Hard pastels differ from soft pastels in that they have more binder and less pigment. Because of this, they are stronger and do not break as easily as soft pastels, but they also do not have the brilliance of color that soft pastels do (the brightness of the color decreases as the amount of gum […]
If you purchase an art kit from a store or catalog, it will most likely include oil pastels among the markers and colored pencils. The size and shape of crayons, these pastels are a favorite with young artists, producing vibrant colors that are easily blended. Because inert oils and wax are used as a binder […]
The French scientist Nicolas-Jacques ContĂ© invented the square conte crayons in the late eighteenth century. They are made of a mixture of compressed graphite and clay and come in a range of colors, the most popular being black, dark brown, grey, white, and red-brown. These crayons are harder and thinner than traditional soft pastels, so […]
If you draw with pastels, you know that they are never permanently “set” on the paper; brush against them with a finger, and they will smudge. To lessen this problem, some artists use fixative with their pastels. There are many brands of fixative available in stores, ranging from about $5.00 to $25.00. A less-expensive route […]
I first discovered pastel pencils when I was looking for a way to color in some small areas using pastels. While they have the same qualities as traditional pastels, they are encased in wood like pencils and are easy to handle and control, and your hands stay cleaner as you work. 🙂 You can buy […]
Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin when purchasing art supplies. If you’ve ever seen a catalog from a supply store, you know the options go on and on. So to get you started, I’ve listed the online stores where I often shop. These are discount art supply stores, and most products are less expensive than […]
Several years ago, I came across a book in our library called Painting Animals That Touch the Heart by pastel artist Leslie Harrison.  Leslie creates pastel paintings of horses and wildlife that are incredibly realistic. Because wildlife is my favorite subject to paint, I couldn’t wait to try her techniques. Soft pastels, also called chalk pastels, have more […]