Do you know?

You know what pastels are and how they are used in fine art, but do you know what other tools a pastel artist needs? Many of the basic tools that pastel artists use are the same as those used for other drawing media. Good quality erasers, such as a kneaded eraser and plastic eraser, are essential. You also need something for blending like a blending stump, paper towels, or Q-tips. You don’t need a sharpener since pastels do not hold a point for more than a few moments and should not be sharpened. Below are images of some of the more specialized tools that pastel artists use. Click on the image to enlarge it and learn more about it.

In this course, you will also use spray fixative for your work. This spray keeps the pastels from smudging and smearing. It can also make them easier to work with because you can fix a layer that you are finished working with before moving on to detail work. Many artists do not use fixative because it can alter the colors of pastels. It may make colors darker or grainy looking, but it is useful for beginners. Just make sure to spray outside or in a well-ventilated space.