Pastel BG with CP portrait...I need help!

[Amazingreys]

I've seen several artists on here do this, using soft pastels for the background of their CP work. I like to do animals in CP and I want to learn how to do the bg with soft pastels....I just love the way it looks.
I know even less about pastels than I do CP.
Books? Techniques? Colors for a soft BG? What type of pastels to buy? Any other needed supplies?

Yes, I lot of questions. But I'm eager to play with this and don't know where to start!

Thanks in advance...

Dana~

[lucky]

Hi Amazingreys, well I've never used the two together before but as far as pastels go, there are all kinds that would work just fine for this. I think Rembrandts are pretty good and not too expensive so those could be fun to experiment with, but just about any type would probably work. I'm also guessing that it would be best not to get too much pastel in the area you want to lay the colored pencil in, as some might not be able to overlap that well... but that's just a guess. As far as colors, well, I think that will depend on what the subject is? sorry probably not much help. :o

[lene]

Hi Dana

I don't know if you already looked in the Mixed Media Area, but there are some great drawings from Gayle in cp and pastels together. Like this one:

http://scribbletalk.com/showthread.php?t=739

and there are others too :bye1:

[Brenda]

I'm with you, Dana. I don't have experience with pastels either and would love to combine them. I know it is possible, as Lene as pointed out... Gayle does it fairly often with her pieces. Sometimes she will also use them for the base of her CP work. Look for anything done by Gayle. Here's a link to her profile: http://scribbletalk.com/member.php?u=58
In the box under the cat's eye, click on "Find All Threads Started by Gayle."

Lucky, I'd LOVE to have a gorgeous background like you do (Especially the little girl dancing... WOW!) for some of your pastel portraits. Could you do a pastel background WIP sometime?

[Amazingreys]

Yes, I should have been more specific. And Gayle's work is where I saw it.
I'm trying to learn to do animal portraits. I love the CP for the animal....but I wanted to try pastels for the background. Like she did on the mastiff and the collie. I loved the feeling the pastels give there. I just don't know how to do it...... :bangin: Or what colors to get to start with
Does that make it more clear? I'm a beginner here. Thanks so much for the imput so far. I have a Dick Blick not too far from my house and was looking at all the types and colors they carry. Beautiful.....but overwhelming!

Dana~

[lucky]

Hi Dana,

Maybe you can get a basic set of colors. That could be a great way to start. Just make sure you get a couple extra whites.

[Gaka]

Hi Amazingreys

I have attached a link to the Pastel "Swallows WIP" that I posted, you can get some idea as to the method of my pastel application. It is similar to Gayle, but it is a much lighter layering of the pastels onto the paper.

The choice of the color of the pastel paper is very important in my method as the pastel dust that I use is spread so lightly and it would be very easy to incorporate CP's into this type of pastel work. Please feel free to ask for more info or explanations etc....

http://scribbletalk.com/showthread.php?t=916&page=1&pp=15

Gaka

[lene]

Hi
Gaka, it's a great and helpful WIP :)

[Amazingreys]

Hi Amazingreys

I have attached a link to the Pastel "Swallows WIP" that I posted, you can get some idea as to the method of my pastel application. It is similar to Gayle, but it is a much lighter layering of the pastels onto the paper.

The choice of the color of the pastel paper is very important in my method as the pastel dust that I use is spread so lightly and it would be very easy to incorporate CP's into this type of pastel work. Please feel free to ask for more info or explanations etc....

http://scribbletalk.com/showthread.php?t=916&page=1&pp=15

Gaka


Absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for doing this wip, and for bringing it to my attention. I'm overwhelmed :) I will be coming back to this one for sure! I think I need to just start *doing* and then find out what happens and bring my questions and such to all of you.
Just incredible, Gaka. That thread is a treasure! Beautiful work. Thank you.

[Gaka]

Hi there Amazingreys

I thought I had posted this short Pastel Macaws WIP on ST but I could not find it....But I have included the link to the WC WIP for the macaws, I think that you will find most of the info that you need in the two combined WIP's.

I suggest to just get a few sticks of pastels and and have some fun a paint a flower or something, experiment etc.....answers are only a question away.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/14892/269/

Gaka

[Amazingreys]

This is just awesome, thank you!

By the way...your wip mentioned the cotton applicators that are now discontinued.

I found a similar product called "Swisspers Cosmetic Applicators" 100% cotton at a local store. Seems to be the same shape as yours, different manufacturer. :clap:

Just a helpful hint for whoever might want to try them!

Dana~

[Denise]

although my use and experience is extremely limited, the best thing I found as a complete beginner in pastels, is just to start marking some paper. Get the feel for it, smudge and smear w/ your fingers, cloth, q-tips, etc. Just play. That way there's no pressure to really make anything happen, but it will give you a great sense of what the medium feels like, and different effects you can achieve.

[Amazingreys]

although my use and experience is extremely limited, the best thing I found as a complete beginner in pastels, is just to start marking some paper. Get the feel for it, smudge and smear w/ your fingers, cloth, q-tips, etc. Just play. That way there's no pressure to really make anything happen, but it will give you a great sense of what the medium feels like, and different effects you can achieve.

Thanks for the input Denise, that sounds like a great plan. Now that I'm back in town I hope to get some drawing done! :)

[Denise]

let us know how it goes when you get your hands dirty;)

[Rose]

Dana, can't wait to see one of your playful masterpieces! :-)