Pastel art in art history

Pastels are the earliest form of painting medium, first used during the ice age in cave paintings. The manufacture of pastels originated in the 15th century. Pastels were mentioned by Leonardo da Vinci. Pastel was used for preparatory studies by 16th-century artists. During the 18th century the medium became fashionable for portrait painting.

By the mid 19th century artists like Delacroix, Redon and Millet made significant use of pastel. Édouard Manet painted portraits in pastel on canvas. Gauguin, Matisse, Monet and Renoir used pastel with huge success. Whistler produced a number of pastels around 1880, and contributed to a growing enthusiasm for the medium in the United States. He demonstrated how few strokes were required to evoke a place or an atmosphere.

Edgar Degas was an innovator in pastel technique, and used it with an an expressionist vigour. After 1885 it became his primary medium.

So Pastel has always been around. And yet today, I find myself answering some basic questions every time I exhibit my pastel work. So here is some information on Pastels…

What is a Pastel?

A pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce oil paints, Acrylic paints and Water colours. The colour effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments than that of any other process.

Dry pastel media can be subdivided as follows:

• Soft pastels: This is the most widely used form of pastel. The sticks have a higher portion of pigment and less binder, resulting in brighter colours.

• Hard pastels: These have a higher portion of binder and less pigment, producing a sharp drawing material that is useful for fine details.

• Pastel pencils: These are pencils with a pastel lead. They are useful for adding fine details.

When fully covered with pastel, the work is called a pastel painting; else it is called a pastel sketch or drawing.

Pastel Techniques

Pastel techniques can be challenging since the medium is mixed and blended directly on the working surface with the artist’s fingers. Pastel errors cannot be covered the way a paint error can be painted out.

Pastels have some techniques in common with painting. Their fragile consistency and powdery texture makes them well suited to blending, masking, layering on lots of colour, and for adding accents and highlighting, and shading. You can also use the edges for fine lines though most artists use hard pastels or pastel pencils for detail work.

Despite their simplicity, pastels are very versatile.

Because they contain such high levels of pigment, pastels are expensive.

Pastels - Facts and Myths

Myths:

*They are incredibly fragile *The colours fade

*Only amateurs use pastels

Facts:

It is ironic that pastel is considered an amateurs’ medium, because technically it is very difficult to master. There are now more than 1600 different hues and shades available, They also have high permanence ratings, which means that they won't fade over time. Examination of three unrestored pictures of 18th century − one for each medium of oil, watercolour and pastel − is likely to reveal that pastel is the most permanent form of art available. The oil painting’s surface will exhibit cracks and the colours and composition will be darkened due to grime. With watercolour, the colour fading will have occurred due to sunlight. However, the pastel will still resonate its original colour tones. Today’s professional artists use high quality specialist paper.

Protection of Pastel Artworks

As with any work of art, some care has to be taken with a Pastel artwork too.

Works should be properly mounted and framed

under glass so that the glass does not touch the

artwork. This prevents the deterioration due to air

quality, humidity etc.

All framed pictures should be slightly away from the wall. This can easily be achieved by gluing a thin cork or stopper to each bottom corner of the backs of frames.

When it comes to framing, it is always prudent to get a framer who appreciates art. Your artwork will be handled with care.

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Published in Colour Canvas in February 2019