Pastels - out of business?

[Mike McCarty]

To me oil is more like riding a bike, while pastels are more like flying a plane. You have to do it often to stay proficient. This may just be a personal thing.

Chris,

Do you share my belief that pastels are at least as difficult as oils and are much less forgiving.

I know that each medium heads toward the same goal and with the same results in mind. We use edges, color, blah, blah to reach the same conclusions, but after that, they are so completely different. It's like comparing the skills needed to fly a plane compared to those needed to sail a ship. Each may have the same destination in mind, but that's about it. I know some people's circumstance and capacity may be such that they can excel at both, but for me I think I'm going to drop this one off.

To quote Michael Carleone - "It's just business Sonny, it's not personal."

[Chris Saper]

Do you share my belief that pastels are at least as difficult as oils and are much less forgiving.

Well, kind of.

I think pastels are (for me) easier, at least in the way that I do them. However, there is no way I can manage the medium and do what I want to be working on in my portraits - more subtlety and control in color and value transitions, etc. So if I tried to work on subtlety (and as you know subtlety is just not my long suit in any regard) in pastel I would be frustrated, and just unable to accomplish it.

I think oil is wonderfully versatile and forgiving, and that's where I want to be.

[Mike McCarty]

I understand completely.

Also, It is my impression that the prices of oils and pastels only begin to merge at the very highest levels.

[Linda Nelson]

For the same reasons you cite for pastels. I have really de-emphasized offering work done in watercolor. I haven't done a watercolor in almost a year.

[Elizabeth Schott]

So Mike have you convinced yourself yet?

[Mike McCarty]

So Mike have you convinced yourself yet?

I was already convinced, I just wondered if others had come to similar conclusions.

[Michele Rushworth]

I only offer portraits in oils, for all the same reasons you mention, Mike.