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Friday, February 15, 2013

Friday Feature...The Secret Formula for Homemade Pastel Surfaces

'Winter Aspens'          8x10        pastel       ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase
 It has been a fun week in my studio. I've been making a mess trying several recipes for homemade pastel surfaces. I really enjoy painting on a homemade surface....the texture and the excitement of the random brushstrokes make it fun to work on.   I love the control I have over the outcome when I make these surfaces. I can have smooth or canvas like marks or rough and crazy marks!  But I don't enjoy taking the time to prepare them....or the mess.

Ingredients for a homemade pastel surface...pumice and gesso
I have a solution!  I was so excited to discover that clear gesso makes an excellent ground for pastel. Right out of the jar....no mess, no fuss and with the benefits of other homemade surfaces.

The secret formula!  Clear Gesso 
I'll be talking about using clear gesso for pastels on today's Friday Feature You Tube video. I'd love for you to tune in for more information. If you would like to comment after the video with your email I'll send you a handout with the recipes for the pastel surfaces I've experimented with!

27 comments:

Paula Campbell said...

Nice, Karen! I'd love your recipes. Heidi created some interest in the background! ;)

Louise said...

Karen - I tried this once before and it didn't post. Could you please send me the recipes? I'd love to try them. I love your blog.
Louise

sackett.louise@gmail.com

Dorothy said...

Thank you, Karen! I have been reluctant to prepare my own grounds because of the mess involved, but just one product? THAT I am willing to try! By the way, I love the painting you did on this blog post (as well as yesterdays's...from the "bad photo".)

Karen said...

Thank you all for the comments. Let me know if you have problems receiving the recipe file! Dorothy! I agree with you and hope you enjoy the clear gesso!

Alex said...

Thanks for sharing Karen. I read your blog daily and this is right up my alley.
I'd love to have your recipes.
Alex

Karen said...

Hi Alex I'll be happy to send the recipes. Do you mind giving me your email. Thanks!

Maine Gardens said...

I've been hesitant to try new surfaces - I usually use Kitty Wallis paper. But I think I am ready to branch out. I really look forward to your posts and the help I'm getting from them. I'll try the next step if you'll send the recipes.
Fran
ftownsend0908@gamil.com

Karen said...

Fran, I tried to send the recipes but it came back to me. Is the email address correct?

Unknown said...

Another great presentation!

Marie Marfia said...

Love your blog. You always seem to post just what I need to jumpstart my work for the day. Please send me the recipe handout. marfia8@gmail.com

Thanks!

Beena said...

I will definitely have to try this at some point. Given that it is clear, the color of the surface below will still show through...a big added bonus! ( I do so like my colored surfaces! )
Great tip, great video! And I was laughing about your adorable dog again, puttering around in the background...not distracting, just too cute!
One question...what is the drying time (roughly) with this product, say per coat on a piece of mat board?

chris a said...

I really enjoy your blog and have learned so much. I would love to receive your recipes. Thank you so much!

Karen said...

Thanks Christina, send e your email and I'll get the recipes right to you! Thank you for following my blog!

Karen said...

Thanks Christina, send e your email and I'll get the recipes right to you! Thank you for following my blog!

Karen said...

Thank you Beena! I really appreciate your feedback! It depends on the weather but I would say it takes less than 30 minutes to dry!

Anonymous said...

Clear gesso is on my shopping list. :) Looking forward to trying it. You have another great snow painting, I like the colors in the distance, reminds me of a sunset.

LauraGee said...

Great, so helpful Karen, thanks! I really enjoyed and learned a lot. Look forward to the recipes

Karen said...

Laura, send me your email and I'll get the recipes right out to you!

Ell said...

Great video. I'd love to try some of your recipes for homemade surfaces. I think it would give me more options and greater versatility for my pastel paintings. Please send me your recipes.

Karen said...

Thanks Eli! Please send me your email and I will get the recipes to you!

Sandi Graham Pastels said...

I bought some clear gesso ,had lots of mat board from cutting mats and I tried a small painting and it worked great.
I have a blog pastelpaintercooksblogspot.com
Be interested in what you think,thanks .
Sandi

Anonymous said...

Great idea about Clear gesso over failed watercolor paintings. I just put down opaque liquid gesso on a painting. Its now ready for new work. I would love to recieve a copy of the pdf mentioned in this video. Keep up the great work. Susan M

susan.m1911@cinci.rr.com

Claudia Finn said...

Wow I love the storehouse of knowledge you share, please send me your recipe info.

Unknown said...

Please send me the recipes you have used. Also did you have to add anything to the clear gesso? Thanks for the info.

Karen said...

Claudia, please email me with your email address. kemstudios@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

This is great. I've been working on two rocking horses for babies in the family and I need a clear Gesso to prime the wood before painting so I can cover up all my mistakes with the paint. Since these are not small I need a good gallon of gesso to accomplish that and at $5.90 a pint that gets a little pricey. So I really, really need this recipe. I've looked at all the gesso recipes but they mostly involve heating the glue to a low heat which can be real touchy to get it exactly right and not ruin the adhesion properties. So please please send me your formula.
I love your paintings even through the video it feels like you can almost reach out and touch the mountains and trees.

Karen said...

Beverly if you see this I need your email address to send you the recipes. Blogger hides it when you post! Thanks!!