Pastel Paintings
Some people think pastels are a type of chalk. They are not.
They are almost pure pigment (and quite expensive). My first choice are the wonderful thick, handmade pastels by Unison. (Made in the UK). I supplement these with Rembrandt Pastels which are a little harder and also offer a wide range of pink tones which are good for portrait work. Unlike watercolours or oil paintings, there is no oil or water mixed with the pigment, so they are very permanent.
My choice of support/paper, is either a type of flour/sandpaper or Clairefontaine Pastel Matt. However, I do like to have fun and experiment with different supports and papers. I rarely 'fix' my paintings as this is unnecessary with the type of paper I use, and it also alters the colours.
PORTRAITS - I draw the portrait first with a pastel pencil, making sure that my proportions are correct. I can then 'go to town' with my pastels, often using the slightly harder Rembrandt Pastels first, then the softer Unison Pastels on top. I work very quickly to capture the likeness and usually complete most of the portrait in a 2-3 hour sitting. I put the final touches on in my studio from photographs and memory.
