A recent pastel

Steve Craighead · 03-14-2007, 06:36 PM

Thanks everyone for your nice comments. I didn't realize how naked I'd feel posting in front of a group of perceptive artists. I'm glad you can see I spent a lot of time trying to get the forms while keeping the color alive and being aware of the edges. Its great to have a beautiful little model and a little luck too.

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 03-16-2007, 06:38 AM

Steve, this pastel could have been made by De Laszlo.
I think you completely suceeded in what you were trying to achieve. A truely charming portrait and a painting in its own right, I think it would be nice to have it on the wall even if one was not the client
Ilaria

Tom Edgerton · 03-16-2007, 12:21 PM

Steve, this is wonderful.

I've noticed that when the best artists swing between pastels and oils, there isn't a significant difference in understanding or handling between the two media. This work is no exception; your sensitivity and control always shows whatever the materials.

Great work!-TE

Steve Craighead · 03-16-2007, 02:23 PM

Karine,
I don't use fixatives at all. They drastically change the colors of the portrait. There will be some dusting of the pastel, but 99.99% of the pigment will remain embedded in the ground. You won't see difference in the portrait from this dusting. However, its a good idea provide a gap between the glass and the pastel for the dusting to fall and collect.
The pumice I use is distributed by H. Brehlen & Bro. Its #4F. I have a tendency to use my fingers a bit and that grit will grab the pastel, but not tear up my fingers.
You mentioned earlier something about the de la Tour fixative. I'm curious, what is that?
Also, you got me interested in seeing some of his pastels again. Here are a couple of Maurice Quentin de la Tour for anyone who is not familar with his work. I think they were done in the 1770s.

Steve Craighead · 03-16-2007, 02:40 PM

Thanks Tom. I know you must be on that list of the forum's most favorite artists.
Ilaria, ...de Lazlo? Yikes. I wish. Thanks anyway. By the way, I like your Britboy very much. (http://www.ilardt.com/ilardt/openstu.../britboy-1.jpg) I studied with Henry Hensche, an artist/teacher who spent his entire career working with color. He would have liked that one.

Thomasin Dewhurst · 03-17-2007, 01:06 PM

Dear Steve

This is just really, really technically very good. Thanks for posting a close-up - so nice to see your excellent mark-making and your sensitivity to tone variations.

Steve Craighead · 03-19-2007, 09:42 AM

Thanks Thomasin.