What is it?

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by Suzanne Modjeska-Seffrood, Pastelist
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiEdgerton, Wisconsin

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pastels are a wonderfully vibrant and versatile medium made from pure pigment ground to powdered form and mixed with a binder. The pigment, at one time, came from natural sources, such as plants and minerals. Now, it is mainly synthesized in laboratories. The binder used in pastels is usually methyl cellulose. When the binder and the powdered pigment are mixed together they form a paste. This paste is then rolled into short sticks and allowed to dry. The word "pastel" comes from this process and the French word "pastiche" The primary difference between pastels and other media such as oil, watercolor, tempura and gauche is the binder used. The binders in these media range from oil to gum arabic to egg. The amount of binder needed to keep the pastel sticks together is very minimal. Because of this, pastels are almost pure pigment possessing a brilliance of color not found in most media. Pastels have also been falsely called "chalks." Chalk is actually ground limestone treated with colored dye. This is what children use to draw on sidewalks.

Detail from pastel
by Suzanne Modjeska-Seffrood

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiThere has been some concern about the permanence of finished pastel works. As long as the pastel paintings are kept out of direct sunlight and humidity, they are one of the most durable of all media. In fact, pastel is the oldest media out there. Pure colored stones were used on murals painted on the walls of caves as far back as 15,000 B.C. These caves can be found in Lascaux, France and Altimira, Spain. The stones used were a predecessor to the pastel.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiThe classical artist, Leonardo da Vinci used pure pigment to color his drawings in the fifteenth century. Rosabella Carriera, an artist from Venice, born in 1675, was the first person to use pastels exclusively. She is thought to have pioneered the medium. In the 1720's and 1730's her portraits of the gentry and nobility were all the rage in Paris. She had more work than she could handle. Other artists with a love of pastels are more well-known, such as Chardin, Manet, Lautrec, Gaugin, Degas, Mary Cassat, Robert Henri and Picasso, to name a few. Today's Master Pastelists include such names as Daniel Greene, Flora B. Giffuni, Robert Brachman, Robert Phillip, Albert Handell and Constance F. Pratt.

Detail from pastel
by Suzanne Modjeska-Seffrood

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiThere are basically four types of pastels - pencils, hard, soft, and oil. Pastel pencils and hard pastels are useful in preliminary drawings and in establishing detail. They are typically, but not always, used in the first layers of a pastel painting. Their bright pigments and hardness make them ideal for filling in the first layer on a granular surface. Sometimes, it is necessary to go back in and crisp up a line or reinforce detail with the pencil and harder square sticks.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiOne needs to be careful in doing this, for if too many layers exist within a painting, the hard pastel may actually lift off the softer pastel. Soft pastel crumbles easily. They also can range in hardness from medium to very soft. The softer the pastel, the more pigment it has, resulting in a higher price per stick. However, simply breaking the cylindrical sticks or using sandpaper to sharpen the stick can produce small fine strokes with the soft pastels. Oil pastels are made in a slightly different process than the others listed. They have a consistency not compatible with the pencils, hard, and soft pastels.

Detail from pastel
by Suzanne Modjeska-Seffrood

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiThe softness of all types of pastels require a painting surface that has some tooth. Surfaces with a tooth (or texture) in a sense "bite the pastel and hold it to the paper. Pastel will not stick to a slick, smooth surface. Most pastel artists use either a colored paper or they tint a white sheet because the rough surface requires a lot of pastel to cover it . If the background shows through and is white, it can create a disturbing and jumpy painting. It is better to work on a colored surface that compliments or enhances the finished painting.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMany types of paper can be used in a pastel painting. Prices of these papers come in a range of from $1 to almost $20 per sheet. Examples are Mi-Tientes, charcoal, sanded, velour and watercolor. Because the nature of pastels is that of a drawing medium, many different effects can be achieved.

Detail from pastel
by Suzanne Modjeska-Seffrood

iiiiiiiiiiA finished pastel painting can look like an impressionistic piece where the shimmering effects of light and atmosphere are achieved by using layers upon layers of small strokes. Or, by using the various blending tools for pastels (i.e. erasers, tortillions, etc.) an effect resembling the classic still life painters can be achieved. Too much blending, however, may flatten and dull a pastel painting. Many of today's pastel artists use a combination of blending and pure strokes in their work.

Sources:
The Best Of Pastel by Constance Pratt and Janet Maonafo
Art Through the Ages, Fifth Edition
Pastel School by Hazel Harrison

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