Marianne Martinez
PanPastels are a fun and versatile medium that can be used to add colour to a surface, blend colours, and even add pastel to modelling paste. They can be applied over many grounds, including acrylic grounds, and are compatible with coloured and pastel pencils. PanPastels can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours, either on the pan surface or on the working surface. However, unlike paint, PanPastels do not allow you to mix colours on a palette and then use that colour; instead, you dip into each colour and try it out on a sample space before applying it. Additionally, PanPastels should not be mixed with water in the pan but can be mixed with alcohol to create a pastel wash.
Characteristics and Values of Pan Pastels
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mixing colours | Can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). |
| Tools | Sofft tools are used for mixing and applying colours to the surface. |
| Layering | Can be applied in heavier layers on textured papers for opaque effects. |
| Glazing | Thinner layers can be applied to allow colours underneath to show through. |
| Blending | Can be blended with colours from the same colour family. |
| Compatibility | Can be used with coloured pencils, pastel pencils, markers, pens, and soft pastel sticks. |
| Application | Can be applied over many grounds, including acrylic grounds, watercolours, inks, encaustic mediums, and encaustic paints. |
| Wash techniques | Can be mixed with alcohol to create a pastel wash. |
| Fixative | Workable fixative can be used to seal the layer and prevent smudging. |
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What You'll Learn
Mixing pan pastels with other media
PanPastels can be mixed with other media, such as coloured pencils, pastel pencils, markers, pens, and soft pastel sticks. These tools are great for adding super-fine details, texture, opaque details, and highlights to the final layers of a PanPastel painting.
One of the unique features of PanPastels is that they can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours. Colours can be mixed either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). However, unlike paint, you cannot mix two colours together in a powder and then use that colour. Instead, you dip each colour and then try it out on a sample space before applying it to your artwork. This can be a bit distracting for those used to mixing paint on a palette and having that colour readily available throughout their artwork.
Additionally, PanPastel colours can be used over watercolours and inks once they are dry. Sofft® Tools can be used with any water-based artist's medium to eliminate brush strokes and create smooth marks and glazes. For wet wash techniques with water, it is recommended to add 25-50% rubbing alcohol for the best results. It is important to note that liquids should only be applied to the working surface and not the pan's surface.
PanPastels can also be applied over many grounds, including acrylic grounds, for a variety of mixed media effects. They are particularly useful for adding colour to three-dimensional objects and encaustic artwork.
Some artists have shared their experiences combining PanPastels with other media. One artist, Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch, uses PanPastel colours in her encaustic paintings to 'blush' or 'tint' the wax, creating a more diffuse and transparent look with more layering and depth development than is possible with just encaustic colours. Another artist, Dianne Poinski, found that PanPastels provided the translucent quality she desired when colouring her digital prints, which she could not achieve with other methods using pastels or oil paints.
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Blending colours from the same family
Artists can blend colours from the same family when using PanPastels. For instance, an artist can blend Phthalo Blue in Extra Dark, Shade, Pure, and Tint.
PanPastels can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours. Colours can be mixed either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). However, unlike paint, you cannot mix two colours together in a powder and then use that colour. Instead, you must “dip” each colour and try the combination on a sample space before applying it to the artwork.
PanPastels can be used to add superfine details to a painting. They are compatible with coloured and pastel pencils, which can be used to add texture, opaque details, and highlights to the final layers of a PanPastel painting.
PanPastels can be applied over many grounds, including acrylic grounds, for a variety of mixed media effects. They can also be used with encaustic artwork, where they can be applied over encaustic medium and encaustic paints to add depth and transparency to the wax.
Some artists may find the learning curve for using PanPastels frustrating, especially when trying to achieve certain effects such as layering colours for clouds and skies.
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Using tools to mix pan pastel colours
PanPastels can be mixed like paint to create intermediate colours. Colours can be mixed either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). One can use tools like fingers or any device to mix colours on the paper. However, mixing colours on the pan surface is not recommended as it may dull the vibrancy of the pastels.
