Pastels underpainting / complimentary colours

[Belinda]

Hi all,
I was having a play around with some pastels the other day, and i remembered why i like them combined with some new techniques i have learnt here i might give it a whirl.

I was going to experiment with this but was wondering, do any of you use pastels in a similar way to pencils in using complimentary colours for underpainting or to acheive shadows etc ? Have you found much success with this ? or does this apply mainly to cps?

[Katherine]

Definitly! Complimentary colors make beautiful, rich shadows in pastels. Of course, there are almost as many ways to apply pastels as there are pastelests to apply them! So experiment to your heart's content. I would be interested in seeing what you come up with.

[lucky]

Hi Belinda,

I've never done any underpainting. Even with colored pencils. But I do use compliments as I go when I am making shadows, or want to dull something down, etc.

I think whatever you do its probably easier to make sure to start with darks first. But I'm kinda new to it too. I read somewhere back where you said you may not have the patience for pencils, (I think, sorry if it wasn't you) I started to get the same way, and you can really speed along with these sticks. Hope you have fun with them!!! :D

[Belinda]

Hi Yes it was me :)

THanks .. i might try doing a few swatches seeing what i come up with :) will post anything i do :)