, weight 2.75kg.

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > 'Epworth' Wooden Pastel Box

Well finished good quality wooden box, with two lift-out trays each divided into 10 sections with foam inserts. Brassed fittings and leather carry handle. External size 36x26x8cms, weight 1.75kg, will accommodate up to 80 standard size pastels.

Tools for working with soft pastels 

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Charcoal Stick Holder

Grips charcoal or graphite sticks from 4 to 6mm diam, enabling clean working and avoids waste of the end.

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Stumps and Tortillons

Disposable rolled paper tools for blending pastel, charcoal and pencil work. Stumps are densely rolled, tortillions loosely.

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Colour Shaper Pastel Blending Tool

For good control in blending, shaping and smudging. Double-ended tool, one end chisel tip shaper, the other a spongy blender. Silicon tips simply wipe clean.

Heaton Cooper Studio Ltd > Colour Shaper Pastel Set

Set of four tools comprising one silicon chisel tip shaper, one silicon tapered tip shaper, one nylon fan blender and one blender brush. For defining, blending and smudging. In two sizes - size 2 for detailed work and size 6 for detail and area work. Silicon tips wipe clean.

Artists Network - A Word about Drawing Tools by Butch Krieger

A Word about Drawing Tools by Butch Krieger (March 10, 2008)

You can find a host of drawing tools on the market. Here's some information, to help you choose the best gear for you.

BOOKS: The "Best of Pastel" Books 

books on Amazon

Pure Color: The Best Of P...

The Best of Pastel 2

The Best of Pastel

The Best of Canadian Past...

Artists who work in Pastels 

Wolf Kahn

Wolf Kahn is one of the most important colorists working in America today.

Albert Handell

Albert Handell is a Master Pastellist who delivers Pastel Workshops

Sally Strand Pastels & Mixed Media

Sally Strand Pastels and Mixed Media work and workshops

Margaret Glass - painter in oils and pastels

The paintings of Margaret Glass demonstrate her ability in both Pastels and Oils. Her subjects are varied and include many from Venice, Italy and from her home county Suffolk, UK

Dianna Ponting

Dianna Ponting has won many awards for her pastel work. She is a Master Pastellist of the Pastel Artists of Canada and is current President of the Federation of Canadian Artists

Jackie Simmonds

Pastel painter, gallery of original pastel paintings, limited edition prints, books and videos, art instruction

Frances Treanor

Frances Treanor (her entry in The Bridgeman Art Library entry - one of the World's most comprehensive source of fine art images for reproduction)

The landscape paintings of M. Katherine Hurley.

Colourist art - landscape paintings in oil and pastels by artist Katherine Hurley - a student of Wolf Kahn

Kitty Wallis

Pastel paintings by Kitty Wallis (courtesy of the Harris Gallry in Houston). Many are views of the water garden at Giverny in France.
Click to see a a larger version in a separate window

Barbara Benedetti Newton

Now works primarily in soft pastels but started initially with coloured pencils. Author of the Colored Pencil Solution Book.

Sheila Evans - Anisotrope Studio

Sheila produces wonderful pastel paintings of landscapes, trees, leaves, succulent, flowers and ambient light ©2005 Anisotrope Studio

Michael Chesley Johnson, PSA - Landscape En Plein Air Painter in Pastel, Oil

Michael Chesley Johnson offers a a lot of very good information about pastels on his website - including pastel demonstrations

Richard McKinley, fine art

Painter in pastels and oils and instructor in plein painting with pastels

Jimmy Wright, Artist

Jimmy Wright, juror for the Still Life and Floral section of the 8th Annual Pastel 100 competition 2007. Details of Classes, Exhibits, Works on Paper, Paintings, Biography and essays

International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) - IAPS Ninth Juried Exhibition

Artists accepted into the 9th Juried exhibition of IAPS

Hosner Fine Art - Plein Air Pastel

A collection of plein-air works by Bill Hosner created by painting figures and scenes from life. I feel that this way of working is the only way to convey the nature of light, and emotional connection between myself and the subject.
Pastel 100 Juror 2008

