Chalk Pastel

A chalk-like crayon made from ground pigment with a binder added. Pastels offer more brilliant colors than crayons without the drying time of paint. They are available in varying degrees of hardness; the softer the pastel the brighter the color but they are more prone to smearing.

Chalk Pastel is great medium for the following reasons ◦ Relatively cheap and easy to get ◦ Great for quick studies ◦ Wide range of colors ◦ Easy to use for large scale works ◦ Can create soft and hard edges ◦ Easy to blend ◦ Easy to clean up

Downside ◦ Very messy ◦ Be careful not to inhale chalk dust ◦ Easy to smudge so fixative sprays are a must ◦ Difficult to store and must be in protective cover

Fixative Applied to help prevent smudging Hairspray works too as a cheap substitute

Chalk Pastels have been popular with many artists throughout history. However most used chalk pastel for cartoon sketches to be used in paintings or frescos.

Degas Known for his chalk pastel series of dancers warming up back stage

Other examples of chalk works

Now it is time for you to practice!

The following still life and information is based on the Arty Factory demonstration. life/still_life_pastel.htmlhttp:// life/still_life_pastel.html Follow the steps for your first chalk pastel practice piece.

NOTE: When you are working with chalk pastels it is not good practice to start your drawing using a black pastel or charcoal pencil as it will contaminate the purity and freshness of any colors applied over it. In this case the initial sketch was done with a violet pastel pencil.

Step 1: A Preliminary Line Drawing

NOTE: Be careful not to overwork the dark tones as it is easier to darken pastels than it is to lighten them. Make sure you leave an adequate amount of unshaded paper to accommodate the lighter tones and colors. If you apply the dark tones too heavily at the start of a work you will have difficulty in keeping the lighter colors bright as the darker tones will persist when you blend them together.

Step 2: Establishing the Dark Tones

No black was used in the next step. Just dark browns and burnt umber.

Step 3: Intensifying the Dark Tones

It is very important that you do not overwork the light and dark tones and leave enough of the paper exposed to accept the layers of colors that are yet to be applied. Chalkboard chalk works well for this step.

Step 4: Establishing the Light Tones

You now begin to introduce color to the still life in a series of layers, applying the brightest layer first, the next brightest second, and so on towards the darkest. NOTE: Once you apply an area of color, gently soften its edges to subtly blend it into the light and dark tones.

Step 5: Introducing Color

NOTE: As you blend the various layers of colors into the light and dark tones of the objects, you will notice that those tones begin to take on the correct light and dark tones for that color. The success of this technique largely depends on those colors that you choose for the dark tones at the start of the still life. Always test your colors before you start the still life to see what range of tones they can produce.

Step 6: Building up the Color

Step 7: Color to Background and Foreground

Step 8: Reflection and other unfilled spaces

To complete the still life adjust and balance the tones and colors throughout the work to achieve an overall unity in the composition. This was done by adding subtle changes to the color of certain objects and cautiously using black to balance the contrast of tones across the work.

NOTE: The color black is used for the first time in this still life. The dangers of overusing black cannot be emphasized strongly enough. It must be used discreetly and with great care as it all too easily overpowers the other colors.

Step 9: Balancing the Tones and Colors

Finish Spray fixative to preserve and store work. Clean up your area and clean pastels. The End