Pastels - Substrates, Methods, Materials and Conservation

[Virgil Elliott]

Melissa,

Normal museum lighting for pastels is a fairly dark room. That is the context of the information on the Rembrandt Pastels web site. Test them yourself by putting sample swatches on a pastel board and place them in a window in direct sun, with half of each swatch covered by a black mask. Check them every few days, comparing the covered half with the exposed half. It's a simple enough thing to do, and it will clear up all the confusion, and you won't have to rely on what anyone else has said. Do it with every color you're considering using, and then decide which ones to use after they've been in the sun for a year.


Virgil Elliott

[Chris Saper]

Melissa, et al,

Wende is a strong painter in her own right. I would never assume that she sprays, or does anything else, without asking her.

In this and in (at least what I have learned) most things, there aren't absolutes about right and wrong. It's much more about what works for you.

Virgil,

I would love to visit your studio in California to see your test panels, but unfortunately I'm several miles away in the great white north of Canada. (But then again it would be warmer down there ) It has been interesting in what you have found in the longevity of pastels.

Chris,

I can't agree with you more that Wende is a strong painter in her own right and an absolutely great pastel portrait artist. I try to read an instructional art book from front to back and to learn as much as I can about pastels or drawing. When I read her opinions on why she doesn't use fixative (which is mentioned a couple of times in her book) this had confused me with how other artists have approached this issue. I also was reading a pastel instruction book by Paul Leveille who believes in spraying his artwork.

I had sprayed a pastel drawing I was working on (before I read Wende's book) but after I had read her comments I thought I might've damaged my painting. I was actually relieved to hear that several other artists have sprayed their work too. I have the utmost respect for Wende and any other professional artist who has had the experience and expertise in their chosen medium. Yes, there is no right or wrong.

Sharon, you and many others on this Forum have been a great help to me and to others I'm sure.

BTW, I had a glass of wine and watched the opening night of Celine Dion in Las Vegas. Fascinating!

[Julie Deane]

I read these posts with interest and found that there is still no new info from the ASTM as of this week.

I also found a good link from the Cape Cod Pastel Society:

http://www.capecodpastelsociety.com/conservation.html

[Virgil Elliott]

Originally Posted by Julie Deane

I read these posts with interest and found that there is still no new info from the ASTM as of this week.

I also found a good link from the Cape Cod Pastel Society:

http://www.capecodpastelsociety.com/conservation.html

Julie,

We (ASTM Subcommittee on Artists' Paints and Materials, D01.57) are working on the proposed pastel standard right now, which is currently in its sixth draft. It will be discussed at the ASTM meeting in Chicago on April 13. We would appreciate the participation of representatives of pastel societies at this meeting, and I expect to see some of them there. The venue is Navy Pier, where the NAMTA convention will be held. Contact me or Mark Gottsegen if you would like to attend, so we can put your name on the list for admission to the convention hall. My e-mail: [email protected].

Virgil Elliott

[Julie Deane]

Thanks, Virgil for the update. Won't be able to attend, but would look forward to hearing what is decided.