Three Simple Tools You Can Use to Blend Pastels

'The Sea Beckons'              8x10         pastel        ©Karen Margulis
available $150

 I don't blend very often.....but when I do I only use the finest tools. 

a few simple and cheap blending tools

Not really!  I don't blend often... that part is true but when I do blend my pastels I use only the most simple, readily available and inexpensive tools!  My favorite tool is always HANDY. Sorry for the corniness but it makes it easy to remember that one of the best blending tools is actually your own palm and fingers. It is all in the technique. (video demo coming!)

Of course you can purchase blending tools of all kinds and I am sure they work great but I have had success with a few cheap tools that you may just have in your home. If not they are easy and inexpensive. Read on for the details!

Putting down the first layer of pastel

The first step in successful blending is to have enough pastel on the surface to blend. I like to blend the first layer of pastel to create an out of focus underpainting. In the photo above I have added pastel to create the first layer. I have used a light touch but there is still enough pastel to blend.

Using a piece of foam core to blend and suggest the sea oats

 TOOL #1  A small piece of foam core board. I used a scrap of foam core and cut it with a utility knife to make into small brush shaped tool. I used this tool to blend the grassy areas of the painting. I was able to pull up some pastel marks to suggest the beginning of some grasses and sea oats.
Tip: I get my foam core at the Dollar Tree. It isn't archival but it is surprisingly decent!

Using a piece of pipe insulation foam to blend the sky

 TOOL #2   My old favorite tool! Pipe insulation foam. I get this at any hardware store and cut it into small pieces. It is a great tool that doesn't shred on sanded paper and doesn't remove too much pastel. It can even be washed and reused!
Tip: use this tool like a brush. You can easily tear it and make thin and thick brush tips!

Using a wadded up piece of Viva paper towel to blend the sky

TOOL # 3  The artist's favorite paper towel brand! Good old VIVA paper towels work great for softening and blending. I used a wadded up piece of paper towel to soften and blend the colors in my clouds.  Viva is strong so it holds up to sanded paper and doesn't leave a trail of paper!

What other cheap blending tools do you use? Please feel free to share with us in the comments!

Painting notes: I used a piece of the YI CAI sanded paper and Terry Ludwig pastels.

Friday Fun....Let's Break the Rules!

'All Paths Lead to the Sea'             11x14         pastel         ©Karen Margulis
available $195

OK. So it's not really a rule. It's more like a recommendation. It is also a personal preference. But I have always been told NOT to do it. Blending pastels can be a polarizing issue. Should we blend or should we keep our fingers and tools away from the pastels? 

The first workshop I ever took was with Albert Handell. I know...you could say I was baptized by fire.  I was very new to pastel and I will never forget Albert admonishing us..."Touch it Not!"  I learned to let the pastels do the blending and never blend with my fingers or tools.  Over the years I've relaxed and will blend the first layer and occasional a sky or use a finger to soften an edge. But I still never do much more than that.  

It was time to try breaking my own self imposed rule and blend away! By the way there are some very good reasons to avoid too much blending and I will address them in another post. But this weekend let's have some fun and blend our pastels!

Some blending tools...pipe insulation foam, foamcore, viva paper towel, rag

 Today's painting involved a lot of blending. I used my palm and some tools to blend. I began by blending the first layer and softly blended each subsequent layer. I was trying to get a soft and dreamy look to my painting. In tomorrow's post I will show you the tools in more detail. Below you can see the progress shots.

Blocking in the first layer on Canson Mi-Teintes moonstone

 I decided to work on Canson Mi-Teintes paper in the Moonstone color. I knew the unsanded paper would be easier on my fingers than sanded paper. I blocked in the painting with soft pastels (Terry Ludwig) The used a piece of pipe insulation foam to blend in the first layer.

Nicely blended

Next I worked on the sky. I blended it several times to get the sky clam and the clouds wispy.

Start with the sky

As the painting developed I added layers of gold and green rubbing in each layer until I got to the finishing marks. I couldn't resist adding a few grass marks on top of the blended areas. I am going to try another painting that I leave completely blended and see how I like it. It's all about trying new things and having fun!

Almost there!

Finished....then made corrections to the foreground grasses

YOUR TURN!  If you are not usually much of a blender you have permission this weekend to break your rule and blend away!  If you do a lot of blending try NOT blending to see what happens. :)