An Introduction to Pastels

80 Pages·1993·13.69 MB·English

by  Michael Wright

The ffl Art School
INTRODUCTION
an to
PASTELS
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE
ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS
Kneadederaser
Liquidfixative
Craftknife
Susan Sonnenberg, CatherineDreaming; 1983
MICHAEL WRIGHT
Pastelpencils
Selection ofpastelpapers
VCotton balls
III
Groundpastelpigment
Spray
fixative
Softpastels
Halfpastels
ui. jl ili ixill 11®L . . .1 If fl
Sandpaperfor
sharpeningpastel
k. crayons
m
ym
*iT
BOSTON
.<*«*
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
<2t,~"
4>**
Jk,
+fW'

m
The Art School
INTRODUCTION
an to
PASTELS
*--&hr&
s >;
• -
+W09K&-
&/\
4j,
.—_
jp 'yf
-j-
-i ,.,
m
The Art School
INTRODUCTION
an to
PASTELS
MICHAEL WRIGHT
w
DORLING KINDERSLEY
LONDON NEW YORK STUTTGART
• •
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS
A DORLING KINDERSLEY BOOK
Project editor Emma Foa
Art editor Gurinder Purewall
Designers Dawn Terrey, Stefan Morris
Editorial assistant Margaret Chang
Series editor Emma Foa
Managing editor Sean Moofe
Managing art editor Torti'Kay
U.S. editor Laaren Brown
Production controller Helen Creeke
Photography Phil Gatward
Additional photography by Jeremy Hopley,
Tim Ridley
NormaAsleep withBabyMichael
To the patience and affection ofmywife and family
FirstAmerican Edition. 1993
2468 1097531
PublishedintheUnitedStates
bv Dorling Kindersley, Inc.,
232 Madison Avenue, NewYork. NY L0016
Copyright© 1993
Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
AllrightsreservedunderInternational and Pan-American
Copyright Conventions. No partofthis publkjtion mayhereproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in anyformorby anymeans,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, orotherwise, withoutthe
priorwritten permissionofthecopyrightowner This DK Art School/Art
bookpublished in Great Britain byDorlingKindersley Ltd., London.
DistributedbyHoughton Mifflin Company, Boston.
library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wright. Michael. 1955-
An introduction topastels/by Michael Wright -- 1-t American ed
p. cm. -- (DK artschool)
Includesindex.
l^HN 1-56458-374-0
f 1. Pasteldrawing—<Te—chnique. 2 Drawing materials. 1. Title
II.Series: -s.
I NC880.W75 1993 ) 93-1 I
CIP
ilofWepToductionbyColobrscan inSingapore
PrintedandboundbyGrapfucom in Italy
C
ontents
Pastel 6
A
Brief History 8
Materials
Soft Pastels 12
Other Pastel Types 14
Equipment 16
Oil Pastel 18
Selecting Colors 20
Gallery of Pastel Types 22
Range of Papers 24
Textures and Colors 26
Texturing Paper 28
Gallery of Supports 30
Techniques
Ways of Working 32
Capturing an Image 34
Composition 36
Gallery of Composition 38
Sketching with Pastel 40
Sketching with Tone 42
Blending Colors 44
Warm Tints, Cool Shades 46
Scumbling 48
Feathering 50
Dry Wash 52
Exploring Texture 54
Gallery of Techniques 56
Using Oil Pastel 58
Soft Pastel and Water 60
Charcoal and Soft Pastel 62
Gallery of Mixed Media 64
Thinking Big 66
Preserving and Framing 68
Glossary 70
Index • Acknowledgments 72
AN INTRODUCTION
Pastel
Many artists choose to work in pastels rather than other painting media
because of pastels' distinctive luminosity and ease of use. Pastel is
unique in the way in which it combines the immediacy of drawing with a rich
and painterly coloring power. It is ideal for a beginner wanting to make the
transition from drawing and sketching into painting and equally valued by the
professional artist who wants to develop an image simply
and directly. Pastels are sticks of
pure pigment that are made in
a wide range ofvivid colors and
subtle tints. Ifyou are using them for
the first time, you may be surprised at
how easily you master the essential
techniques of handling them and the
attractiveness of the imagery you
produce. Pastels are suited to all types
of images: they can capture a dramatic landscape or
a quiet still life, a domestic scene or a moody portrait.
Another advantage of the medium is that you don't have
to organize a palette or prepare a painting surface before
you begin work; there's no need for water or turpentine
Morningstilllife
and no equipment to clean when you finish.
Range of colors
Because pastels are essentially dry painting sticks
consisting of opaque pigment, they are not mixed in
the ways that other media such as watercolor or oil
paints can be mixed. Instead, manufacturers produce
an enormous selection of colors for you to choose
from. Pastels can, however, be mixed effectively by
overlaying them or blending them directly on the
pastel paper. This luminous, dry medium is easily
effaced, reworked, and blended, allowing you to alter
and develop a work without the complications of
waiting for paint to dry.
One of the great advantages of pastel is that
you can work quickly. It is perfect for catching the
inspired moment, for translating transient images
and spontaneous thoughts in full vibrant color. In
addition, the portability and convenience of pastels
make them excellent for working outdoors.
Autumnstreetscene