Amanda Mclean

Part 13- My Pastel Toolkit

Pastel Perspectives Part 13- My Pastel Toolkit

Iuse a few different tools when I am pasteling. Some are more specific to pastel, but others can cross the divide. These items can make life easier and others, while not essential, are just plain helpful! I am rarely without these items whether working in the studio, painting plein air, or teaching classes or workshops.

BLENDERS

These are used, as the name suggests, to blend or smooth pastel layers, to stop the underlying paper colour from showing through, or to merge colours. The issue with blending tools of any variety is they often remove more pastel than they blend, some more than others. It’s valuable to experiment with different blending tools, however in my opinion, the best tool for blending is your little finger, or indeed any part of your hand, the side in particular is useful for larger areas.

» Colour shapers. These are pastel designed blenders. They are available in a variety of

shapes: pointed, chisel, cup and wedge. You can get them in a variety of sizes from tiny to quite large, and they can also be used with other mediums. They have a silicone tip and some come in two different degrees of hardness. They can be cleaned using a damp cloth, or by rubbing on scrap paper especially Colourfix and other sanded papers. Apart from blending, a colour shaper tool can also be useful to draw with or to add detail to your work. By wiping pastel on it and then applying the tool to the paper, you can get quite fine lines and details. Alternately, you can use a fine edge to drag one colour through or into another. Makeup sponges. These wedges are inexpensive and come in large packs from discount makeup stores. They are great for blending pastel colour into the paper colour to give a seamless edge. They generally come in a block that is perforated for easy removal. Keep them out of strong light and in a re-sealable bag as they can become dry and brittle with age. They can be washed out but are cheap enough to have one for each different colour.

Collingullie Cloudscape, NSW, pastel on Sepia Mi Teintes Tex paper, 43½ x 64 cm (17 x 25"). I have used colour shapers to smooth edges in the clouds and on the horizon.

Brittle Gum II, pastel on Elephant Oversized Colourfix board, 66½ x 67½ cm (26 x 27"). I have used colour shapers to add detail in the foreground grasses.