Pastel art is absolutely a form of painting. Pastels consist of pure powdered pigment combined with just enough binder to allow the pastel to stick to the painting surface. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used in other painting mediums. Pastels qualify as painting because they use pigment to apply color to a surface. However, pastels have some unique qualities that set them apart from other paints.
What are pastels?
Pastels are drawing sticks made of powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used are the same as those used for oil paints and other types of paint. The binder is usually gum tragacanth, methyl cellulose, or polyvinyl. These binders allow the pigment to stick to paper, canvas, or other supports. Pastels come in a wide range of colors and are available in soft, hard, and pastel pencil formats.
Soft pastels have a higher pigment to binder ratio, resulting in vivid colors that are easily blended. Hard pastels contain more binder, producing stronger, sharper strokes. Pastel pencils can be sharpened to a fine point for detailed work. Pastels do not require solvents and dry immediately after application, allowing the artist to layer and blend colors freely.
Pastel techniques
Pastels can be used to produce a variety of effects. The most common pastel techniques include:
- Strokes – Applying soft pastels in broad, sweeping strokes or using the side of the pastel to fill in large areas.
- Hatching – Creating small parallel or crosshatched strokes with a sharp pastel.
- Blending – Smoothly mixing colors by gently rubbing the pastels with fingers, tissue, tortillons, or other tools.
- Scumbling – Applying light layers of pastel over dark areas to create texture.
- Sgraffito – Using tools to scratch through layers of pastel to reveal colors underneath.
- Stippling – Building up color through small dots rather than strokes.
Pastel artists use various tools to create effects, including paintbrushes, cotton swabs, tissues, sponges, and specialty blending tools. Fixatives may be lightly sprayed over the painting at intervals to prevent smudging.
Differences between pastels and paint
While pastels are a form of painting, they have some key differences from paints like oils, acrylics, and watercolors. These include:
| Pastels | Paints |
|---|---|
| Dry immediately, no drying time needed | Require drying/curing time between layers |
| Applied directly to surface, no dilution needed | Must be thinned with solvents or mediums before application |
| Softer, more blendable | Vary in blendability depending on media |
| Less ability to cover or conceal | Can completely cover other layers of paint |
| Fragile medium, prone to smudging | More stable and permanent when dry |
| Limited range of supports | Can be used on wide variety of surfaces |
These characteristics give pastels a unique “painterly” style. The quick drying time and blendable nature allow more spontaneity and more visible mark-making compared to paint. However, the fragility of pastel makes it less suitable for murals, outdoor works, and other applications where paint would be more permanent.
Recognized as a painting medium
While pastels have some differences from paint, they are considered a painting medium because pigment is applied to a surface to create an image. Pastels have been used for centuries as an established painting technique, from Renaissance masters like Leonardo da Vinci to modern artists like Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, and Wolf Kahn.
Many historical and contemporary art societies and institutions recognize pastel work as painting, including:
- The Pastel Society of America – Dedicated to the medium of pastel painting since 1972.
- The Degas Pastel Society – Promotes pastel as a fine art medium.
- National Art Education Association – Includes pastel in lesson plans for painting instruction.
- Major museums – Exhibit pastel work alongside oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings.
While some may categorize pastel as drawing rather than painting due to its dry stick format, the pigment and working method qualify pastel as an established painting technique according to most artists and art organizations.
Using pastels as underpainting for oils
Some oil painters use pastels to lay in preliminary layers before painting over them in oils. The quick-drying pastel allows for loosely blocking in the composition and colors. The oils are then layered over the pastels once dry.
Using pastels as underpainting can offer several advantages for oil painters:
- Rapidly sketch out the piece to establish the overall composition.
- Experiment with color schemes before committing to oils.
- Create unique textural effects between the pastel tooth and oil glazes.
- Establish darker tones and shadows before painting over in oils.
- Reduce absorbency for subsequent oil layers.
Some tips for using pastels as underpainting include:
- Use harder pastel sticks for initial sketching.
- Keep layers thin to prevent oil paint beading on thick pastel.
- Fixative can be used but is not required.
- Allow pastel to fully dry before painting oils over.
- Use coarser bristle brushes to brush off any pastel dust.
- Lightly sand or seal with primer if oils bead on pastel.
Using pastels in combination with oils leverages the strengths of both mediums. The pastels lay in the initial composition while the oils provide vibrancy and depth in the final painting. This demonstrates another way that pastels can be incorporated into painting techniques.
Pastels in mixed media artwork
Pastels are also popularly combined with other media in mixed media artwork. Some examples include:
- Pastel and acrylic – Acrylic paint or mediums can be applied over pastel to help fix and protect the surface.
- Pastel and collage – Bits of paper or fabric can be collaged under or over layers of pastel.
- Pastel and watercolor – Watercolor washes can be applied first before building up pastel on top.
- Pastel and ink – Ink lines and brush strokes can accentuate pastel colors.
- Pastel and charcoal – Charcoal and pastel can be blended together for smudgy effects.
Pastels can be incorporated into all kinds of mixed media art. Their soft and crumbly nature makes them ideal for combining with fluid mediums or stronger drawing media. Using pastels with other painting and drawing techniques further demonstrates their flexibility as a fine art medium.
Conclusion
Pastels clearly qualify as a painting medium despite their unique dry format. The use of pure pigment to apply color to a surface aligns with the very definition of painting. Pastels have a long history as an established fine art technique associated with renowned masters. While they have some differences from standard paints, their pictorial capabilities make them a fully recognized painting medium according to artists and art institutions.
Pastels not only function as a primary medium, but can also be incorporated into underpainting and mixed media techniques. Their fast-drying, blendable nature pairs well with other types of paint and art materials. The stunning effects achieved by great pastel artists prove the artistic versatility of this fascinating medium.
