Sennelier Pastels - Basic Colors for Portraiture

Darla Dixon · 05-26-2002, 09:04 AM

I'm hoping someone here has some experience with pastels, and could recommend a basic list of colors for beginning with them in portraits.

I bought the Portrait Highlights publication from American Artist, and if you have it, see the article on page 52 by Andrew Manry Kenyon. He says he uses a 525-piece set of pastels by Sennelier.

I really like his portraits, and I think that these pastels they would be a nice fit with my style.

What I can't figure out is, are these oil pastels or the dry pastels? Looks like dry, looking at the pictures, but not sure.

Since I can't afford to start out with 525 pieces of something I've never worked with, I hope someone could give me a basic list of Sennelier colors necessary to begin.

Chris Saper · 05-26-2002, 07:14 PM

Hi Darla,

See my post under Painter's palettes, Pastel Palettes. Good luck, Chris

Tom Martinez · 05-26-2002, 10:58 PM

Darla you may be in luck... Blick Studio catalog has a sale on Sennelier pastels. There is a portrait set of 48 colors for $74.98. The item no. is K20036-1109 on page 44 of the Blick Studio Summer Catalog. They have been marked down from a list price of 159.95.
Darla, these are very soft pastels. You may want to start with hard pastels, then work into soft pastels as your portrait develops and there is less tooth to your paper. Some artists start their piece with pastel pencils, then hard pastels, then soft pastels and then softer pastels like Sennelier. You may get some help from the Southeastern Pastel Society that is sitting in your back yard around Atlanta. Contact: Mikki Dillon at [email protected] or 662 Dorsey Circle, Lilburn, GA 30047-4037.

Chris Saper · 05-26-2002, 11:12 PM

Darla,

The Senneliers are very buttery and soft (similar to Schminkes), and you need a variety of hardness. The Rembrandts are a middle of the road, good quality pastel. Try out a few different mfg. by the stick, if you can, to see what you like.

Catalogues will always give you the best prices.

Chris

Darla Dixon · 05-27-2002, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the great advice! I read some more on pastels, and decided to start with the Grumbacher small set, then go into the softer pastels like Sennelier as the pictures progress.

I'll use some family members as my guinea pigs

Thanks Tom for the Southeastern Portrait Society info. I emailed Mikki.

Thanks so much!

Karin Wells · 05-27-2002, 09:44 PM

I heard about some pastels that come wet in jars and you mix your own...

Does anyone know about this? Where can I read up on this product and where can I find them?

Chris Saper · 05-27-2002, 10:30 PM

Hi Karin,

Yes, Kitty Wallis makes it (see http://www.dakotapastels.com/pigsfix_wallis.shtml)Actually it is a moist paste, not really wet, and comes in jars.

I have taken a pastel making workshop with Patricia Buck Hamilton. It was great fun, but I don't think it is for everyone. Unless you are doing it with a group, or will be using the pastels often yourself, it is an expensive venture. It is also one of the messiest projects you can imagine!

There are pastellists who absolutely swear by it, and who very much enjoy the process...I just feel that there are companies whose only purpose is to make high quality products and I like that!

As you may know though, I would walk through fire for Kitty's sanded pastel paper. It has revolutionized pastel painting.

Chris

06-04-2002, 11:19 PM

Speaking of hardness, is there an oil pastel that has some hardness to it? I go through sticks very quickly, part of the problem is that I'm constantly wearing down edges to get a fine tip for details. The brand I mostly use is the Portfolio Series, any suggestions? I was under the understanding that Rembrant is not an oil pastel thus I never took the time to use it. Please correct me in this if I am wrong. I do need a harder oil pastel if there is one.

Chris Saper · 06-05-2002, 12:06 AM

Dear William,

Yes, the Rembrandts, as well as the Senneliers Schminkes, NuPastels, Grumbachers and Unisons are all soft pastels. I have never used oil pastels, so cannot advise you. I recall seeing a recent article on oil pastels, either in Artist's or American Artist magazine...you might look into it.

Best wishes, Chris

Darla Dixon · 06-05-2002, 07:52 AM

Update: my Grumbacher portrait color set arrived from Misterart.com (YAY!) I had also ordered some Canson Mi-Tientes paper in Sand, Moonstone, etc...so far I have just experimented and made some very odd artworks for me...that's broadening my scope a bit. After doing so much work in pencil, the colors are really vibrant and exciting. I have had many moments of frustration, mostly because I am used to having the control like I have with my mechanical pencil and lead holders! (control freak). I would type out a transcript of what happened and my mutterings, but it's not suitable for the internet.

I did manage to complete a halfway decent still life of some apples in a basket. Earth shattering theme, I know haha! Have a great day, everyone!