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Soft pastels for painting tools come in diverse selections, each carefully created with particular preferences in mind. Some of the widely used types include:
Square Soft Pastels
For artists who need versatility and control, square soft pastels are useful. The square shape enables fine details and broad application in equal measures, suited for beginners and professionals.
Pastel Pencils
Pastel pencils are small and portable, making them suitable for people who enjoy making detailed artwork. These pencils are easy to handle, making them a good selection for shading and making thin lines.
Oil Pastels
With the difference in binding mediums, oil pastels have a greasy feeling and a nice slick snap compared to soft pastels. These do not easily break and need different blending methods. They also have a shiny look when they are finished, making them different from other pastels.
Round Soft Pastels
Round soft pastels are great for people who like creating softer looks. It's easier to make large color washes and mixes with these pastels, which means they are perfect for artists who work on landscapes or portraits.
Chalk Pastels
Chalk pastels, which are also known by the name of soft pastels, provide a gentle feel. Because of their highly blendable properties, chalk pastels are well suited to the production of wash-like effects that are preferred in drawing portraits and other natural images.
The soft pastel chalks design influences the texture, shade, and ease of use. Here's a closer look at how the pastels are designed:
The soft pastel chalks come in several textures, though they mainly come in smooth textures. Because of their very fine powder composition, it is easy to blend and rub soft pastels. Soft pastels create deeper, richer blends than hard pastels due to their softer composition.
Soft pastels normally come in sticks that are rectangular in shape, although the shape and size of the pastels can differ based on the manufacturer. Some brands offer square pastels for easy handling, while others have round pastels for a smooth application. In this regard, the length of the pastel also differs, with longer pastels lasting longer than the shorter ones.
Soft pastels are available in wide-ranging shades. This is so they are perfect for creating highly detailed collections and blends. Depending on the brand, you can find sets containing more than 100 colors, allowing artists to access different skin tones or nature shades.
Soft pastels are created using pure pigment and different binders, mostly gum or clay. The type of binder affects the stick's softness and hardness. The softer the pastel, the easier it blends, and vice versa. This way, the choice of pastel depends on the artist's requirements.
Soft pastels are ideal for fine art projects, as they offer versatility and varying degrees of blending. Here are some contexts in which soft pastels are highly useful:
Portrait Artwork
Soft pastels are great for portraits because they let an artist pay attention to skin tone and soft details. The pastels' blendable property makes it possible to reproduce realistic skin textures in portrait art, which gives the picture soft and warm hues.
Landscape Painting
Landscapes normally call for a wider range of colors, and soft pastels easily meet this requirement. Artists can create dramatic skies and lively foliage, among other things. They also work well for outdoor painting because they are easy to carry.
Fashion Illustrations
In fashion illustrations, soft pastels help create a stylish blend of colors to show the cloth's drape and texture. Thus, they are useful in quickly developing designs while adding a touch of glamour to any illustration.
Abstract Art
Abstract artists frequently use soft pastels because the medium allows for creative freedom. Pastels let everyone experiment with forms and colors and create unique pieces with textured surfaces.
Still Life
In still life paintings, the softness of the pastels creates realistic light reflections on objects, which adds to the artwork's depth. They are superb for painting fruits, flowers, and other inanimate objects, showing their colors.
To get the maximum benefit from soft pastel chalks, one ought to be aware of their specifications and maintenance methods. Here are some key points regarding this:
Hardness Levels
Soft pastels come in different hardness levels for different users. Those who want to blend more easily should use softer pastels, while those who require detailed work should use harder pastels. This offers diverse options for artists to select from depending on their style.
Pastel Sets vs. Loose Pastels
There are pre-made pastel sets that are great for beginners and those starting, while loose pastels are preferred and allow artists to select colors individually. This debate allows for more personalized approaches to art, although it also presents unique challenges in storage and handling.
Storage Solutions
Appropriate storage is very important for preserving softness in pastels. It is advisable to have a dedicated storage box lined with foam or velvet to reduce the chances of chalks breaking and sticking together. Pastel boxes also have sections in them that are designed to hold individual pastels, further protecting them.
Cleaning Brushes and Blending Tools
When using soft pastels, cleaning is very important for achieving the best results. A soft brush should be used to clean it, while blending stumps should be cleaned using a cloth to remove any accumulated pigment. This ensures that the pigment used to create an artwork will not be dirty or contaminated with other colors.
Fixatives
Soft pastels do not contain any binding agent, so the colors can easily come off unless they are fixed with spray fixatives. It's important to use a fixative that does not change the colors, as this will offer proper protection against smudging once the artwork is done.
A1: As opposed to hard pastels, which are harder and require more pressure during application, soft pastels are much softer and easier to work with. Beginners like it better because it is easier to blend. Professionals opt for it when they want quick strokes and a richer texture.
A2: Soft pastels are perfect outdoor mediums, as they are transportable and easy to work with in plein air painting. Artists prefer soft pastel tools because they allow for quick sketches captured in the moment, especially on trips or outdoors.
A3:Paper with a textured surface, such as sanded pastel paper, charcoal paper, or papers with a pronounced grain, is ideal for soft pastels. These surfaces hold the pigment better and give it the tooth needed for blending and layering.
A4:Quality soft pastels can be lightfast, meaning they won't fade when exposed to sunlight. It is important to select top brands and colors for the best lightfastness. This ensures that the artwork retains its vibrancy over time.
A5:Use a workable fixative specifically designed for pastels, as it will not dampen the colors. This helps to set the artwork in place without affecting the brilliance of the pigments used.
