Panpastels

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 14:17:31 GMT

Panpastel.

Since 2 weeks I am proud to have the complete panpastel set of the 80 colours. Black Friday sale has made me spend some money but the discount was too good to ignore. I have never used panpastel before. But I have seen many you tube vides that convinced me to buy the set and start working with this medium.

My next project was to paint another flower: a dark red lily. But this time on the famous Panpastel Clairefontain paper. With the first stroke I found out what happens when the paper has so much tooth, that it grabs the colour like glue. I was surprised and had no clue how to blend the colours any more. The skill I had vaguely learned with the purple tulip on multi-media smoothe paper were no use on this rough paper

I plodded on and dabbed colour to the paper. Tried to place the colours on the right spot with the tools that seemed too big and wide for any work with the panpastel. Blending seemed impossible as well. In the end i just struggled and finished the painting by just applying the colours and the shape. I was tired of it as it didn't seem to do what I want it to do. I tossed the painting aside as soon as I though it had a finished look to it. I was thinking that panpastel paper was horrible. Many artists do not agree and praise tihis paper. But for me..... I needed to learn more first.

It only dawned on me 2 days later that smaller details I could add using the pastel pencils. I could still add those but for the sake of learning to use only panpastel tools I left the painting as it is. The soft blurry edges and paint strokes are clearly visible but maybe that makes this drawing a bit more charming as well. And although I did not like it at all when I was working on it. It looked actually pretty ok after I looked at it again some time later.

My goal was always to paint portrets. So I could not resist any longer and my next aim was to try a portrait. I went to the internet to look for a decent copyright free photograph so I could use that as a reference. I again picked a more smooth paper: Pastellmalblock from AMI.

The most challenging for me is to get the proportions right. So I cheated a bit and used graphite paper to copy the outlines of the face and the positions of the eyes, nose and mouth. I looked at the colours and at my 80 pans. Too many colours to use them all. So I chose 2 rows of pans that seems to come close to the colours in the reference photo and decided not to add any other. I chose burnt siennas and raw umbers. Later I added the permanent red (extra dark) as well for the lips as that colour gave a dark warm touch to the painting and added more depth/contrast. So I added a bit of that red to the eyes, hair and clothes.

As all pastel is very fragile to touch, I decided to use a spray fixative to preserve all the pastel painting I have made so far. For that I used Talens 064 fixative for pastel.

I did my best to make this portrait work for me. It pays off if the motivation is high and your heart is in the right place for a painting. I really am proud of the outcome. My real first colour portrait with pastel. Although there are some things I am not totally happy about and small things I could improve next time, but whenever I look at this portrait, I only can feel pride.

I just love the way it turned out.

MaKe Arts - December 2019

Inspiration for your artwork

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 19:21:40 GMT

Finding inspiration and motivation for new art projects

Finding inspiration

If you have no inspiration I find it hard to motivate to create something. It seems I need some sort of goal to start a new project. So where or how do you find inspiration? Internet? Indoors? Ourdoors. The answer is yes everywhere. You can find inspiration in the small things or in big things. The only thing you need to do is be open to receive the inspiration for your work. You mind needs to be in a 'receptive'mode. Be aware. And inspiration will flow into you.

Make a list

So finally it is there ..... inspiration and thus motivation to start a new project. When you have such a moment but you have no way to store it in your mind..... A simple solution to make a quick not on your phone or make a picture of the object that gave you inspiration.

Start your new project

If the project is big and you are not sure how the work will look like, make a few sketches on paper to see if the composition is to your liking. Fill in some colour with pencils to see if the colours that are in your mind find the right place in the composition. When I am not sure how things look I browse the internet for pictures to see how colours and shapes are positioned and use those in the final the sketches. If things are hard and new a try out on a piece of paper of smaller canvas can help you to reach your goal.

Finally ....think positive

Make sure to pat yourself on the back when you have finished a project. Whatever you create with passion..... it is always worth looking at. Sometimes your work doesn't turn out the way you thought it would be but who is to know but you.

- MK -

MaKe Arts Blog

Panpastels

Panpastel.

Inspiration for your artwork