Recently I took the leap and started bringing one of my favorite mediums - pastel - outdoors!
My painting practice tends to lean towards the use of three common mediums: oil paint, watercolor and pastel.
Several years have gone by now from whence I first started to think about using pastels outdoors. I found it challenging to think through the logistics of how it could even work!
It has taken me some time, several books, hours of research and review of YouTube videos but I finally figured it out. I even made a do it yourself pastel pochade box that serves as a laptop easel and even have taken it out for a few test runs on Hike & Paint Sessions.
In a recent post entitled "Learning New Skills & Rediscovering Old Friends" I described how pastels kept the doorway to creative exploration open during season where my wife Janine and I were commuting 3+ hours each day, working 50-60+ hours per week and building our lives together. Pastels offered a directness and convenience that other mediums do not.
Convenience = quick setup & cleanup. You can leave them out and get work done in between other things.
Directness = Painting results are immediate. No waiting for drying times.
Space = working in pastels doesn't require a lot of additional space. All you need is a flat surface to affix your paper to and go!
One downside is the dust that is generated from pastels. This can be mitigated by frequently vacuuming up pastel particles, using a drop cloth or both.
A little while ago I adopted the use of a homemade catch basin made from a recycled Amazon box in studio. Even more recently I adapted this idea and created a smaller collapsible version made mostly of duct tape for use outdoors when painting en Plein Air.
This along with some other tools of the trade help make painting with pastels en Plein Air easy and fun (when the right conditions are present).
The right conditions for Plein Air pastel are pretty specific. You’ll want it to be dry (no rain) and low wind (to avoid creating pastel dust clouds).
Additional advantages include: Vibrant colors, ability to use aim all temperature ranges (soft/hard/chalk pastels- oil pastels may present challenges in hot weather conditions).
Pastel sticks require simplification due to their shape and size. There’s really no opportunity for fixating on details. They also have the ability to cover a surface quickly and add layers over the course of multiple painting sessions.
The only real disadvantage associated with Plein Air pastel, in my opinion, is the additional framing cost and complexity linked to having to frame pastel works under glass.
Ultimately, plein air painting in pastel is great fun and offers an easy, convenient way to bring some variety to any painting practice.
Remember to check out the related posts linked to throughout this article. Also be sure to checkout my shop for glimpses into the finished works that are available for purchase.
Thanks for checking out my work!
Cheers!
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