[JAFSPURS (Jacob A)]

It’s incredibly efficient 😎

Am I the only one without an image/image link?

[JAFSPURS (Jacob A)]

Hey John,

New to art. New to these forums.

I really enjoy the relative simplicity of this work. Generally speaking you seem to be using the pastels effectively, particularly in the face, as each layered color helps built the mood.

Take it from me as a neophyte using/ experimenting with pastels: a little bit (actual material) goes a long way with soft pastels.

For me the type of canvas or paper is critical, particularly if you’re using pastels layer colors. The integration of the paper’s color into the work can be very effective: see—Degas, Cassatt “sketches” for obvious and effective use of the paper’s original color. While I don’t personally love the brand, Mi-Teintes (Canson) offers ~ 60 colors. I enjoy the “Pack Parma,” “Pack Light Blue,” and “Pack Orchid” colors for portraits.

What brand pastels are you using? I find most them to be close in terms of quality. I like certain colors/tones from one brand more than another. For pencils I mostly use Fabre-Castell PITT (sometimes Derwent) as my workhorse (initial layers), Conte/CarbOthello as versatile options with Caran d’Ache as the soft, vibrant pencils most similar to the high-end sticks (I find).

If you’re interested in drawing techniques/dynamics that have been effective for me in a layering strategies let me know. I’d also be willing to share my experience with sticks (like many people recommended to me, I believe Rembrandt sticks are a versatile “work-horse” well worth the value in terms of the mileage you’ll get from these.

I’d also be willing to discuss the possibility of creating your own surface using Pastel Paste — I can discuss what has worked and some pretty awful fails.

Hope you’re staying healthy. Look forward to seeing more pastel work from you should you chose to do more.

 

– J  (Jacob)

[JAFSPURS (Jacob A)]

Thank You Roman,

These suggestions help a lot. I jumped so quickly into art — I’ve never taken an art class, even in school — I’m finally beginning to understand the importance of form and structure before tone. As obvious as it might be to others, I would not have thought about the lips in this way either.

You can probably tell I did this in ~ 2.5 hours. Should have spend more time on charcoal structure and less on wax-crayon. I’m realizing that an image with a “spontaneous” quality doesn’t necessarily have to be created spontaneously?

Thank You again for the insight!

J

[JAFSPURS (Jacob A)]

Thank You! Soft Pastel with charcoal for original sketch

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