The Art of Ron Monsma

The Official Site of Ron Monsma. Ron is the head of drawing and painting at IUSB, and an internationally acclaimed artist. In 2008 he won the 9th Pastel 100 Jack Richeson/Unisons Pastels Best of Show Award

:Casey Klahn

Casey Klahn Fine Art - Colorist American Landscapes

Arts and Stuff with Susan Borgas

Australian artist Susan Borgas - paints the Flinders Ranges of South Australia in pastel

:Bill James-American Impressionist

Bill James - American Impressionist
Bill works in pastels, watercolour and oils and has won many awards. He excels at heightening colour within landscapes.

Susan Ogilvie

SUSAN OGILVIE Entire site copyright © 2007 Susan Ogilvie. All rights reserved.
All content on this website is the property of Susan Ogilvie, and is protected under United States and International copyright laws. The images on this site may not be reproduced, stored, or manipulated, without the written permission of the artist.

The latest posts on my art journal "Making a Mark" 

Katherine Tyrrell writing about: - Making marks with pastels, pencils and pen and ink - Creating new drawings and paintings - Influences on developing both artwork and art careers - Interviews with artists - Information about resources for artists and art lovers

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People who blog about Pastels 

Making A Mark

My blog - click the pastels category (RH column) to bring up all my blog posts about pastel brands / supports / workshops / artists - and my art too!

Arts and Stuff with Susan Borgas

An Australian pastel artist who shares her aids to working with pastels as well as completed works and works in progress

Michel Chesley Johnson

Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and Contributing Editor to the Pastel Journal - this is his plein air blog (pastels and oils). he has another weekly painting blog.

The Colorist

Casey Klahn aims to provide a newsletter for patrons of colorist art without the artspeak

bigcatheads

Life as an artist who paints cats - in charcoal and pastel

Daily Paintings by Ria Hills

Ria Hills is a pastel painter born in The Netherlands, raised in New York and living in Massachusetts. She has discovered the satisfaction of completing a painting a day by joining the daily painters movement on the web.

Painting My World

Original Pastel Paintings created daily by Karen Elizabeth Margulis

Daily Pastel Painting - Mike Beeman

Based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Mike regularly shares new pastel works

Pastel and Paint - Lesley Finn's Art

New Zealand artist Lesley Finn writes about the influences on her art - and shares pastel works as well as work in other media

Pastel: In Praise of Henri Roche, Pastel Maker

Casey Klahn comments on the pastels of Henri Roche

PA Ford Pastelist

Paula Ford, Tennessee

The Pastel Pointers Blog - with Richard McKinley

Richard McKinley's Blog. The opinions expressed herein are his own personal opinions.

The Pastel Journal Blog

News from the Pastel Journal staff

User perspectives on different Pastels and Pastel Supports 

Your chance to have a say

This is an opportunity to say what you like or don't like about different brands of soft pastel and/or pastel supports/paper. Please be as concise and precise as you can and highlight positives as well as negatives.

lhiller I like to build my pastel painting from the bottom up, or similar to making a cake. I like NuPastel for establishing size and placement, blocking in and values. Girault for creating the painting and getting my colors the way I want and Ludwigs for the "fosting". Of course, sometimes I have to disregard all of the above for that "just right color". Of course that's always from another brand. Posted April 14, 2008

Renee

Hello. If you're open to a suggestion, try Blick Art Supplies online. In many instances their prices are the most reasonable of any supplier I have come across.

Posted April 08, 2008

Karen

I like and have pastels from most brands, but Girault offers the most unique size, shape and colors. Paul de Marrais pastels are as heavily pigmented as Ludwig and Sennelier, but creamier than both, not as powdery as Ludwig, not as grainy as Sennelier. Rembrandt and Mount Visions are great middle of the road pastels in texture, color and price and are probably the best choice for people starting out until they know their 'touch' and preferences. Great American and Schmincke are gorgeous as top color pastels, but I don't find their texture or their price good for building a painting from start to finish. Art Spectrum pastels are ones that cause a respiratory problem for me, and I cannot use them. Paperwise, I really prefer to prepare my own surfaces, but the new UART paper is quite nice with various tooth to choose from, and Art Spectrum boards great for taking outside to paint plein air.

