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.

Time to Declare

The Pastel Journal

Artwork in the First Degree • A mother-daughter team puts pastels to paper with courtroom illustrations.

An Intimate Glimpse • Edgar Degas presents a scene from the boudoir with realism balanced by delicacy and finesse.

Is My Painting Working? • You've worked hard, put in many hours, taken a slew of classes and therefore should have the necessary tools to determine whether or not your artwork has merit. When it comes to critiquing our own work, however, we can be especially severe. Before you release a painting into the world, take a step back and—with emotional detachment—use Karin Richter's handy checklist to evaluate it.

Budget Boosters • Six notable pastelists offer their favorite tips for making every penny count in the studio.

Navigating Trouble Zones • Marla Baggetta shares her strategies for kicking common bad habits that create road blocks in the painting process.

PORTRAITIST OF THE SOUL • VLADIMIR ZLOTSKIY CAPTURES THE CHARACTER OF HIS SUBJECTS IN PORTRAITS THAT PRACTICALLY BREATHE WITH LIFE.

5 Lessons to Last a Lifetime

The Sound of Music

PLUNGING INTO THE DEPTHS • DRAWING ON HER PROFOUND CONNECTION TO THE SEA, ELENA DEGENHARDT CREATES WATERY IMAGES CHARGED WITH EMOTIONAL TRUTHS.

Vive Les Pastels! • PASTELS PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN AN EXHIBITION OF 19TH-CENTURY FRENCH DRAWINGS AT THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART.

In the Wilds With Realism • SANDRA BARTELS CREATES EMOTIVE, LIFELIKE WILDLIFE PASTELS THAT BOTH CAPTIVATE AND CONNECT.

INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION

DEMONSTRATION: PAINT A ROBIN

great beginnings • THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BEGIN A PASTEL PAINTING. I FIND THIS VERSATILITY TO BE ONE OF THE MEDIUM'S MAIN ATTRACTIONS. FOR ME, A WET PASTEL UNDERPAINTING IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO MAKE A GREAT START. HERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU CAN TRY.

demonstration Gentle Stroll

Making a Mark • Although the argument over whether to refer to pastels as drawings or paintings may never be settled, there's one point upon which all can agree: The pastel universe is a great place to go looking for “strokes of genius.” It's no surprise, therefore, to find the medium well represented among the 100+ finalists in the 14th annual Strokes of Genius competition, a contest that celebrates the best work being done in a range of drawing media—from graphite and ink to charcoal and colored pencil. Here, we are delighted fo share nine pasfels that were selected for recognition in this juried contest.

Stop-the-Car Moments