Ella Walter
Pastel pencils and pan pastels are versatile art mediums that can be used in conjunction with other art supplies, such as soft pastels, wax-type coloured pencils, and watercolour paint. They are ideal for creating detailed line work, colourful sketches, and adding highlights to dark backgrounds. When layering with pastel pans and pencils, beginners should follow a few key tips: start with a light touch and gradually build up layers, work from light to dark colours, avoid using too many colours that can create a muddy appearance, and choose the right paper with a fine tooth that will hold the pastel pigment. Additionally, pastel pencils require careful sharpening due to their fragile nature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Paper type | Textured paper or pastel board with a fine tooth to hold the pastel pigment. Sanded paper is ideal. |
| Paper colour | Lightly coloured paper to show off highlights and complement soft pastel colours. |
| Layering technique | Work from light to dark to avoid a muddy appearance. |
| Layering order | Complete the background first, then add detail. |
| Layering amount | Avoid using many colours on top of each other. |
| Pencil type | Pastel pencils are more fragile than coloured pencils and require a hobby knife to sharpen. |
| Pencil brand | Faber-Castell PITT pastel pencils are slightly harder and produce less dust. |
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What You'll Learn
Layering pastel pans and pencils on different types of paper
Pastel pencils are versatile and can be used with a range of different mediums. They can be used alongside hard and soft pastels for a mixed media effect, or with coloured pencils. Pastel pencils are also great for adding detailed line work to your drawings. They are easier to control and cleaner to use than soft pastel sticks. However, they are more fragile and require careful sharpening with a hobby knife.
When layering pastel pans and pencils, it is important to remember that pastel pencils never dry and are translucent. It is best to work from light to dark colours. This way, each stronger tone has a cushion to work into. If you apply strong colours first and then try to add light colours on top, the result will be a muddy mess.
Pan pastels are creamy soft pastels in stackable pans, designed to be applied with Sofft tools—a range of micro-pore sponges. They can be used on cartridge paper and coloured papers with a non-glossy surface. Pan pastels can be used to create the background of a drawing, which can then be worked on with coloured pencils. They can also be applied to a separate piece of paper, which can be placed behind a drawing on drafting film.
Pastel pencils can be layered over each other, with a lighter colour first, followed by thin, linear lines to create an optical blend. This technique can be used to create skin tints in portraiture work. Pastel pencils can also be blended with a paper stump, a finger, or soft pastels.
The type of paper used for pastel pans and pencils is important. Pastel paper with a fine tooth will hold the pastel pigment better. Lightly coloured paper will help show off highlights and complement the soft colours of pastel pencils. Papers like Somerset Velvet have a soft surface that can lift when used with coloured pencils. Seawhite paper is harder and less likely to lift, while also taking pastel and coloured pencil equally well.
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How to sharpen pastel pencils
Pastel pencils are different from coloured pencils in that they have less binder, which makes them more fragile and produces a softer colour with more vibrancy and saturation. This means that when sharpening pastel pencils, extra care needs to be taken. While they may look like ordinary pencils, pastel pencils are more fragile and require a hobby knife or craft knife to sharpen them, rather than a standard sharpener. A standard sharpener will tend to crack the lead, while electrical sharpeners can break the lead and get jammed.
To sharpen pastel pencils, use a hobby knife or craft knife to carefully shave away the wood around the pastel, being careful not to break it. Then, use sandpaper to shape the pastel into a sharp point. This method gives you more control over the sharpness of the pencil and can help you get a better point. You can also use a razor blade to sharpen pastel pencils, but be careful not to cut yourself.
It is important to sharpen and store your pastel pencils correctly to get the most out of them. Over-sharpening, using the wrong sharpening tools, and incorrect storage can all lead to breakage and crumble. Additionally, pastel pencils may contain inclusions, which are pieces of the colour strip where the pigment was not mixed properly, resulting in a lack of pigment transfer. To fix this, use sandpaper to rub out the inclusion from the colour strip, which should then allow for proper pigment transfer.
When working with pastel pencils, it is generally recommended to work from light to dark. This is because pastel pencils never dry and are translucent, so building up colour from light to dark creates a more harmonious blend. Starting with dark colours can result in a muddy mess. However, with practice and experience, it is possible to work light into dark. Additionally, avoid using too many colours on top of each other, as this can create a muddy appearance. Instead, focus on layering one colour onto another to produce spectacular effects.
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Layering pastel pans and pencils to create different colours
Pastel pans and pencils are a great combination for creating mixed media art. Here are some tips for layering pastel pans and pencils to create different colours:
Choosing the Right Paper
The right paper is crucial for pastel work. Smooth paper will not work as the pastel will not adhere to it. Instead, opt for textured paper or pastel board that can provide a good grip for the pastel. Pastel paper, sanded paper, watercolour paper or board, canvas, and even wood panels are some suitable surfaces. The deeper the tooth (texture) of the paper, the more the pastel will stick to it. However, when applying multiple layers, the tooth of the paper can fill up, making it challenging to add further details. Therefore, it is essential to leave some tooth exposed for subsequent layers.
Preparing the Paper
To prepare your own textured surface on thick watercolour paper, board, or canvas, you can use products like GOLDEN Pastel Ground. This product can be diluted and mixed with acrylic pigments to create a range of coloured grounds. Additionally, consider using a fixative to help seal previous layers and improve adhesion for subsequent layers. SpectraFix is recommended as it does not darken pastel colours when applied in light layers.