Posted January 27, 2008

Pastels Suppliers (UK) 

Who are the best retail and online suppliers?

Heaton Cooper Studio - Art Materials Section

I bought my first colour sets of Unison Pastels at the Heaton Cooper shop in Grasmere, Cumbria, Since then I've used their very efficient online ordering system. They're great at packing!
They carry a very wide range of pastel brands and a good range of pastel supports.

Jackie Simmonds - sole UK supplier of Wallis Papers

Well known UK pastel artist Jackie Simmonds first discovered Wallis Paper through her connections in the USA and the Pastel Society of America, discovered WALLIS paper. Impressed with its performance Jackie Simmonds now works closely with Kitty Wallis to supply Wallis paper in the UK. This link also provides good quality information about Wallis paper.

Green & Stone Art Materials

Pastels, chalks and charcoal from Green and Stone, Chelsea

L Cornelissen and Son - Artists' Colourmen: Pastels

The widest range of pastels available in London and maybe the UK! Four full manufacturers ranges with all the colour variations in stock. Add to that the crayons and oil pastel ranges and you have an idea of the scale of our offer.
Our range includes:-

Soft Pastels - Schmincke;Sennelier, Talens & Unison, Conté Carré Crayons, Oil Pastels, Sets & Boxes, Fixative, Stumps, Pads, Pastel Cloth & Paper

A P Fitzpatrick - Catalogues and mail order: Kremer Pigments

As well as selling materials from our London art shop we offer a mail order service.

GreatArt - Pastel Paper

Canson Mi-Teintes Artists Paper, Hahnemuehle Pastel Paper, Fabriano Tiziano Pastel Blocks, Lana Coloured Paper, Colourfix Pastel Paper, Sennelier Pastel Paper

GreatArt - Pastels

Unison, Schmincke Pastels, Sennelier Extra Fine Artists Pastels, Winsor & Newton Artists Soft Pastels, Conte a Paris Carre Pastels, Jaxell Jumbo Pastels, Faber-Castell Polychromos Pastels

Pastels Suppliers (USA) 

A mini-directory of suppliers of pastels and associated art materials and supplies

Dakota Art Pastels

A site totally dedicated to being the leading resource in the USA for pastels and premium pastel papers.

FineArtStore - Pastels

Complete range of supplies for the pastel artist from this art supplier based in Rochester, New York.

Jack Richeson Catalogue for Unison Pastels

Jack Richeson is the approved distributor of Unison Pastels in the USA. This catalogue provides a good overview of the pastels, the process of production and a detailed colour chart for the different sets.

Rochester Art Supply - Pastels

Rochester Art Supply
150 West Main Street, Rochester, New York 14614 USA

This store has a great range of pastels - including what are reputedly some of the finest in the world - Henri Roche soft pastels. You can also order a Pastel Catalogue.

Italian Art Store - Professional Pastel Sets for Pastel Artists

Pastels stocked include:
Art Spectrum, Maimeri, Mount Vision, Schminke, Sennelier and Unison as well as Golden Acrylic ground and Lascaux reworkable fixative

Pastels - soft pastel - oil pastel - water soluble

Quality oil pastels, including Winsor and Newton, Rembrant, Schmincke, Unison, Mount Vision, Blockx, Girault pastels and grumbacher

BOOKS: On painting with pastels by Albert Handell 

books from Amazon

I have the first two of the books listed below and recommend them to people wanting to take their pastel work 'up a gear'

