Pastel Painter's Tips
by SunEden Artists Gear

Catch Pastel Dust:
Hang a wallpaper roll-soaking tray from your easel to catch pastel dust. It will also keep your pastels from smashing onto the floor should you drop them. A piece of picture wire threaded through holes at both ends of the soaking tray will allow you to hang the tray from your easel.

Make Your Own Pastel Painting Surface:
Make your own pastel painting surface by mixing gesso with pumice stone or marble dust, which is available at hardware stores. Paint your desired surface, masonite, gatorfoam, etc., with the mixture and let dry. You may even tone your surface by adding acrylic paint to the mixture for your second coat.

Watercolor Paper as a Pastel Ground:
Watercolor paper makes a good pastel ground as it has more tooth than pastel paper. Tone it with acrylic or watercolor. Or you might want to paint color shapes as your first layer. Complementary colors painted under the pastels make the colors shimmer as they bounce off each other. You will need to stretch this paper first if you use watercolor on it so that it lies flat for the pastels. Watch for next months tip on how to stretch watercolor paper.

Pastels do not always have to be Matted:
Pastels do not always have to be matted. Use a wood frame that oil painters use where the "mat" is actually wood that is the same color as the frame (often gold, silver gold, etc.). Add a spacer between the frame and the glass so that the painting is not in contact with the glass. Install turn buttons on the back of the frame so that you can easily mount a painting or remove it to clean the glass.

Why are Terry Ludwig Pastels Square?
While more difficult to make, Terry Ludwig designed square pastels for the following reasons:

" No rolling: A frequent complaint of pastel artists is that their pastels roll off of flat surfaces and break, sometimes even shatter. Terry Ludwig Pastels stay in place!

" Variety of strokes: The square corners of a square a pastel allows you to create fine lines, and the flat edges produce smooth, broad strokes.

" Ease of travel: Square pastels pack better into tight spaces, do not roll inside travel cases and generally are easier when traveling.

" Greater control: Square pastels fit better in your hand and are easier to control than round pastels.

Happy Painting!

Jeanne, Artist-In-Residence

Have tips to share? Send them to us at JWElizer@aol.com and we will incorporate in future issues of Artist's Tips.