pastel on paper 12" x 16 3/4"
Working in pastel is giving me a real jolt. It's so difficult! Yet the the feel of the soft sticks in my fingers, and the beautiful textures they give are satisfying. I thought it would be kind of like drawing in charcoal, except in color. Instead I find it hard to be very exacting, and easy to get muddy colors (on that point I'm disagreeing with my last post). I can now see why so many pastel artists end up not blending colors, but instead placing strokes of differing colors side by side.
This is drawn on charcoal paper, but I've been reading about preparing my own rough surfaces by mixing ground pumice into gesso and spreading it on heavyweight illustration board. Perhaps I'll enjoy a rougher, sturdier surface. Or perhaps I'll give up and go back to oils!
What really bothers me is having to leave this without a fixitive spray. How on earth to store it? It's as smudge-able as a sidewalk chalk drawing.
What really bothers me is having to leave this without a fixitive spray. How on earth to store it? It's as smudge-able as a sidewalk chalk drawing.
Marla Baggetta had a video where she showed a spray she does lightly on all her works. It was not workable fixative which darkens. I don't do pastel but read blogs trying to get the courage. Love your work. Usually I see landscapes so I enjoy the different subject matter.
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