Intuitive Light: An Emotional Approach to Capturing the Illusion of Value, Form, Color and Space

by Albert Handell, Leslie Handell

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $19.95

Painting the Landscape in Pastel

by Albert Handell, Anita West

Amazon Price: $15.38 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $22.95

INTUITIVE COMPOSITION a Right-Brain Approach to Achieving Simplicity, Harmony, and Balance in Your Paintings

by Albert and Leslie Trainor Handell

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price:

PASTEL PAINTING WORKSHOP a Complete Guide for Handeling Pastel and Mixed Media

by Albert and Leslie Trainor Handell

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price:

Working with Pastels - Tips, tricks and techniques 

Various Tips and Tricks for working safely, cleanly and exhibiting work

From the website of Pastel Artists Canada

Pastel Journal - questions and answers

questions e-mailed to the pastel journal with answers

WC Pastel Forum Library - Soft Pastel index

a range of useful threads covering a variety of topics

Pastel Pratfalls

Twelve common mistahes and how to avoid them by Margot Schultze for APOW

Pastel Talk - how to mat, frame and ship a pastel painting

Deborah Christensen Secor shares the results of a panel discussion held at the Fourth Biennial IAPS Convention held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 11, 2001.

Studio Tips for the Pastel Painter - ©Aldridge

Studio Tips for the Pastel Painter by Donna Aldridge PSA. Donna covers new pigments and new colours; keeping clean in the studio; HEPA filter fans; masking edges; masking slides; applying fixative; storing pastel works; choosing frames and shipping work to shows

Pastels Troubleshooter

Jackie Simmonds has a page of tips on her website

10 things about using pastels

Brief and to the point - tips from the lornamatic Blog

Wet Canvas Pastel Talk: How To Make A Simple Dust Catcher

Peggy B and WC members share their ideas - with photos of how to make a simple and effective dust catcher for studio or plein air work

International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dry Pastel

Answers to frequently asked questions about pastels and pastel paintings by the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) - Representing pastel societies uniting in a common cause - to demonstrate the validity and quality of pastel fine art around the world.

FAQ on pastel fixation, pastel protection and pastel framing

tips on pastel fixation, pastel protection and pastel framing provided by Marie Lydie Joffre

American Artist: Drawing With A Powdered Pastel 'Wash'

August 13, 2007 - Drawing With A Powdered Pastel 'Wash' by Robert T Barrett

Jackie Simmonds: Painting Shadows

There is much more to a shadow than simple absence of light. It is not just a grey shape. Shadows are often full of color, and shadows give the artist an opportunity to add drama and interest to a painting in a variety of ways.

Wet Canvas Pastels: Marc R. Hanson: Pastel Demo from a Plein Air Oil Sketch

Mark Hanson demonstrates the development of a pastel on Walli paper using gouache for the underpainting

The Pastel Pointers Blog - Pastels and Planes

an overview of what to do when travelling with pastels on planes

The Use of Fixative | ©Aldridge

Notes on Fixative for Pastel Paintings from a 1999 IAPS Program on Conservation by Ross Merrill. Head Conservator of the National Gallery, Washington, DC
With additional comments and illustrations on sprayingby Donna Aldridge PSA M-MAPS

Painting a pastel portrait step by step with Mary Herbert

Mary Herbert is an artist based in Leicestershire specialising in pastel portraits of horses and dogs. This is a step by step demonstration of pastel painting on a smooth surface using pastel pencils.

The Pastel Pointers Blog - Pushing Around Pastel by Richard McKinley

To rub or not to rub is a personal artistic choice. Different surfaces, pastel brands and tools will create varied results. Experimentation is always recommended. When choosing a tool, many simply use the most convenient?the hands. If you do use your hands, you should employ some precautions.

The Pastel Pointers Blog - Turning the World Upside Down by Richard McKinley

To clean up our mental hard-drive and allow our internal computer to work efficiently, try this simple trick?look at things upside down. By observing subject matter in this way, the mind is unable to quickly associate its prejudices to the visual symbols the eyes are sending. This allows us to see the simple shapes, values, and colors, leading to a stronger painting that relates better to the natural world. When painting from printed reference material, turning the reference upside down easily facilitates this. Working on location, or from life, is harder unless you're able to bend over and look through your legs for prolonged periods of time (something I gave up years ago). This is when a mirror comes in handy.........

