Pastel closeout on legendary Robert Doaks!

Sharon Knettell · 01-31-2005, 04:57 PM

Hi pastel mavens,

I had heard about Robert Doak and his fabulous pastels and other art supplies here and there. He is hard to locate as he does not have a web site and does not need one. He makes premiere art supplies for elite artists. The biggies use him.

He made a large order for a pastel society and they reneged on the deal. He has a lot of beautiful pastels available, especially in portrait colors. They are sequenced in 10 tones, instead of the usual 5-6 so you get all the nuances. As a matter of fact, all his colors are sequenced in 10 shades. They are very velvety.

They are pure pigments, no fillers. He usually only does custom orders, but he has quite a few colors on hand now. He has no charts but he will make up portrait sets of the usual red ochres, yellow ochres, he is familiar with what is needed because he works with the best.

The price is $100 for 50-55 colors. $100 minimum. They are handmade so they vary in size and it depend on the size if there will be 50 or 55. They usually retail for about $6. ea..

He will make up sets of sequenced blues, greens etc, but you have to buy a minimum of $100.

As I said his quality is legendary in paints, canvas and other supplies for the professional.

To reach Robert Doak:
Call 1 718-237-1210 or 237-0146
Or email [email protected]

The more you buy the cheaper each stick is.

Mary Sparrow · 01-31-2005, 06:59 PM

Thanks Sharon, I saw your PM before I saw this post.

Laura B. Shelley · 02-01-2005, 12:16 AM

I've heard of Doaks, but I haven't seen those pastels discussed very much, so I'm ignorant of their qualities. Hey, a new pastel brand to experiment with? Not a problem.

I've just been on a pastel-making jag with my Wallis pigment doughs and an assortment of dry earth colors. I now have several dozen new sticks made in a flat triangular shape that I like very much. I may crush down and re-make some of my older sticks in that form.

Mary Sparrow · 02-01-2005, 11:27 AM

Oh My Sharon! I just got off the phone with Mr. Doak.

I have NO idea what I just ordered LOL!

You are right, he is quite the character. He didn't particularly care for the fact that I use La Carte and Wallis, and is sending me all sorts of pumice and glue and tints and who knows what else??? He told me to use illustration board, or matt board or homosote from the lumber yard??

All I wanted was to try them, but I think I ordered 150 of them. I didn't spend six hours but he did bend my ear for over an hour.

I can't wait to see what I got!

Mary Sparrow · 02-03-2005, 02:57 PM

When you warn us to stick with the pastels..what else does he have?Oil paints?

I figured from what he is sending me for the price he quoted they are going to be 1.69 each. He said he usually charges 6-8 dollars each, is that true?

I figure even if I don't LOVE them, for that price I will have a nice even range of skin tones for less than anything else decent I could buy.

Elizabeth Schott · 02-03-2005, 03:44 PM

Sharon do you know how long this will last?

He hasn't returned my email, but I am guessing he just doesn't check his messages all the time.

Mary Sparrow · 02-08-2005, 06:22 PM

Sharon,
Good news and bad News here too.. I couldn't resist opening and seeing what he sent, and you are right, repacking that pile of saw dust would be a pain.

I was happier than I expected to be after your post, I got 150 pastels, and comparing it with what I currently have...which is not one full set of anything, I definately have more portrait skin colors to work with than I would if I only bought a couple of smaller "portrait" sets from unison or G.A. etc and spent the same amount or less money. So I am not going to worry about it. You may have opened my box and been upset by the "mish mash" but it was a definate improvement for me.

I am a little irritated on one end, I feel he sent me way too many greens, especially since I asked for some browns and got NONE!

As for the rest, It will be fun to experiment. I have a birthday coming up in a couple of months so I am going to aim for the full set of GA's then.

Jimmie Arroyo · 02-15-2005, 01:22 AM

I went into Brooklyn this morning and bought a nice batch of colors. I was'nt planning on buying many portrait colors, but many looked too good not to pick up. I got two each of the ones that I felt I would use more often. I went mainly for blues and am very happy with his selection. His purples are beautiful also.

He's a man that definitely loves his work. You can see the dedication in him. Willing to answer every question and then some. Taking his time to pack up each piece and making sure they were safe on my way home.

Here's a pic of the ones I bought, about 120. Took so much time taking them out of the saw dust filled boxes, I'm not gonna get the chance to try them out tonight. Hopefully tomorrow!

Mary Sparrow · 02-15-2005, 07:26 AM

Jimmie, I am jealous I didn't get to go with you. I'm curious to see what you think, I used them once on a small head and liked them. I especially liked, and am SURE you will too, the thin ones. They felt more like a drawing instrument than a big awkward clump of stuff.

Where did you get those trays? I made the mistake of opening those boxes in the middle of my formal dining room.

Jimmie Arroyo · 02-15-2005, 12:17 PM

I did get the chance to try them last night after all. I had noticed it was only 12:30am and figured I can at least put in one hour. The few I used went on nicely and look good, very rich.

The trays are actually the reverse side of frames from IKEA. They are deep enough to stack without touching the pastels. I'm not keeping them as I still need to eventually use the frames, but it gave me an idea on building my own if I ever needed them.

He was pulling out drawer by drawer (eye candy), wish I could have one of each, but I was bummed out at the very few reds that were available. He was almost completely out of reds and oranges. I was unaware at how few reds were made to begin with. He said he mainly carries reds in the rose family because the more beautiful pure red powders turn to 'concrete' when made into a pastel stick. He advised to buy the red powdered pigment and brush or smudge on the color.

I will keep you guys posted on my results with them, and can't wait to start my next one where my model is wearing a purple sweater.