Now this will prolly make pastel artists out there laugh…but you never know something til you try, do you? I am not very experienced with pastels and I have been doing my pastel work from a box of cheap pastels bought at Kmart or somewhere (Walmart for my American friends). Yes I can hear you shudder…but you see~ I didn’t know the difference.
Tonight I started a painting with my cheap pastels. I needed a colour I didn’t have and didn’t want to blend so I remembered I had a box of 6 expensive good quality pastels that I had bought as a trial offer from a magazine. I hadn’t used them before. I got them out and opened the fancy cover…and when I applied them to my surface…..ohhhhh….it was like the difference between MacDonalds and filet steak! They glided on so smooth and silky and beautiful, I could hardly believe it!!!!!
Yes I know you all probably know that….but I’ve just discovered it! Does this mean I have to get a job to be able to pay for better pastels???
hilarydougill, 2 months ago
Maybe the cheap ones were powder pastels and the expensive oil pastels, that would make a great difference. I cannot use powder pastels because of the dust they throw off, it makes me sneeze which doesn’t behove very well for the finished article haha. Look forward to seeing the finished article. hugs
ginnymac, 2 months ago
oooh Estelle! Are you using oil pastels or dry pastels? the best for dry pastels is Schminke,one stroke and magic!. oh okay most brands are all-right just I love Schminke if you need an online shop much cheaper than over the counter, shops there is a good one in Goulburn they serve also over the counter there too but order over the phone easy postie brings to the door, you just ring them or they ring you for credit card, nice and safe.
Oil pastels … never used Pentel! yuueek . I have Van Gogh, but most quality ones are okay.
see got me all excited!
cheetaah, 2 months ago
oh I never tried pastel, but I had an oil tubes which I kept them years because they were expensive and I tried the less quality ones and never liked it and recently I opened them and they were still good, it’s either the quality or like they said the oily one glides easily and may be the other one is powdery. I like to see both works it’s gonna be interesting. xoxooxoxxo to you.
Colombe Cambo..., 2 months ago
Art supplies are like everything else in this world, you pay for what you get. Estelle, I think it’s worth paying extra for the good quality stuff because it actually helps you to paint better (I really believe this) and more importantly, you enjoy it so much more! I’m glad you re-discovered your long forgotten pastels. Happy painting! XOXO
jluisluca, 2 months ago
Hi =) there’s a says in Art: ” you get what you pay”.
And its….true. well sometimes. Yeah. there are 2 kind of pastel colors. the oil ones and the powder ones. I prefer the powder, but it’s necessary a good few of colors and i see its a little expensive there too. I dont really use often pastel, i made some landscapes but i didnt upload anyone, in my drawings i just use a soft one color white. Hope you enjoy your pastel colors! Good luck!
hugnessI love artworks made with pastel!
Estelle O'Brien in reply to hilarydougill’s comment, 2 months ago
No they are both powder (or soft pastels) not oil…I am just amazed at the “feelable” difference when using them. The cheap “soft” pastels are machine made and have more binder and less pigment, whereas the expensive ones have much more pigment and are hand rolled. When I first started to paint, my son gave me a book called The Artists Handbook, which was full of technical information about how various materials are made. It was way over my head at the time, but some of it is beginning to make sense and be relevant as I am gaining more experience. The painting I am doing is of a racehorse, not sure yet whether it will turn out ok enough to post…we’ll see!
Estelle O'Brien in reply to ginnymac’s comment, 2 months ago
They are dry pastels …and I will try the Schminke when I am able to buy some more…I have read that they are very good. The cheap ones were Mungyo, and ones I bought the trial pack of are Unison. I got 6 Unison for the same price that I got 48 of the others! But they are sooo much nicer to use.
Estelle O'Brien in reply to Colombe Cambourne’s comment, 2 months ago
Yes you are right Colombe, we only get what we pay for. I got 48 cheap ones for the same price as 6 good quality ones! I knew when I bought paints to make sure I bought Artists quality no student, but I didn’t realise it would make such a big difference with the pastel.
Estelle O'Brien in reply to jluisluca’s comment, 2 months ago
Hi Jose! The pastels are both powder ones, not oil, but I was so amazed at the difference between the cheap ones and the better quality ones. You are right~ you get what you pay for! I have some cheap oil ones too, which I have had difficulty using ~ maybe I should try a few good quality oil pastels as well. There is so many things to try and experiment with…not enough hours in the day!! I love your work, you are very talented! hugs to you…
ginnymac, 2 months ago
Etelle, some people charge over $7 for one stick I think I pay around $4.30 but a box of Faber Castel half sticks are fabulous, and will last ages too lots of colours not too hard and not too soft.
check up on e-bay sometimes there are bargains. yes we all need a job! sigh.
Carmen Cilliers, 2 months ago
Not sure what hillarydougal is referring to… I have both oil and dry pastels, and (you will be so jealous) a set of smienke (90 colours) but am too scared to use them because they just melt on paper! I think oils are awful but agree the dry are messy. Point is, if you have noticed a difference then already you are half way there! Hope you have lots of fun! Love C
Estelle O'Brien in reply to Carmen Cilliers’s comment, 2 months ago
oooh 90 schminkes! Lucky you! Thanks for adding your comment. I live in the middle of nowhere so I don’t have an art shop handy where I can ask questions, so one of the many things I love about redbubble is the people interaction – I learn so much from other’s advice, opinions and experience. So thanks…and I am now converted to the better quality ones having finished the painting I was doing..I posted it but it looks much better in real life…in fact I’m going to have it framed! Now all I have to do is drop enough hints to my son who earns squillions of dollars that a box of schminke’s would make a great birthday pressie! Thanks Carmen…hugs to you…