Tuesday, June 1, 2010

New Grays





 Homemade New Grays

I have been making new pastel sticks. These are mostly from easel tailings that I collect over time and reconstitute with water.  I make tints by adding white, and I also stretch the recipe with whiting. What results are grays made just to my own liking. Next, I will be manufacturing pure hues from fresh pigments.

15 comments:

Melanie Statnick said...

I have read about how to do this in my pastel books. This is great to see. Your colours of creation, are wonderful. way to Go Green.

Cheers

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks for commenting, Melanie!

Sandy Byers said...

Thank you for this bit of inspiration, Casey. Your colors look yummy!

Casey Klahn said...

Hey, Sandy! Thanks for commenting, too.

Sara Mathewson said...

Oooh these are yummy!

So when you make the ones with fresh pigments i am wondering where you ordered your supplies from? like the whiting is it chalk?

I have read lots of articles about this and Brenda Boylan has a "how to" on her blog. But it is nice to get other peoples recipes and places to buy from:)

I like the form of these too. Lots of nice edges and a good shape to hold.

Sara

Casey Klahn said...

Hi, Sara. Whiting is calcium carbonate. I get mine from Daniel Smith.

When I make colors, I use pigment from any retailer, and from DS I get whiting, French Talc and (haven't had to use it yet) Gum Trag.

Also, I use white pigment and lamp black pigment. Then, when reconstituting sticks I will use bits from the palette and tailings.

My posts on making pastels are hit several times every day, but I find them lacking. I am working on doing the whole posts over, but drawing the process in graphite. I think it would function better than photos.

Sara Mathewson said...

Thank-you Casey for describing everything to me. I will write it down. i have some trouble with my short term memory from some minor brain injuries so if I don't write it down now i will forget everything you said by tomorrow! LOL! thanks goodness for little notebooks:)

have a great day! Can't wait to see what you do with the pure pigments!

Brenda Boylan said...

Just found your blog, how could I have not known? Nice to see my name posted here...seems we get around...(Beach Boy's song ringing in my ears). The best pastels in my palette are the very kind you describe here. They offer such unique and one-of-a-kind colors! Like the handy shape you made them! Will have to try that next time.

Casey Klahn said...

Hi, Brenda! This is where I blog about the medium.

Now that I've been using this set for a while, I have a better idea of where I want to go with the next few I make.

loriann signori said...

Love these little sticks. I will have to try the whiting method. Thanks for sharing!

Casey Klahn said...

Thanks for getting to Pastel, Loriann - and for all your remarks.

Cmichaudart said...

I haave tried this by mixing with water...wonderful color but ver delicate sticks,,,do you use a binder? i onlt use what i sweet uo off my easel...

Casey Klahn said...

The easel tailings have the binder - I only suffer @ 5% too delicate. I almost never use binder even in my pigment pastels that I make from scratch. So far, so good.

Cmichaudart said...

thanks, that is what i'd hoped you'd say....i'll keep experimenting. i appreciate the quick answer!

Cmichaudart said...

One more ?: where did you get the email subscribe gadget for the blog?