Sofft Tools are great for mixing colours. Double or triple loading these tools is easy to control and can achieve a variety of marks and layers, from transparent to intense. Several layers can be applied without flooding the paper's "tooth".
Glazing can be done by applying thinner layers and glazing layers for the colours underneath to show through. Layering can be done by applying colours in heavier layers on textured papers for more opaque effects.
Blending can be done by mixing colours from the same colour family. For example, blending can be done with Phthalo Blue Extra Dark, Shade, Pure, and Tint.
Coloured pencils, markers, and pens can be used to add super-fine details to a PanPastel painting. Soft pastel sticks can be used to add texture, opaque details, and highlights to the final layers of a PanPastel painting.
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Layering colours for opaque effects
PanPastels are unique in that they can be mixed like paint for a complete painting palette. Colours can be mixed either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). Artists can mix colours like paint to create intermediate colours.
Layering colours with PanPastels can be done in a few ways to achieve opaque effects. One way is to apply heavier layers on textured papers. This technique can be used to create opaque details and highlights in the final layers of a PanPastel painting. Another way to layer colours for opaque effects is to use an underpainting technique, where a light wash or a touch of water is applied as the first layer. This creates a smooth base for subsequent layers of pastel.
To create opaque effects with PanPastels, artists can also use soft pastel sticks to add texture and highlights in the final layers. It is important to note that the consistency of the individual pastel stick and the surface will impact the ability to build layers. Course-sanded surfaces tend to accept more layers of pastel. Artists can also experiment with different brands of pastel sticks and alternate between harder and softer pastel brands.
Additionally, when layering colours with PanPastels, it is important to consider the blending of colours. The more layers of pastel that are blended, the duller the colour mixes will appear. To avoid this, artists can use PanPastel Sofft Tools, which are designed for use with PanPastels and can help achieve a smooth blend without getting pastel on fingers.
While layering colours with PanPastels can create opaque effects, it is worth noting that there is a learning curve involved, especially for artists used to working with soft pastels or mixing colours with paint.
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Using pan pastels for underpainting
Pan pastels are a unique dry colour medium that can be mixed like paint for a complete painting palette. They can be used for underpainting, but some artists have expressed concerns about their suitability for this purpose, particularly on canvas.
When using pan pastels for underpainting, it is important to consider the surface you are working on. Some artists have found that pan pastels work poorly on canvas, as they can interfere with the colours of the oils and are too delicate for this surface. They may be more suitable for use over watercolour, ink, or gouache. Pan pastels can also be used on paper and primed panels, with some artists recommending sanded paper for better adhesion.
To ensure the pan pastel underpainting is protected, it is necessary to use a fixative. A good fixative will help to minimise dusting and seal the layers for better layering. However, many fixatives can darken pastel colours, so it is important to choose one that won't alter the colours, such as SpectraFix, and to apply it in very light layers.
When mixing colours with pan pastels, it is important to note that the mixing process is different from that of soft pastels or paint. With pan pastels, colours are mixed by "dipping" them into each other and then trying out the colour on a sample space before applying it to the final work. This can be done on the pan surface or a scratch piece of paper. Additionally, colours can be blended using blending tools or soft tools, which allow for fluid, soft blending.
Overall, while pan pastels can be used for underpainting, they may require more preparation and protection than other media. Artists should be prepared for a steep learning curve when working with pan pastels and be open to experimenting with different surfaces and techniques to find what works best for them.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can mix colours with Pan Pastels.
You can mix colours either on the pan surface or on the working surface (paper). You can also blend colours from the same colour family.
Yes, Pan Pastels can be used with coloured pencils, markers, pens, and pastel pencils. They can also be used over watercolours, inks, and encaustic artwork once dry.
No, Pan Pastels are intended to be used dry. However, you can create a pastel wash by mixing the pastel with alcohol.
Yes, you can use Pan Pastels and soft pastels together. However, they require different techniques and tools, so you may need to re-learn some skills when switching between the two.