Framing and Glazing Pastels 

BOOKS: About pastels by Jackie Simmonds  

books on Amazon

Jackie Simmonds is a UK based pastel artist and teacher

Pastel Workbook: A Complete Course in 10 Lessons (Workbook)

by Jackie Simmonds

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $19.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

Pastels: Collins Painting Workshop

by Jackie Simmonds

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $22.99

Gardens in Pastel (Collins Learn to Paint)

by Jackie Simmonds

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price:

L'Atelier du pastelliste

by Jackie Simmonds

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price:

Different ways of learning about Pastels 

Classes, Workshops, Videos, DVDs

Making a Mark: The best ever workshop - pastel painting with Sally Strand

A synopsis, with photos, of a Sally Strand workshop about painting the colour of light. Highly recommended for both advanced and aspiring pastel artists.

Sally Strand - The Color of Light

Take a workshop with Sally Strand if you'd like to know how to work with pastels using watercolour underpaintings and how she achieves wonderful light effects in her work.

Daniel Greene - Painting Videos

Observe the techniques and learn the procedures of master painter Daniel Greene

Jackie Simmonds - Art Instruction books and videos

Art instruction books and videos from best selling author and award winning UK pastellist Jackie Simmonds

Jackie Simmonds Art Class

Access to free tuition from jackie Simmonds

Artshow.com - Pastel workshops

A list of workshops - all of which should be about learning about pastels - but check the description carefully as sometimes they're mixed media rather than pastel specific

American Artist: Albert Handell's Pastel Paintings: A Retrospective Exhibition

American Artist's preview of a retrospective exhibition of paintings by Albert Handell and an outline of how he works taken from one of his books

A History of Pastels

Madlyn Woolwich's history of lens from the "Associated Patellists on the Web" site.

Dianna Ponting Workshops

Dianna Ponting is an award winning Master Pastellist who is currently the President of the Federation of Canadian Artists. She is an excellent instructor and provides workshops in North America and, in 2006, in the UK

Making a Mark: Pastel with Ponting - an online pastel class

A review of Dianna Ponting's pastel workshops and online class

Basic 102: Class 12---Pastel with Ponting - WetCanvas!

Wet Canvas Drawing and Sketching Forum's Classroom - an online pastel class by a premier pastel artist Dianna Ponting. Basic 102: Class 12---Pastel with Ponting is hugely informative about pastels, supports and methods and is a 'must read' for all those people who want to use pastels for realism and/or still life.

Travels with a Sketchbook in.......: Dianna Ponting Pastel Workshop weekend - 15th-16th July

A blog post - with pictures - of a weekend workshop with premier pastel artist Dianna Ponting.

The Unison Story - Rex Art Supplies

Rex Art Supplies - Unison Handmade Soft Pastels - The Unison Story

Out of a frustration with the pastels available, British artist, John Hersey began making handmade pastels. Developed to be superior in colour, texture and response, Unison Soft Pastels are unlike anything on the market today. John Hersey worked out his unique colour formulations over a decade of experimentation, creating intense, vibrant colours, blended almost exclusively from pure pigment and water.

he making of Mount Vision Pastels

Highest quality handmade pastels for the professional artist.

The first step in the making of pastels is getting the right formula. Aside from blind luck, this is usually done with trial and error, and since we have very little luck here in Mount Vision we rely on lots of trial and error. Finding the right color is the starting point. Combining pigments can bring out the inherent beauty of each, enriching the undertones and making the colors sing. The tricky part, like a conductor, is to get them to sing in the same key.

The Pastel Journal Videos 

The Pastel Journal - Albert Handell: Orchestrating with Contrast

The Pastel Journal Blog (13.08.07) describes the visit made to Albert Handell's studio in Santa Fe. In this video he talks about working with contrast and the juxtaposition of transparent and opaque in his work.

