YouTube Introduction to Soft Pastels

Here's the YouTube link to my introduction to soft pastels... (It's from my Instructional DVD, "Painting Water with Pastels".)

www.youtube.com

IF you like what you see, my DVD is available through Cheap Joe's Art Stuff for $24.99. Here's the link for that as well...

www.cheapjoes.com

What pastel supplies do I use?

What supplies do I use? I have been pastel painting for over a decade and have tried many products. Like everything, quality does matter. As an artist, we should use the best quality products we can afford. You can see some of my own pastels to the left.

For me, the best out there is Unison Soft Pastels (www.unisoncolour.co.uk/). They are hand made in England, distributed in the US by Jack Richeson & Co (www.richesonart.com)... and can be purchased at various art supply companies. But I prefer to buy from my favorite local (North Carolina) business, Cheap Joe's Art Stuff (www.cheapjoes.com).

Because the pastels are hand rolled, they are wider in the middle and thinner at ends. Extruded pastels, like Rembrandt, are all the same width and also have a coating on surface that should be rubbed off before using. Even if you cannot afford to move to Unison Pastels, consider buying a couple of darks and lights in this brand to supplement your extruded pastels. Your paintings will be better.

As far as surfaces I work on, I use professional pastel products that have a toothy surface. They hold the pastel and I don't need fix in the end. My two favorite products are Jack Richeson & Co. Premium Pastel surfaces and Colourfix Pastel boards (www.artspectrum.com). The JR&C boards have a LOT of tooth and can take lots of pastels... and their gator foam boards can be washed off if you have a dud painting. The Colourfix boards are great for plein air and have more colors to choose from.

For more on all of this, use the links, or better yet... get my DVD, "Painting Water with Pastels" (www.cheapjoes.com).

Get this book!

Wow... it's already October 9 and my 'painting sabbatical' is officially over! I am continuing to put my art at the top of my 'to-do' list, but there are so many things to keep up with.

(Everyone faces the challenge of juggling their passion, career, family, etc., etc... But, when we're self employed it can be more difficult... the sands of time move quickly when I'm looking at ALL the things I could or should be doing;-0)

I do love the business end of art as well as my studio practice. If you've followed my work, you know I'm involved with the Arts & Science Council's 'Artist as an Entrepreneur' Institute as well as being a huge fan of Creative Capital out of NY.

I am highly recommending a brand new book to any visual artist who is not totally happy with their art career... The Artist's Guide, How to Make a Living Doing What You Love by Jackie Battenfield. She's a talented artist who HAS supported herself/family with her art and she's an excellent teacher of the business end of art. She's a regular member of the Creative Capital Professional Development team and her book is excellent! (Remember I've attended a half dozen of these workshops and I am still getting inspired by her new book... AND I can read it at my own pace!)

Here's a link to get more info and order your own copy... www.artistcareerguide.com

A peek in my studio...

I have just delivered nine new pastel paintings-including the three paintings you see just started with original photos to the left-to Red Sky Gallery in Charlotte, NC. (www.redskygallery.com)




To left is one of these 7x5" gems, And around again, finished. See my website, www.carmellajarvi.com, for more info about this work and Red Sky Gallery reception.





Here's a photo of my new pastel studio space... I still have another smaller painting, etc. studio, but here, I can leave my pastel work & supplies out. You can see several paintings in process on the easel... as well as my soft pastels set up. One of my favorite things about Vermont Studio Center (where I was a painting resident in 2006 & 2008) is having lots of different artwork going on at the same time! (www.vermontstudiocenter.org)