Frequently Asked Questions
You will find below a selection of FAQs relating to using Artists' Soft Pastels. If you still can't find the answer you're looking for you can email us.
1. Can I mix pastel colours as you would with paint?
2. How do I find a pastel that suits me and what is the difference between ‘hard' and ‘soft'?
3. Can I use hard pastels with soft pastels?
4. Can I buy pastel sets where I choose my own colours to make things cheaper for me?
5. How can I avoid breaking pastels while I use them?
6. Can I use brown wrapping paper instead of pastel paper?
7. How can I tint my own paper?
8. Can I avoid fixative by using toothed paper?
9. Are there environmentally friendly ways of applying fixative?
10. How do you use water with dry pastels?
11. How can I avoid muddiness in pastel pictures?
1. Can I mix pastel colours as you would with paint?
I usually paint with ten basic colours but pastellists seem to need many more than these. Why is this? Can't one mix them, like other paints?
Pastels cannot be mixed on a palette as paints can and so the manufacturer makes the different mixtures for you. A basic assortment of 24 colours will get you started and as you begin to work you'll soon discover the colours you're short of. Having all five tints of your common colours becomes useful before long for highlights and shadows.
For further information on basic palette click here.
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2. How do I find a pastel that suits me and what is the difference between ‘hard' and ‘soft'?
I'm confused by the many brands of pastel on the market and the distinction between hard and soft. Some soft pastels seem harder than others. How can I find a type that suits me, without wasting money?
The hardest pastels are the square carre sticks. Aside from these, the whole category is called ‘soft pastels' and differences will exist in much the same way as between the different brands of water colour. Softness is only one characteristic, think about the spectrum you want, its permanence, the size of the stick, its blending characteristics etc. and read the leaflets from the manufacturer to see if their description meets your needs. Ask the staff in the shops too, before you make your choice.
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3. Can I use hard pastels with soft pastels?
I've been given a set of hard, carre pastels, but am not sure exactly when to use them. I've tried them for underdrawing, but can I use them at later stages in a soft pastel painting?
Carres can be used on top of soft pastel for fine linear marks and detail. They will not tend to blend well, cutting through the soft pastel layers. Conte carre pastels are particularly good on their own on Ingres [laid] papers, where the fine ribbed line show through the pastel. The traditional French life studies are a typical example.
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4. Can I buy pastel sets where I choose my own colours to make things cheaper for me?
I know its cheaper to buy pastels in sets, but they usually include colours I don't want. Is there any way of making up your own set without paying the price for individual sticks?
Even if you were to find empty pastel boxes for sale, you would still have to pay the price for the individual sticks. You can never really have too many pastels, a set is a good base to start from. It will be cheaper to buy a set and some individual sticks.
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5. How can I avoid breaking pastels while I use them?
During my first experiments with pastel I managed to break several of the sticks. Am I holding them wrong, or pushing too hard? What use can I make of the stubs?
Soft pastels are prone to breaking along their length. The paper wrapper keeps them together to some extent, but the smaller pieces are in fact the most useful. They are easier to handle and can be used on their broad side for layering and covering large areas. It's a good idea to collect some old tupperwares and set aside one for each part of the spectrum. Fill each 1/3 full with rice or ground rice and your stubs will keep wonderfully clean and visible for next time.
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6. Can I use brown wrapping paper instead of pastel paper?
Pastel papers are quite expensive and I've heard that you can work on the back of brown wrapping paper, but will it last?
In short, no! Brown wrapping paper is unlikely to be acid free which means it will embrittle and discolour with age, like a newspaper. A better alternative would be acid free medium surface cartridge paper. Although the largest size available is an A2 pad, the 150gsm paper works out at less than half the price of pastel paper and it's textured surface will be better than ordinary smooth cartridge.
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7. How can I tint my own paper?
I prefer using tinted papers for pastel, but the colour always varies with the subject. Rather than buying sheets from the art shop as the need arises, is there any way that I can tint my own?
The perfect product for you is Winsor & Newton Clear Gesso Base. This is a translucent primer into which you put the colour of your choice. Using Artists' Acrylics will give you the widest choice and the strongest results. Strong opaque effects are achieved with colours mixed into the primer. Tinted effects result from adding white as well and if you want a transparent wash of colour only, use Clear Gesso Base first, allow it to dry and then apply a wash of acrylic. If priming a lightweight sheet, stretching is recommended first.
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8. Can I avoid fixative by using toothed paper?
I have heard that fixative darkens the brilliancy of pastel colours. Can I avoid using it by working on a toothed paper?
Applying fixative can darken pastels and although toothed paper will catch more pastel, a light coating of fixative is still recommended. This will prevent damage from smudging and is also necessary when framing, as unfixed pictures can make the inside of the glass all dusty. Use Winsor & Newton fixative for less darkening and apply as light a coat as possible, touching up with fresh pastel if necessary to finish off.
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9. Are there environmentally friendly ways of applying fixative?
I'm reluctant to use spray cans for fixing as I feel they are not ecologically sound. Are there other ways of applying fixative? Do they give even coverage?
The solvents used in Winsor & Newton fixative are not classified as harmful to the environment and the aerosol is CFC free. However we do supply a bottle fixative for use with a spray diffuser, sometimes called a mouth atomiser. With a little practice, these will give even coverage. The main thing is to start spraying to the side of the picture so that any initial spurt doesn't land on the picture.
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10. How do you use water with dry pastels?
I've heard that you can use water with dry pastels, but am not sure how it affects the application. Do you apply it to the paper or the pastel? Is it safe to use it on textured papers?
Water can be used to blend areas of colour together on the paper. Wetting the pastel stick would be unsatisfactory as it would just skid on the paper. Use a soft hair brush, dipped in water to blend colours, shadows or highlights. A touch of Gum Arabic in the water will help to keep the pastel attached to the paper if you are using the technique over large areas. This technique is also possible on textured papers.
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11. How can I avoid muddiness in pastel pictures?
When I put on pastel thick it becomes muddy, but other people seem to get away with it. What is their secret?
There are several secrets to avoiding muddiness in pastel pictures. *Don't apply more than you need. *Don't fill in the paper texture. *Don't blend colours too much, utilise layering instead. *Avoid blending with colours of the wrong bias, eg instead use a green shade blue and a green shade yellow to make greens. *Use Winsor & Newton pastels which have been formulated to maintain brilliance of colour when layering.
Still can't find your answer? Ask us your question by email.
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