The Pastel Journal: Albert Handell - Plein Air Painting Trip

Albert Handell describes a typical plein air painting trip to Taos.

The Pastel Journal - Albert Handell's Plein Air Set-Up and Supplies

In this video Albert Handell shows us the components of his supplies and set-up for plein air work - including the brand of pastels he uses and the support he works on.

The Pastel Journal - Albert Handell - managing colour with value

Albert Handell shows he works with pastel colours in terms of values. You also get a chance to peek inside his box to see how he organises his pastels.

BOOKS: On Plein Air and Landscape Pastels  

Books on Amazon

Painting the Landscape in Pastel

by Albert Handell, Anita West

Handell is one of the master tutors in pastel painting

Amazon Price: $15.38 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $22.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

On Location: Plein Air Painting In Pastel

by Richard McDaniel

One of the few books which focuses on using pastels for 'plein air' painting. Written by somebody with a wealth of experience "in the field"

Amazon Price: $18.47 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $27.99

Usually ships in 24 hours

Capturing the Light in Pastel (Paint Pastel)

by Lionel Aggett

Aggett specialises in large pastel paintings on an abrasive surface and brings an architects eye to capturing perspective in the landscape as well as having a very pleasing sense about colour.

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $19.95

The Big Book of Painting Nature in Pastel (Practical Art Books)

by S. Schaeffer, John Shaw

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $29.95

The Pastelist's Year: Painting the Four Seasons in Pastel

by Elizabeth Mowry

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $24.95

Usually ships in 24 hours

Societies of Artists working in Pastels 

International Association of Pastel Societies

This is the society that most pastel societies belong to.

The Pastel Society (UK) - new website

The main Pastel Society in the UK, It was founded in 1898 and aims to promote the medium. It has over 50 members - who are elected by their peers.

Pastel Society of America

Founded in 1972 to set standards and promote and encourage the use of pastel in the USA

Pastel Society of Australia

This society was founded (in Brisbane) in 1985 and now has over 200 members

Pastel Artists Canada

Founded in 1989, it now has some 200 members from coast to coast

Associated Pastellists on the Web

A group of professional pastellists - membership by juried application only

Les Pastellistes de France

This is the national society for French pastellists

Arizona Pastel Artists Association - APAA

Arizona Pastel Artists Association (APAA). We are an association of pastel artists, promoting artistic skills and public appreciation of the Soft Pastel medium. Website includes membership info, history, members list, current events & exhibits and featured artist.

Austin Pastel Society

The Austin Pastel Society is a Non-Profit Organization founded in 1998 by a group of Austin artists who are active in the soft pastel medium. It has approximatly 100 members.

| Connecticut Pastel Society

Connecticut Pastel Society - Our aim is to encourage and raise public awareness of this medium, while giving our members an opportunity to exhibit, meet fellow artists and share ideas.

Welcome to the Degas Pastel Society

The Degas Pastel Society is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1984, dedicated to promoting public awareness of the pastel medium and providing exposure and recognition for the Society's members through exhibitions.

Gateway Pastel Artist

Gateway Pastel Artists of St. Louis, Missouri. Dedicated to the usage and promotion of pastels in artwork.

Great Lakes Pastel Society Online

The Great Lakes Pastel Society seeks to promote the use of pastels and increase the public awareness of creative pastel painting as a fine art medium.

Lake Country Pastel Society

Lake Country Pastel Society: We seek to unite artists interested in the pastel medium and to serve their needs by encouraging artistic growth and development through education and sharing. we also work to create public awareness of pastel as a unique and beautiful art form.

Leicestershire Pastel Society

Leicestershire Pastel Society: the website includes information about members and their work and the Annual Exhibition

The Maryland Pastel Society - Welcome

The Maryland Pastel Society is an organization of artists whose primary purpose is to promote the medium of pastel. It is the oldest state pastel society in the United States.

