Pastel notes

No pictures this post. This is sort of a primer for an upcoming workshop with pastels: Some thoughts to mull over ahead of time so the concepts will be splashing in the shallow end of the pool before we dive into the deep end this weekend.

 I like to emphasize the "non-negotiable" things...things that apply to good picture making in any style or medium (I've googled some of the participants work and they know their way around a stick of pastel).

 To those already considerable skill sets I want to add plein air seeing skills, streamlined ergonomics and good composition. So....here are a few things to dwell on:

1. VALUE IS KING: There are a thousand books with titles to the effect: "Fill Your ________With Light", "Light in the _________" , etc. The one and only trick to getting a convincing sense of ANY  lighting situation is getting the value relationships between major areas correct.

2. The trick to THAT is forming a simple habit: NEVER LOOK AT ANYTHING IN ISOLATION. Don't worry if that doesn't make sense yet. I'll be beating the concept like a rented mule during the workshop.

3. There is a hierarchy to "visual language". In descending order:

     POSITION 

     SIZE

     SHAPE

     COLOR

4. Color has a hierarchy too. Again, in descending order:

    VALUE (see #1)

     CHROMA

     HUE BIAS ( the new and improved "warm and cool")

Again, if that doesn't make sense yet the demos will be geared to illustrate it.

Now...for some pastel-specific things:

1. UNWRAP YOU STICKS AND BREAK THEM INTO SHORTER PIECES if you haven't already 

2. PRE-ORGANIZE YOUR BOX SO GREENS ARE WITH GREENS, BLUES WITH BLUES, NEUTRALS WITH NEUTRALS, ETC. Don't work with a box of "fruit salad". This one thing can double your painting speed, increase your color accuracy, decrease your frustration level...everything but tone your abs.

3. PASTEL MAKES 2 KINDS OF MARK:

    Ragged lines of various width  

                     OR

    Soft blurry areas of color

    SEE A SUBJECT IN THOSE TERMS 

4. No matter how big your selection is, you never have THE color. But...you CAN get THE RELATIONSHIP or very close to it (see #2, both of them) . This will get you the look of the light.