Pastel is a graphic and pictorial technique in which colored crayons or rimless pencils are used to create works of art. Pastel is a unique technique of art. It has in common with graphics the use of lines and shading in the process of painting, and with painting - a wide variety of expressive possibilities.
Pastels of most varieties are made by pressing. The basis for its production is a coloring pigment and a binder. Depending on the chemical composition and properties, there are 4 main types of pastel:
• dry,
• oil,
• wax,
• watercolor.
Dry pastel is further divided into several subspecies:
• hard,
• soft,
• ultra soft.
The pastel drawing technique requires the artist to have good professional skills and careful handling of the material. Currently, special paper or cardboard is used to create paintings, much less often - canvas. With crayons, the master draws the main lines and strokes, and with his fingertips he performs shading - he skillfully creates soft tonal transitions and elements of chiaroscuro on the surface of the picture.
Article author: Polina Buber