Sometimes you have to take charge of your own grays. I make them from easel tailings, and they are full of inclusions. You never know what you're going to get.
Essentially, I collect the tailings in a jar. Then, I wet the tailing dust with water, and roll till paste. Let dry overnight, or until room temperature.
Add white pigment or black to get a range of values. Later on, try using hues store bought as powder, the same as many painters do in order to make their own paints.
The essentials of making colored pastels are pigment, whiting, talc, and white pigment. Daniel Smith or other catalog stores will sell these. I have yet to use the Gum Trag. - haven't needed it.
Beautiful drawing, Casey - I love the soft, subtle color and the strong strokes here. Those do look like very useful gray pastels - my pastel dust is usually a cool greenish gray.
I like this a lot, Casey - kind of a quiet simplicity. Your homemade grays look like they must be very useful!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment, Donna!
ReplyDeleteI use the grays in every painting I do.
They look like such delicious purpley grays!
ReplyDeleteCasey, will you remind us how you turn your tailings into little blocks of color? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jala and Barbara! I'll write the answer this afternoon here.
ReplyDeleteCut and paste this URL, please.
ReplyDeletehttp://thecolorist.blogspot.com/2007/03/making-pastels-continued.html
Essentially, I collect the tailings in a jar. Then, I wet the tailing dust with water, and roll till paste. Let dry overnight, or until room temperature.
Add white pigment or black to get a range of values. Later on, try using hues store bought as powder, the same as many painters do in order to make their own paints.
The essentials of making colored pastels are pigment, whiting, talc, and white pigment. Daniel Smith or other catalog stores will sell these. I have yet to use the Gum Trag. - haven't needed it.
See this picture:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dZnmZ5QscKo/Rg6TFP23UGI/AAAAAAAAAyU/ZezifB_DU0Q/s1600-h/making+pastels+italy+pv+005.jpg
Beautiful drawing, Casey - I love the soft, subtle color and the strong strokes here. Those do look like very useful gray pastels - my pastel dust is usually a cool greenish gray.
ReplyDelete