WHY PASTEL?

And what are pastels anyway? Pastels are made of pure pigment (minerals) and shaped into sticks by the use of a binder, commonly gum arabic. These same pigments are used in the creation of oils and watercolors. Superior quality pastels are lightfast and will stay pure and bright for centuries when used on archival paper and stored under favorable conditions.

Pastel is a facile medium which can be layered and erased repeatedly. Pastel straddles the boundary between drawing
and painting, having the ability to borrow mark-making and vocabulary from each process. The possible combinations
make pastel a richly complex and responsive medium with a velvety finish. Despite a reputation as delicate, pastel is actually remarkably durable.

The earliest use of colored chalk in drawing can be seen in the work of Leonardo DaVinci. 18th c. French pastel portraits still exist with excellent color clarity. Cassatt and Degas pastels of the 19th c. remain bold and vibrant.

The medium for all these works is pastel with water. Paintings are created with lightfast archival materials. For current availability and prices, contact the artist.

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