Marianne Martinez
Pan pastels are a relatively new addition to the world of art materials, having been invented in 2007. They are soft, highly pigmented pastels that come in pan form and are designed to be used dry on paper. However, they can also be used on other surfaces such as canvas, wood, and cardboard. When using pan pastels on canvas, it is important to prepare the surface with a product such as Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels, which provides a gritty texture for the pastels to grip onto. This allows artists to create vibrant pastel paintings on canvas while taking advantage of the unique qualities of pan pastels, such as their smooth application and the ability to erase or lighten colours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of Pan Pastels | Soft, highly pigmented pastel in a pan form |
| Base | Not oil-based but with a chalk-like feel |
| Application | Can be applied quickly and easily with a brush or sponge brush |
| Blendability | Blends well |
| Dust | Produces very little dust |
| Erasability | Can be erased or lightened with an eraser |
| Compatibility with Canvas | Can be used on canvas if the canvas has enough tooth for the pastel to grip |
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What You'll Learn
- Pan pastels can be used on canvas, but the surface must be prepared with gesso or Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels
- Pan pastels are soft, highly pigmented pastels in pan form
- They can be applied with a variety of tools, including brushes, sponges, and fingers
- Pan pastels can be used wet or dry, and they can be mixed with water to create interesting textures
- They are versatile and can be used on a range of surfaces, including paper, canvas, wood, and cardboard
Pan pastels can be used on canvas, but the surface must be prepared with gesso or Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels
Pan pastels are a relatively new addition to the world of art materials, having been invented in 2007. They are soft, highly pigmented pastels that come in a pan form and are not oil-based. They have a chalk-like feel and can be applied with a variety of tools such as brushes, sponges, and fingers. One of the benefits of using pan pastels is the ease and speed with which colour can be applied. They also blend well and produce very little dust.
When using pan pastels on canvas, it is important to prepare the surface correctly. Canvas has the required texture, or "tooth", to hold pastels, but the preparation of the canvas will depend on the desired effect. If you want to create a very textured surface, you can prime the canvas with gesso mixed with sand. Gesso is a primer that can be added to the back of the canvas to make it stiffer. You can also use products such as Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels, which provides a gritty tooth that grabs and holds the pastel and chalk. This product can be diluted with water and applied in multiple coats to increase the tooth of the surface.
Another option for preparing the canvas is to create an underpainting in acrylics. This can be done in monotone colours to help resolve the lights and darks before adding colour. Once the underpainting is dry, you can coat the surface with the Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels.
By preparing the canvas with gesso or Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels, you can ensure that the pan pastels will adhere properly and that the canvas can withstand the rubbing and blending techniques typically used with this medium.
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Pan pastels are soft, highly pigmented pastels in pan form
Pan pastels are very versatile and will work well on most non-glossy surfaces. They can be used on smooth papers, textured papers, and everything in between. They can also be used on thin and delicate papers, such as tissue paper, which would normally bleed and buckle with wet paint. Each surface will give a different final result. On smoother surfaces, the colour lays down in more transparent layers, while on textured surfaces, the colour is more intense as the texture "grabs" more colour.
One of the benefits of using pan pastels is that they are easy to apply and blend. They are also created to produce very little dust. They can be used with their own Sofft tools, which are sponge tools in different shapes and sizes. These sponges have a texture and stiffness that works well with the pan pastels.
Pan pastels can be used on canvas, as long as there is enough tooth or texture for the pastels to grip. The tooth refers to the tiny bumps and valleys that can be felt and seen on rough surfaces. One way to add texture to a canvas is by priming it with gesso mixed with sand or using a product like Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels or Golden Pastel Ground.
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They can be applied with a variety of tools, including brushes, sponges, and fingers
Pan pastels are a versatile art medium that can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including canvas. They are soft, highly pigmented pastels that come in a pan form and produce a chalk-like feel. The pan format makes them convenient to carry and easy to use. They are designed to produce minimal dust and can be applied with different tools such as brushes, sponges, and fingers, offering artists flexibility and unique effects.
When using brushes with pan pastels, artists can dip the brush directly into the pastel pan to pick up more pigment for darker areas. This technique can create beautiful speckle-like textures, especially when brushing more pigment into a wet wash. Artists can also use reservoir brushes, where the pastel powder stays in suspension on the water, resulting in interesting textures. Using brushes with pan pastels allows for easy blending and the creation of smooth transitions between colours.
Sponges are another popular tool for applying pan pastels. The soft sponge surface works well with the pan pastel formula, allowing for smooth and controlled application. The Sofft Artist Tools by Golden, for example, offers a range of sponge shapes and sizes specifically designed for use with pan pastels. These sponges can be cleaned and reused, ensuring a long-lasting tool for pastel application.
