The Pastel Journal

Pastel Journal covers topics of interest to working pastelists as well as those who work in pastel as an additional medium along with those who are just experimenting with the medium.

Take the Plunge

The Pastel Journal

ASTM Creates Pastel Standard

French Exhibition Celebrates American Women Artists

The Face That Launched a Career in Pastel • The first major portrait in pastel by Edgar Degas was drawn in a Paris sitting room.

Paint Children Like a Champion • In the world of portraiture, painting the younger set can sometimes feel like an Olympic event. Drawing from her years of experience, artist Christine Swann shares several pointers that will help you clear some of the hurdles unique to painting children’s portraits.

Make Time to Play

A New Spin on the STUDIO PALETTE • Like the color wheel, my new studio palette design has no beginning and no end.

A Mountain Journey • The perfect blend of breathtaking vistas and rugged wilderness, the Rocky Mountains offer endless opportunity and inspiration for the plein air painter.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

MAKING WAVES • FOR LANA BALLOT, THE SEA IS A SUBJECT OF ENDLESS FASCINATION, INSPIRING DYNAMIC PAINTINGS FULL OF POWERFUL KINETIC EXPRESSION.

Rise and Shine • I often have to zoom into a wider scene to pick the most dynamic part of it. The wave I chose as the subject of this demo has a beautiful translucency, illuminating it from the inside. On Long Island, where I Iive, there’s a lot of green in the ocean water. Depending on the weather or the time of day, this green ranges from quite cool to glowing, golden greens.

Facing the Issues • Not only does Daggi Wallace weave narrative complexities into her portraits, but she also combines pastel with other media to create unique effects.

demonstration Still Listening

PASTEL PREFERENCES

LAND MEETS SEA • WELSH ARTIST GARETH JONES EXPLORES THE SHIFTING MOODS AND ENDLESSLY INSPIRING SPECTACLE OF THE COUNTRY’S RUGGED COASTLINE.

COMPOSITION, COLOR & MARKS: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

demonstration Aton Idwal Waterfall

THE ARTIST’S MATERIALS

PROJECTS MANAGED • Drawing on her project-management experience, Cindy Gillett applied considerable skills in goal-setting, process-planning and self-evaluation to chart a creative course for herself.

GOING DIGITAL

Many Happy Returns • A LOT CAN BE LEARNED BY RETURNING TO THE SAME LOCATION TO PAINT A SUBJECT MULTIPLE TIMES.

Ending on a Positive Note

Oh, the Places To Go (Again)

To Catch a Wave