What's a Pastel?
Think you might want to know more about how those beautiful, vivid, pastel paintings are done? OVA is sponsoring a free, beginning discussion on the art medium of dry pastel on Saturday, July 25 from 2-4 pm at First Gallery Olathe, 12755 B12 Murlen Rd.
Pastel was the medium of choice for many of the great masters... Degas' ballerinas, Morrisot's beautiful children. Today, there are art associations and shows just for pastel artists, and many professional artists who work only in pastel. The Gallery will have a collection of Pastels for display for the weekend. So plan on some extra time to enjoy the paintings.
This short workshop was originally scheduled in April, but Covid intervened. Masks required and distancing will be enforced while you are in the Gallery. Only 10 reservations will be accepted. We will start with a short history, the different types of pastel and how they are made. We'll talk about the tools a pastel artist uses, and the types of papers available. Then you will get to try the different brands and types of soft and hard pastels and get to take home a few samples. Although the workshop is free, we would ask non-OVA visitors for a small donation for the Gallery. Contact me at [email protected] if you have questions, or would like to reserve your space.
Oooh, New Art Stuff!!
I have come to the conclusion I am worse than my husband and his collection of fly-fishing flies, when it comes to new art products. And Jerry’s Artarama emails are the sticky flypaper… Gotcha!! “75% off and free delivery if you spend $45”. Well, who wouldn’t be able to spend that much. “Here’s a gift card for being a loyal customer”. “ Shop these new products and try out some for as little as $1.25!”
I have to admit, I haven’t spent full price for my basic supplies in a long time and have gotten to know some really great products, recently introduce to artist. My newest finds are just plain cool!
How about a handheld mini vacuum to run over your work area to pick up erasure pieces, graphite or pastel powder and dust, sharpener residue, little scraps of paper, and spilled sprinkles that fell off your chocolate donut. It’s rechargeable with a cord, and simple to empty. Marked down to $13.49. Can hardly wait for it to get here and am already wishing I had two.
And then! Yup, there is more. Jerry’s showed me a pencil/pastel sharpening tool with a steel grinder/sander plate like a rasp. It has a cup for catching the residue and a clip for attaching to my pastel easel or drawing board. So, I will not only have sharp points without digging up a sharpener for a quick twist, but I will be able to save the dust from sharpening my hard pastels to a nice edge to make new pastels, and even have charcoal or graphite dust to use for shading. Sale at $4.49 or, I figured there were so many uses, I ordered the box of 30 at $2.00 apiece. What a bargain! Can hardly wait. I figure I have gifts for my students and all my artist friends. Love to share my finds. That’s what being a teacher is all about.
And then! Oh yah, more! I have been planning on drawing/painting and doing studies of some antique dolls. I have a few in the upstairs guest bedroom (which might be kinda creepy except that room is used for granddaughters’ weekend stays) and photos of many more I took when I worked in a doll shop doing repairs of lots of old dolls. On close out were some colored frames in a luscious soft teal, a pale powder blue and a mint green, (also a pale pink or orange and a “Southern yellow” that was “whew” bright), complete with glass and hanging supplies. The soft colors will be a great complement to the dolls in their bright dress and only $16 and $20 for standard canvas sizes. Perfect for a series of paintings.
I find that new stuff (sale priced new stuff) makes me work. It inspires me to not only begin but to complete. Especially when they are really cool frames. Having the frames for a series is such an artistic production motivator to get them done and showing them. But a new sharpener will make me want to tackle a piece with tiny detail I may have procrastinated over, and the mini vac will just make me work because the clean up is easier.
Come on now, everyone, let’s hear a loud “YOU GO, GIRL!” Will post some results in a month.
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