Pastels

15th-16th Century Pastel The manufacture of pastels originated in the 15th century. The pastel medium was mentioned by Leonardo da Vinci, who learned of it from the French artist Jean Perréal after that artist's arrival in Milan in 1499. Pastel were only used as a medium for preparatory studies (sketching) by 16th-century artists, notably Federico Barocci. In the Renaissance, pastel was used sparingly, adding highlight or color to drawings usually executed in natural chalks. The first French artist to specialize in pastel portraits as the final medium was Joseph Vivien. He became the first artist to be received in the French Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1701 as a "painter in pastel."

Rosalba Carriera The first artist to be truly internationally renowned for and defined by her pastels was Rosalba Carriera (1675–1757), a Venetian portraitist who was largely self-taught. Her pastels are noted for their radiant palettes, lustrous velvety tones, and miniaturist's detail; she had begun her career painting portrait miniatures, then considered an appropriate genre for women. Her later portraits were painted solely in pastel, never in oil.

American Pastel Artists Shortly after Carriera started using pastels as a main medium a galaxy of artists, including Manet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, and Degas (just to list the more familiar names) used pastel as finished work rather than merely for preliminary sketches. Degas was the most prolific user and champion of pastel, raising it to the full brilliance of oil. His protégé, Mary Cassatt, introduced the Impressionists and pastel to her wealthy friends in Philadelphia and Washington, and thus to the United States in the 1800’s. Today, many of our most renowned living artists distinguish themselves in pastels and enrich the world with this glorious medium.

What are Pastels? The name Pastel comes from the French word "pastiche" or paste in English. Pastel is not colored chalk, which is a limestone substance, but instead is pure, powdered pigment is ground into a paste, with a small amount of gum binder, and then rolled into sticks. (the same pigment used in making all fine art paints)

What are Pastels? Pastel does not at all refer to pale colors, as the word is commonly used in cosmetic and fashion terminology. The infinite variety of colors in the Pastel palette range from soft and subtle to bold and brilliant. It is the most permanent of all media when applied to a permanent ground and properly framed. There is no oil to cause darkening or cracking, nor other substance or medium to cause fading or blistering. Pastels from the 16th Century exist today, as fresh and alive as the day they were painted!

Drawing vs. Painting with Pastels Pastel Painting: cover the entire working surface Pastel Drawings: let most of the working surface show through

Types of Pastels Soft pastels: This is the most widely used form of pastel. The sticks have a higher portion of pigment and less binder, resulting in brighter colors. The drawing can be readily smudged and blended, but it results in a higher proportion of dust. Hard pastels: These have a higher portion of binder and less pigment, producing a sharp drawing material that is useful for fine details but are less brilliant in color. These can be used with other pastels for drawing outlines and adding accents. Hard pastels are traditionally used to create the preliminary sketching out of a composition. Pastel pencils: These are pencils with a pastel lead. They are useful for adding fine details.

Working with Pastels Surfaces: Pastel supports need to provide a "tooth" for the pastel to adhere and hold the pigment in place. Most Supports include: laid paper is most commonly used and is usually of a medium value/color- woven paper with tooth abrasive supports include things such as wood, fine sand paper, or canvas and sometimes have a surface of finely ground pumice or marble dust Fixatives: is used for two purposes Create tooth in a surface that is saturated with pastel Keep the image from moving either temporarily or permanently (workable and final fixative)

Working with Pastels Blending: Though pastels are considered a dry medium they are still very fluid. There are several tools that can be used for blending. Fingers Paper stumps Paint Brushes Cotton balls Much like many other mediums including paint and colored pencils-blending is a personal preference. Many pastel artist like the raw strokes of the medium and prefer NOT to blend.

Pastel Techniques Color blocking Dry wash (paper towel) Subtractive (eraser) Feathering Frottage (rubbing over texture) Hatching/cross hatching Scribbling Scumbling Dusting with a pallet knife

Color Blocking

Dry Wash

Subtractive

Feathering

Frottage

Hatching/Cross Hatching

Scribbling

Scumbling

Dusting (with palette knife)