How to Make Art With Pastels

Pastel art is made by stroking colors across an abrasive surface.

The beginnings of pastel art date back to the 15th century when Leonardo da Vinci first mentioned this medium. Pastel colors may be used both in drawing and painting to obtain different effects. The colors contain colored pigments and a binder, which is typically wax or gum arabic. Pastels can be of several types including soft pastels, hard pastels, oil pastels or water-soluble pastels. Combine all of these in your project, if desired.

Things You'll Need

• Pastel colors
• Gesso
• Craft knife
• Cutter
• Fixative

Instructions

1. Choose a surface on which to work. Apply pastels to paper, canvas, sandboard, cardboard or glass. If choosing glass, use oil pastels because the other types of pastels will not stick to the surface.

2. Prepare the surface with gesso so that the colors adhere better. Skip this step if you are working on glass.

3. Sketch your project using the tip of the pastel stick. Use a light color, which can be covered up easily, so that your sketch won't be visible when you finish your project.

4. Add colors to cover large areas of your composition using side strokes. Break the pastel in smaller pieces for side stroking.

5. Remove colors by gently scratching the surface with a cutter. Alternatively, mix the colors you want to change with more intense colors.

6. Add accents using hard pastels.

7. Spray fixative over your artwork to protect the colors and prevent smudging. Spray the fixative in a well-ventilated area. Alternatively, place the artwork under a piece of glass and frame it.

Tips & Warnings

• Use soft pastels to obtain brighter colors. Use hard pastels for details and outlines.

• Press the pastel on your work surface yo create thick colors.

• Trace lines and rub them with your fingers to create a transparent effect.

• Create washes by dripping water (for water-soluble colors) or paint thinner (for oil pastels) onto your artwork. If using paper and washes, the paper is breakable while wet so allow it to dry before continuing your project.

• Use other media such as water-based paints or pencils in your pastel artwork. Paints work best if applied under pastels. Cover painted areas with pastels, but press lightly so that the painted colors show through. Use a sharp pencil to carve motifs on your drawing.

• Sharpen pastels with a craft knife.

• Pastels produce dust, which may cause respiratory irritation.

• Pastel colors change color over time in the same way oil colors do, due to the contact with light. Pastels with light-fast pigments are available; these colors remain unchanged.

References

• Explore-Drawing-and-Painting: So You Want to Learn the Oil Pastel Technique?
• Painting with Pastels: How to Draw with Pastels

Resources

• Artshow: Pastels: Techniques, Lessons, Tutorials, and Resources