Kathleen on Suede board
 

I have been enamored of this stuff I got at Joanne's craft stores. They are centers out of mats cut by the framing shop and are the sueded board. This is my second try done on a deep burgundy original board.

My pastels are Terry Ludwig. I met him recently an they are the sweetest sticks I have ever used for soft pastel. This material seems to feel like painting more than drawing. I do not like sanded boards, because I am cheap and have not been very generous with soft pastels for the same reason, but on this board, it lays where I put it, stays really rich and works like wide filbert brushes.

NOW, what are the drawbacks of it?

This is 17 x 11 inches.

Excellent portrait
 

Wow, what a powerful portrait! I love it! The colours are so strong.

I've got to get some of these pastels. My fingers are itching to try them. I hope they are available somewhere in Australia.

Terry is online.
 

They are handmade and he has shipped them internationally. I would suggest checking out his website. I know a few artists from another forum have ordered to OZ! I assume your shipping will be the hardest part, but he does package them well.

Not archival!
 

Debra,

To be brief, they are not acid free and will embrittle and fox like newspapers. There are so many wonderful substrates out there for pastel.

The only mats that are archival are the ones specifically manufactured as such. Only certain companies manufacture them and none are sueded.

Unless you are doing them just for fun and not for resale or commissions they are OK I guess.

I have started a thread just on pastels, materials, substrates, etc. There are some suggestions for pastel surfaces. www.dakotapastels.com has wonderful stuff.

The worst place to be cheap is in your materials, especially the substrate.

I would love you to comment on your experiences with the Ludwig Pastels on that thread .

Sincerely,