Additionally, pan pastels can be applied with fingers, providing a direct and tactile approach to creating art. The warmth and pressure of the artist's fingertips can blend and smooth the pastel colours onto the canvas, creating unique textures and effects that are challenging to achieve with other tools. Finger application allows for a more intuitive and spontaneous approach to pastel painting.
The versatility of pan pastels and their compatibility with various application tools make them a valuable addition to any artist's toolkit. They offer convenience, ease of use, and the ability to create a wide range of artistic expressions on canvas or other surfaces. By experimenting with different tools, artists can discover new possibilities and enhance their creative process.
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Pan pastels can be used wet or dry, and they can be mixed with water to create interesting textures
Pan pastels are a relatively new addition to the world of art materials, having been introduced in 2007. They are soft, highly pigmented pastels that come in a pan form and are designed to be used dry on paper. However, they can also be used wet and mixed with water to create interesting textures.
The versatility of pan pastels allows artists to lift, apply, and control the pastel colour, much like true painting. They can be used on various surfaces, including canvas, wood, cardboard, and any other primed surface. When used on canvas, pan pastels can create vibrant and textured effects. The wood frame of a stretched canvas also allows the artwork to stay secure on an easel, providing stability for the artist to work comfortably.
One of the unique features of pan pastels is their ability to be used wet or dry. When used dry, pan pastels can be applied with a variety of tools such as soft sponges, brushes, or even fingers. The low amount of binder in pan pastels results in a purer colour, allowing for cleaner colour mixing and superior blending potential. This makes it easy to create smooth and intense colours on canvas.
When used wet, pan pastels can be mixed with water to create interesting textures. The pastel powder stays in suspension on the water, and while it doesn't fully mix with the water, it forms unique textures when used for painting. This technique can be used to create a light grey wash as a mid-tone for life drawings, for example. Additionally, dipping a brush directly into the pastel pan and then brushing onto a wet wash can create beautiful speckle-like textures that remain once dry.
To enhance the tooth or texture of the canvas for better grip, artists can prime it with gesso mixed with sand or use products like Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels or Golden Pastel Ground. These products provide a gritty tooth that grabs and holds the pastel, allowing for better adhesion and texture. It is important to note that the degree of tooth or texture can impact the final artwork, with smoother surfaces resulting in more transparent layers of colour and textured surfaces producing more intense colours.
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They are versatile and can be used on a range of surfaces, including paper, canvas, wood, and cardboard
Pan pastels are a versatile medium that can be used on a wide range of surfaces, including paper, canvas, wood, and cardboard. They can also be used on primed surfaces, such as those primed with gesso or Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels. This versatility allows artists to experiment with different textures and create unique effects.
Paper is a popular surface for pan pastels as it is relatively inexpensive and offers a variety of options. Smooth paper has little to no tooth, or texture, which is important for pan pastels as the pastel particles need something to grip onto. Textured or toothy paper provides more grip for the pastel, resulting in more intense colours. Pan pastels can also be used on very thin and delicate papers, such as tissue paper, without causing bleeding or buckling.
Canvas is another suitable surface for pan pastels, as it has the required texture to hold the pastel. A stretched canvas is especially convenient as it can be easily secured to an easel. However, it is important to ensure that the canvas has enough tooth for the pastel to grip. Pre-primed canvases may have reduced tooth due to the gesso, so artists may need to prime the canvas again with a product like Golden Pastel Ground.
In addition to paper and canvas, pan pastels can also be used on wood and cardboard. These surfaces provide a sturdy base for the pan pastels to adhere to and can be easily primed if needed. The versatility of pan pastels allows artists to experiment with different media and create mixed media artwork.
Overall, pan pastels are a versatile medium that can be used on a wide range of surfaces. Artists can experiment with different textures and techniques to create unique and distinctive effects in their artwork.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use pan pastels on canvas. Canvas has the required texture or "tooth" to hold pastels, making it a worthy surface for pastel work.
You can buy pre-stretched canvas, canvas boards, rolls, and pads. However, be wary when buying pre-primed canvas because the tooth of the weave may be reduced by the gesso, resulting in a smooth surface not particularly suited to pastels. You can avoid this by purchasing unprimed canvas or by priming the canvas again with Golden Pastel Ground, which will provide a tooth for the pastel particles to grip.
You can use a soft flat brush, sponge brush, or reservoir brush to apply pan pastels to canvas. You can also use your fingers.
One of the advantages of working on stretched canvas is that the wood frame allows it to stay secure on an easel. A second advantage is the ability to do a very washy and painterly underpainting without worrying about warping or the surface breaking down.
