72 Artists&Illustrators
Howdovarythemarksyoumake?
JH:I usewatercolourpapertoallow
foralmostsculptinga painting.
I generallystartwitha softpastel,
blockingoutshapes,andthenthe
marksarecreatedwitheitherpastel
orsharpenedpastelpencils.Is sunlightanissue,eitherinstoring
pastelsoraffectingfinishedworks?
LR:Takinga sensibleapproachtothe
storageofyourpastelsbynot
exposingthemtodirectsunlightor
dampconditionswillensureboththeir
integrityandlongevity.However,we
haveneverfoundsunlighttobean
issuewithfinishedartwork.Howdoyou“erase”unwanted
elementsina pastelwork?
JH:I domovethepastelfuriouslyat
timesandthereforeerasequitea bit.
I usechunkypastelspasteltosweep
andsmudgeonlayersofcolourand
thenI eitherusea tissuetosoften
thosecoloursorvariousputtyor
plasticrubberstoremoveit.Cutting
theplasticrubbersuphelpscreating
a sharpcleanline.Usinggoodquality
pastelsis alsokey.Pastelworksarenotoriouslyfugitive,
particularlywhentransportingthem.
Doyourecommendusinga fixative?
LR:A difficultquestiontoanswer.
Therecommendationoffixatives
canbea rathercontentiousissuefor
pastelartists,aswellasa personal
choice.Theresponseofourassociate
artistsvariedbetweenusingcheap
hairsprayandqualityfixatives,suchas
Sennelier’sFixativeorDaler-Rowney’s
Perfix,throughtootherspreferringto
avoidthemcompletely.
Oneofourassociateartists,Sandra
Orme,addsa noteofcaution:“I never
usefixativewhenI’mworkingonmy
usualpaper,eitherPastelMat,Fisher
400 orSennelierPastelcard.I find
thatusinga fixativeonthesepapers
canaffectthecolourorleavea
distinctspraymarkonthesurface.”How would you recommend
transporting pastel artworks?
LR: Cover the finished painting in
glassine paper until it’s ready for
framing and store it flat. It is also
recommended to tape the painting
down to a sturdy piece of cardboard,
then cover in glassine paper when
transporting.
When pastel artwork requires
transporting, try framing the work first
or at least mounting it with either
glassine paper or tracing paper placed
on top to protect it. Frame with a
spacer behind the mount so that the
work doesn’t touch either the mount
or glass.Degas is an obvious example to
pastel artists. Are there other artists
whose work you would recommend?
JH: I’d recommend Pablo Picasso’s
spirited use of pastel, Odilon Redon
for his breadth of colour, and Édouard
Vuillard’s atmospheric paintings to
name but a few.
With thanks to Unison Colour’s Associate
Artists Sandra Orme, Denise Findlay,
Fiona Carvell and Cath Inglis.
http://www.unisoncolour.com
The Pastel Society’s Annual Exhibition
runs from 5-16 February 2020 at
Mall Galleries, London SW1.
http://www.thepastelsociety.org.ukRIGHT Unison
Colour’s late
founder, John
Hersey
BELOW A selection
of Unison Colour’s
handmade pastels