How to make Pastels
Pastel Binder
Langridge Pastel Binder is a traditional Gum Tragacanth based binder formulated to provide the best base for the manufacture of soft pastels. This ready to use medium is compatible with all the pigments traditionally used in artists' Pastels. For more information on pigment compatability please refer to the Pigment Compatability Chart.
Materials:
Pigments, Pastel Binder, chalk (Whiting), glass slab, palette knife.
Method:
Place two equal piles, one of pigment (or pigment blend) and one of chalk on a sheet of tissue paper. Mix the chalk and pigment by rolling them in the sheet of tissue paper.Divide the mixture and place one half aside. This will later be mixed with an equal amount of chalk to make related lighter tints.
Place the first pile on a slab of ground glass and pour sufficient Pastel Binder into it to work it into a pastry-like paste that is not too sticky.
To test if binder to pigment mixture is correct remove enough paste to make a small pastel.
Place onto a sheet of newsprint to absorb surplus moisture. Wrap a piece of card with newsprint and use it to roll the pastel out into a smooth cylindrical shape.
Use a hairdryer to dry the pastel. Once it is dry, approximately 5-10 minutes, test the pastel on paper for hardness/ softness. A half dry pastel will appear softer than it is.
Traditional Method using Gum Arabic Solution
Materials: Pigments, Gum Arabic solution, chalk (Whiting), glass slab, palette knife.
Place two equal piles, one of pigment (or pigment blend) and one of precipitate chalk on a sheet of tissue paper. Mix the chalk and pigment by rolling them in the sheet of tissue paper.
Divide the mixture and place one half aside. This will later be mixed with an equal amount of chalk to make related lighter tints.
Place the first pile on a slab of ground glass and pour sufficient gum solution on it to work it into a pastry-like paste that is not too sticky.
To test if binder to pigment mixture is correct remove enough paste to make a small pastel.
Place onto a sheet of newsprint to absorb surplus moisture. Wrap a piece of card with newsprint and use it to roll the pastel out into a smooth cylindrical shape.
Use a hairdryer to dry the pastel. Once it is dry, approximately 5-10 minutes, test the pastel on paper for hardness/ softness. A half dry pastel will appear softer than it is.
If the pastel is too hard add more gum solution to the paste. If it too soft add more pigment/ chalk. Each pigment will need a different amount of binder to make it into a pastel. When making pastels note down the relative binder strengths for future consultation. Many artist materials publications list the various pigment to binder quantaties.
Traditional Method using Gum Tragacanth Solution
Simply substitute Gum Tragacanth Solution for the Gum Arabic Solution and proceed as above.
