Chalk pastels?

Question

I bought chalk pastels today, and I was just wondering if you have any tips, techniques, or websites about these. I have only used these a few times in art class, and they were on sale today, so I bought them. Any help would be awesome!

Answer 1

This is a very good page to look at . Try copying something very very carefully . You may hate the style but that doesn't matter it is the exercise of making the pastels do what you want . Only use a black charcoal drawing pencil and colour very delicately to begin with .To start with these great lumps of bright colour seem impossible to use so very gently at first and although one can get special sticks to rub the pastel after you have applied it just use a pencil with a bit of tissue wrapped arroud will delicately help to merge one colour into the other Build the colours slowly and don't use to many at once. Remember that you can recognise a friend at 100 metres so every mark makes an enormous difference .
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://olharfeliz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/la_tour_sq_inconnue_5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://olharfeliz.typepad.com/pastels/chronique_des_ventes/index.html&h=528&w=464&sz=59&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=HWlXFV3kOoAuGM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3DQuentin%2Bde%2Bla%2Btour%2Bmusee%2Bpastel%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Answer 2

Pastel Art is very calming. Use gentle strokes. I like to start out by taking a peice of 180 grit sand paper and smmothing off or creating a flat spot on the chalk before I use it. Also,
as you use the chalk you will notice wear patterns, thin or broad flat areas, lines and angles. This is the same as different sizes and styles of paint brushes, so use these
to get the effect you are wanting. Finally, use Aquanet hairspray to preserve your Art and keep it from smudging,
but only apply to finnished work. Also, keep a box of tissues
or roll of T.P. handy, as you may use this to soften or blend colors or to purposely run colors together. Finnaly, place your chalk on a table, and pick it up with the thumb, index, and middle finger, this is the proper posture or holding technique.

Answer 3

Soft (or chalk) pastels are a wonderful medium. You can use them on their own or use them to `save` a failed watercolour painting. I try not to spray mine as it tends to dull the colours - the beauty of pastel is in the light trapped by the tiny particles - spraying kills this. If you must spray to fix then do it on the back of the paper. If you use abraded pastel paper (like sandpaper) fixing is hardly ever necessary - a few sharp taps of the paper on its edge when you have finished should get rid of any surplus dust. You can also get a special stick (called a torchon) for blending if you don`t want to use your fingers - this is made of compressed paper and can be sharpened to a new point when soiled. Have a look at my latest pastel painting on my website http://AnneSmartspaintings.idbuilder.co.uk - good luck!

Answer 4

If you are smearing anything, or blending I would suggest using a q-tip or cotton ball. The oil from your hands can mess up the picture and using a q-tip or Cotton ball gives it a softer look. Don't use them too much, because it will eventually wear off the colors.

Don't use black until the very last minute. If you save it for last, it won't be in your way if you are blending or just adding more colors.

I love chalk pastels! Hope you have fun with them!

Happy drawing!!!

Answer 5

use them on black paper and youll get some nice stuff