TOP TIPS
In pastel workshops,
I like for participants
to experiment, to
explore the differ-
ence between good
quality and budget
quality, between pas-
tels that are soft and
buttery and those
that are hard. I want
them to discover the
difference between
cartridge paper,
sandpaper and tex-
tured paper. Everyone
has his or her own
preferences. It’s
about giving students
the opportunity to
experiment and dis-
cover. I never impose
my own methods or
say, “This is the only
way to work.”- Experiment with
different brands of
pastel, paper and
card. Each will affect
the outcome. - Try and keep your
colors clean. - Group colors
together. I have
separate boxes for
mid-greens, light
greens and dark
greens, for example. - Keep a spare sheet
of the same paper or
card you’re using to
hand-test colors and
blend there first. - Buy budget
materials upon start-
ing, but eventually
switch to artist quality,
and test a new brand
before buying it. - Invest in a decent
storage system. You
may start with a small
set of pastels, but your
collection will grow—
particularly if your
subject is landscapes.
—David BrammeldArtistsNetwork.com 35