A Simple Way To Recycle Pastel Paper

'Two Against One'                    8x10                   pastel               ©Karen Margulis

I knew I wanted lots of texture. I had a painting idea but I didn't have the right surface to make it work. I had a stockpile of textured boards that I had made myself with pumice and gesso but they were gone. I needed to make more. I didn't have any pumice though.

I had another idea so I turned up the music and got to work. I took out my bottle of Liquitex Clear Gesso, a gesso brush and a bottle of purple Golden fluid acrylic paint. The clear gesso has just enough grit to add texture to a surface. It would be perfect to cover up some old (bad) paintings. I had several of these duds done on Pastelbord that I have been wanting to recycle.

clear gesso and liquid acrylic paint

 The clear gesso is colorless so I decide to tint it with some fluid acrylic paint. I choose a deep purple. It was a great choice. The purple mixed with the pastel pigment on the boards and made a wonderful collection of dull middle value toned surfaces. On some of them you can still see ghost images of the previous paintings. I can't wait to use them!  I had enough purple gesso so I coated some old paintings sone on Uart and mat board as well.

The recycled papers and boards

Once the newly recycled boards were dry I got to wok on my painting. I was in the mood for a snow scene. I revisited my Chicago photos and found one that spoke to me.  Below is the preliminary sketch. I played with the umbrella color. I tried yellow first but it was too predictable. Next I tried coral and that made me happy.  When I was satisfied with the details I added some shaved pastel snow dust. The dull purple of the new surface was perfect for my painting.

detail of the figures