'Storm Along the Turquoise Trail' 3.5 x 3.5 pastel ©Karen Margulis available in my Etsy shop $40 |
I was introduced to this method by a student who also works at a frame shop. She has a pastel artist customer who told her about using clear gesso on paper or boards. The clear gesso alone makes a wonderful surface. I tried it on these two small paintings.
'The View Towards Abiquiu' 3.5 x 3.5 pastel available in my Etsy shop $40 |
I am very happy with the amount of tooth that the clear gesso provides. I don't think I'd want it any rougher but I could add some pumice if I wanted to. I could also tint the gesso with liquid acrylics if I wanted toned supports. But that would defeat the purpose of quick and easy!
Making my own pastel surface |
3 comments:
this is very interesting - I've tried pastels in the past but only on pastel paper (Daler Rowney) and I don't find that surface very satisfying to work on - pastel supports aren't that easy to find - they don't seem to stock them in most art supplies shops, so this is definitely something to try and may get me into pastels again!
I have tried preparing my own pastel paper before, but I was never happy with the results and it was such a pain. I will have to give your technique a try. Thanks!
I use scrap museum rag matboard primed with clear Colourfix primer and love it! I also use clear or colored Colourfix on BFK Rives. The paper does warp but I have had luck mounting it on board first. Last time they were out of clear Colourfix so I bought the Golden pastel grounds... Haven't tried it yet!
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