The Handicrafter

When working with soft pastels, do you prefer to aim for luminosity or for a more blended approach?

I’ve been studying pastel techniques under two different instructors. One prefers to maintain the luminosity of the soft pastel. The other prefers to create a more blended approach.

I’ve done a few quick practice exercises using both techniques. I like the qualities of both approaches. I will probably utilize both of them in my work.

Luminosity refers to the ability of the medium to appear as if it is ‘back-lit”, as if there is light coming through from behind the object. This technique is best achieved using media that has a transparent quality such as watercolour

I had not experienced this technique with pastels before. It was very illuminating (pardon the pun) to watch as the instructor built up her ‘mystery’ object – a pear. To achieve luminosity with soft pastels, color and tone are built up by layering. No blending. No fingers in the “pie’!  

What happens is that the paper comes through the layers because the individual strokes are not blended. Where a darker shade or colour is applied over a lighter one it creates a shimmering effect. The object(s) appear to be lit from behind. It is quite an impressive technique.

Blending on the other hand is quite simply what it implies. Strokes of colour are blended together using a paper stump, a cotton swab or a finger. The individual strokes are smoothed out onto the paper which does not show through.  

Blending can give a realistic effect to skin tones and clothing. I’m rather fond of the technique. It is really a matter of what one gets used to.  

I am trying the luminous technique out on an 8 x 10 oil pastel of a Yorkie. It is a quick and simple study in pastel but a deadly dull one in colour pencil.  

Colour pencil artists have my utmost respect for their perseverance. It takes a great deal of time and patience to produce even a small colour pencil painting.  But that is another story for another day. 

I do have to confess though. I couldn’t take it. I had to give in. I couldn’t help myself. I have already blended the tongue and the eyes of the Yorkie.

I guess I’m a blender. What about you?  Are you a blender too?