Mid America Pastel Society

The MidAmerica Pastel Society aims to bring together practicing pastel artists, to educate and promote the medium of pastel in the visual arts, to support members in their artistic development, exhibit work as a group and individually and to provide workshops.

Pastels - Exhibitions and Competitions 

Making a Mark: "Pastels Today" - The Pastel Society Exhibition (#1)

"Pastels Today" is the annual exhibition of The Pastel Society at the Mall Galleries. This blog post is about the 2007 exhibition which had 346 works exhibited by members and non-members. This post is about the exhibition as a whole.

Making a Mark: "Pastels Today": The Pastel Society Exhibition (#2)

This post focuses on artists featured in The Pastel Society annual exhibition in 2007 at the Mall Galleries whose work I particularly liked. I'm only including those which have websites I can point readers to - as narrative without images isn't very satisfying. 'PS' after their name means that they are members of The Pastel Society.

Making a Mark: The Pastel Society UK - 109th Annual Exhibition

"Pastels Today" is the annual exhibition of the The Pastel Society UK. This post includes some photographs of the exhibition plus some links to excellent reproductions of work done last year by members on the Pastel Society website. It also:

* reviews any year on year changes which I thought I perceived in exhibited work
* highlights artists who caught my eye - and images of their work

Pastel Society of America - Annual Exhibition 2006, New York, Sept 8 - Oct 1

Pastel Society of America is America's oldest and most prestigious pastel society. Their Annual Exhibition is at the National Arts Club in New York between September 8 and October 1 2006.

Making a Mark: 2005 Pastel 100 competition

My blog review of the 2005 Pastel 100 competition associated with the Pastel Journal

The Pastel Journal - 8th Annual 100 Competition

2006 Pastel 100 Competition - details here. Deadline 1st September 2006 - entry by slide or digital file

Making a Mark: The Pastel Journal and the Annual Pastel 100 Competition

Read about the Pastel 100 competition

Making a Mark: The 9th Annual Pastel 100

The Pastel 100 is an annual competition which is run by F&W Publications, the publishers of North Light Books and the Pastel Journal. The 9th Annual Pastel 100 results were published in the April edition of the Pastel Journal.

10th Annual Pastel 100

Details of the competition - closing date September 1st 2008

BOOKS: Portraiture in Pastels  

books on Amazon

There is fine tradition of using pastels for portrait work. These books provide some insight into doing portraits of animals, adults and children

Painting Animals That Touch the Heart

by Lesley Harrison

A very informative and stimulating book - taking animal portraits to the next step

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $27.99

The Art of Pastel Portraiture

by Madlyn-Ann C. Woolwich

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $24.95

Painting Childrens Portraits in Pastel

by Wende Caporale

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $27.99

BOOKS: More books about Pastels 

books on Amazon

Wolf Kahn Pastels

by Wolf Kahn

Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $45.00

In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served.

Sean Scully: Glorious Dust

by John Yau, Sean Scully

Release Date: 11/15/2006

Amazon Price: (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $47.00

O'Keeffe On Paper (National Gallery of Art Publications)

by Elizabeth Glassman, Ruth E. Fine

Amazon Price: $28.35 (as of 05/13/2008)
List Price: $35.00

Usually ships in 24 hours

Forums for artists working in pastels 

Wet Canvas Pastel Forum

The main page for a large and very active Pastel Forum for artists from all over the globe

Wet Canvas - Soft Pastels Studio

The place to post and discuss artwork in soft pastels on the Wet canvas website

Wet Canvas - Pastel Talk

Drop in for the 'weekly scumble' and general chat about pastels and any 'off-topic' discussions by members of the Pastels Forum

Pastels and Pencils - Fine Art by Katherine Tyrrell 

Pastels and Pencils

Original fine art by Katherine Tyrrell. Galleries of paintings and drawings of landscapes, still life and floral subjects in pastels and coloured pencils; drawings and sketches in pencil and pen and ink of landscapes, flowers, interiors, people and cats. Information about art materials resources and supplies

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