Pastels

Over the years, every so often, my fascination with pastels comes back to me.  And, over the years I have accumulated lots of different kinds of pastels, and papers.  I usually would try them, and discover I didn't like it as much as painting and go back to oils.  But, as time goes by I like to go back and play with them again.
  This drawing of spring flowers,  I did with pencil, but decided to color it in and used my pastels.  It is in a "Cachet" Earthbound sketch book, that has tan colored paper.  The paper is smooth unlike pastel paper, but it worked out nicely just the same. This got me curious to try some more drawings on some different pastel papers I have. 

Magnolia bloom, Narcissus and daffodil.

I did these little drawings below on the Sennelier La Carte, which holds the pastel well, makes a nice line, and keeps holding as you layer.  One draw back.... I found that the surface is water soluble.  So, any techniques using water on this paper won't work out. 

Orange on folded cloth.  I did an oil painting with this same folded cloth since I liked it so much.

 

sketches of fruit, cloth and an iris

close up (4x4 section)

I also did some drawings on Canson Mi-Teintes Touch paper, which is a "sanded" paper that comes in the same colors as the regular Mi-Teintes pastel paper.  I also did drawings on Art Spectrum Colorfix paper, and regular Mi Teirntes paper... I'll take pictures and post them as I have time.
(I also wonder... I've always called a work in pastel a "drawing"... but most of the time I read about pastels, it is refered to as a "painting".  I've never understood why.  I figure a 'painting' is made with paint.  I hope it is alright that I am referring to my pastel drawings as drawings, because that's what they are to me. )