Layering Techniques
When layering pastel pans and pencils, it is generally recommended to work from light to dark. This is because pastel pencils never dry and are translucent, allowing the underlying lighter colours to influence the final hue. Layering from dark to light can result in a muddy appearance. Start with a light touch when applying pastel, and gradually build up layers to achieve the desired intensity. You can layer different colours to create a wide range of tones and hues. Additionally, pastel pencils can be used to add thin, linear elements, such as cross-hatching, creating an optical blend where the eye mixes the colours.
Blending and Mixing
Pastel pans and pencils can be blended and mixed to create seamless transitions and new colours. You can use various tools for blending, including paper stumps, fingers, soft tools, and foam tools. For pastel pencils, you can also try blending different hues from the same colour family to get a feel for how the colours mix. When using pastel pans, a colourless blending powder can be applied to the paper to facilitate blending and smooth transitions.
Highlighting and Detailing
Pastel pencils are excellent for adding highlights and details to your artwork. You can create highlights by using a kneadable eraser to lift the pastel from the paper. For detailing, pastel pencils offer more precision and control than traditional soft pastels. When working with pastel pans, coloured pencils with a slightly harder core are recommended for adding details, such as the Faber Castell Polychromos, Caran d’Ache Pablo, or Derwent Artist range.
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Using pastel pans and pencils to create backgrounds
Choosing the Right Paper
The right paper can make a big difference when working with pastel pans and pencils. Look for paper with a fine tooth that will hold the pastel pigment, such as pastelmat paper or cartridge paper. Lightly coloured paper, such as cream, gold, green or pink, can also help showcase your highlights and complement the soft colours of your pastel pencils. Keep in mind that some papers, like Stonehenge paper, are specifically designed for coloured pencil enthusiasts and can be used with pastel pans as well.
Preparing Your Workspace
Before you begin, it's important to have a workable fixative ready. This will be used to seal each layer of pastel and prevent smudging. A workable fixative is a quick-drying spray that should be used in a well-ventilated area. Krylon Workable Fixatif Spray Clear is a good option that dries quickly without wrinkling or smearing.
Creating a Background with Pastel Pans
Pastel pans are a great way to create soft, beautiful backgrounds. Start by picking up your desired colour with a Sofft Sponge and gently apply it to your project in a circular motion. You can use pastel pans to create a single colour background or mix and blend colours to add depth and variation. For example, you can use shades of blue and green to create a soft, grassy background. Once you're happy with the blending, spray with the workable fixative to seal the pastel. If you're not satisfied with the colours, you can add more pastel on top of the fixative layer.
Using Pastel Pencils for Details
Pastel pencils are ideal for adding details and line work to your background. They are easier to control and less likely to break than soft pastel sticks. When blending pastel pencils, you can use a paper stump, your finger, or blend them with soft pastels. Remember to work from light to dark colours to avoid a muddy appearance. You can also try layering a pastel pencil over another using thin, linear lines to create an optical blend.
Combining Pastel Pans and Pencils
Pastel pans and pencils can be used together to create unique and interesting backgrounds. You can start by laying down a base colour with pastel pans and then use pastel pencils for adding details or refining certain areas. This combination allows you to create a range of effects, from soft and blurry backgrounds to detailed portraits. Experiment with different papers and colours to discover the endless possibilities of pastel pans and pencils!
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How to blend pastel pans and pencils
Pastel pencils are different from coloured pencils due to the binder used and the effect it creates. Coloured pencils have a waxy binder that holds the pigment together, while pastel pencils have less binder, making them more fragile. This gives pastel pencils a softer, more vibrant colour.
When blending pastel pencils, you can use a paper stump, your finger, or soft pastels to blend the colours together. Try different hues of the same colour to get a feel for how they blend. Keep a kneadable eraser close by to remove any mistakes or create highlights.
For layering, start with a light touch when applying pastel pencil to the paper. You can gradually build up layers to achieve the desired intensity. Layering different colours on top of each other creates a range of tones and hues. Avoid using many colours on top of each other, as this can create a muddy appearance. Work from light to dark, as pastel pencils never dry and are translucent, so each stronger tone has a cushion to work into.
Pan Pastels are small lidded plastic containers with compressed powdered pastel pigment. They can be applied with small sponges or Sofft Tools and work well on cartridge paper or coloured papers with a non-glossy surface. They can be blended with a colourless blending powder, which breaks down the grip of the colour on the paper, allowing it to be smoothed with foam tools or a protected finger.
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Frequently asked questions
Pastel pencils are dry and dusty, so they require a textured paper or pastel board that they can bind to. Smooth paper will not work as the pastel will fall off. Pastel paper or sanded paper is ideal, but you can experiment with other textured papers as well.
Pastel pencils are more fragile than coloured pencils, so care needs to be taken when sharpening them. Sharpen your pastel pencils with a hobby knife rather than a standard sharpener, as a knife will shear away the pencil without damaging the wood or the colour strip inside.
As a general rule, work from light to dark. Start with a light touch when applying pastel pencil to the paper and gradually build up layers to achieve the desired intensity. You can also try laying down a lighter colour first before adding thin, linear lines to create a thin overlay on top.
Pan pastels are excellent for laying down smooth areas of colour, which can be blended together to produce a range of subtle tones. They are perfect for covering large areas very quickly. You can use a paper stump, a finger, or soft tools for blending.
Pastel pans are small lidded plastic containers that contain very fine compressed powdered pastel pigment, which is applied to the painting surface with small sponges or soft tools. Pastel pencils, on the other hand, have a thin pastel stick inside their wooden casing, similar to a coloured pencil but more fragile. Pastel pencils offer more precision and control compared to pastel pans.
