Harvest Moon, 12 x 12 Pastelbord
Last weekend I decided to experiment with washed off Pastelbord. One of the things I like about the surface is that it can be reused. However, I find that once washed off, it’s too smooth and has lost some of its tooth. My solution has normally been to add one or two coats of Art Spectrum liquid primer, either toned or clear. But this really changes the surface to something completely different. So I decided to try spraying the surface with Krylon workable fixative. I gave it a good spray outside and let it dry, then started playing. I found that the surface was quite “hard” and that hard pastels wouldn’t do much on it. So I decided to experiment in another way: do a painting completely with my four boxes of Blue Earth pastels (blue, cerulean, orange, and yellow). The buttery consisency of these pastels worked quite nicely on the hard surface and I was able to apply a number of layers. (I did resort to Giraults for the small tree branches.) I have MANY used boards sitting around ready to be reused! I’ll probably put gel on some and try the spray again on others. It’s definitely not a perfect solution. Another issue regarding Pastelbord: I have noticed that the surface of the gray 12 x 12 boards seems to have less density than the white 16 x 20s. Has anyone else noticed this difference? (This painting will probably end up in the sink as well! It’s based on a remarkable photo of a huge rising moon in Easton, MD that I took years ago.)
I like the painting! Pastelbord is my favorite surface, however, it seems to lose tooth quite easily. I, too, have some used boards sitting around. I have the Art Spectrum primer used by Jean but have not yet tried it. I may also try the spray. What we need is a magical solution or to be perfect painters without ever an error! I wish 🙂 The primer I bought is white but the spray will not cover what is on the surface. Jean, did you do an underpainting over the sprayed surface?
Thanks Margaret. I won’t wash it off just yet! For this board, I was able to get rid of much of the earlier image (a fog scene). However, if the remaining image is too strong, the solid colored gel is definitely better. The spray doesn’t do it and the image can be distracting. And there isn’t enough tooth for an underpainting, I don’t think. That’s why I just went in with the soft pastels and had a good time!
Thanks Jean for the additional information.
Jean I believe that Golden has a pastel primer have you tried it? May be slightly different than Art Spectrum?
Catherine–Golden is actually the first gel I used–what Susan Ogilvie uses. I didn’t think that it had enough grit and, in general, I really prefer the Art Spectrum. But it’s all very personal and all worth trying.
Hi, I am considering trying pastels again after a clunky start a few years ago. Can I ask, when you use pastelbord, do you need to frame the piece in glass afterward, or can you exhibit it just in a regular frame? I have heard that with pastel on paper it’s necessary to you use glass in exhibitions so that the pastel won’t smear or blow away, and I’m wondering if maybe it’s different with pastelbord. I am looking to avoid glass framing and have been admiring many of the beautiful pastel portraits from early 20th century illustration.
Lisa–I’m afraid that Pastelbord is no different from any other surface when it comes to using glass. It’s not about the surface, but about the pastel, which never hardens like oil. It needs to be protected, not only from hands, but also from dust and dirt, which could never be brushed off. I’ve heard that there is a new expensive plexiglass for pastel, which would be useful for very large (heavy) pieces. And in the past, people have tried to use sprays or laquers to cover the pastel. But it kills the overall effect. Oil pastel might be the better alternative, if glass if really an issue, as I believe that that hardens. Sorry!
Thank you so much for your helpful response! Have a wonderful day.
Lisa