I’ve been continuing my journey, figuring out how pastels work from a materials perspective. I’ve started moving some of my notes into a sketchbook, instead of random scraps of notepaper. Its interesting seeing all the pastels in a round-up.
My handwriting definitely leaves something to be desired. Side effect of never actually hand writing anything.
I switched my binder from gum tragacanth to methyl cellulose. Easier to acquire, and mix, though I haven’t decided if I like the result better. I haven’t made enough pastels of each type to know.
The latest iteration of pastel learning is on fillers and the role they play. Kaolinte and Calcium Carbonate in particular. They seem to soften the pastels, when added in a 1:1 mixture together, and then again 1:1 with pigment. The Kaolinite seems to smooth the pastel out, while the calcium carbonate seems to work against the pigment’s tendency to turn to concrete.
You can see, in the marks here, that p4-p7 barely leave marks. They contain no fillers. In fact, p7 and p5 have no binder either — the pigments just turn to concrete. I’m in process to remake p5 (just need to find a couple hours where I can turn my desk into an alchemy lab again.)
I’m very happy with my latest three pastels: P9-P11. I picked up some Dioxazine Purple, and Anthroquinone Red pigments from Kama Pigments. P9 is the purple, p10 is the red, and p11 is a mixture of the two. They are also mixed with a filler that is 1:1 kaolinite:calcium carbonate. Methyl Cellulose was 2.5ml per 500ml (my notes say 1 litre in the photo, but that is wrong. I need to correct that).
Both these pigments are very hydrophobic. took quite a bit of effort to saturate them, and perhaps next time I’ll mix with alcohol&filler first to see if that helps.
This produces a very pleasant feel to the pastel, though it produces a lot of dust. Did a quite little figure doodle to see how the pastels would work on smooth paper (arches hotpress).
I collect the dust with some folded pieces of paper, at the bottom of my surface. I’m collecting the dust in a small glass mason jar, and will later turn it back into a pastel for further use.
Other pigment thoughts
Ultramarine dissolves very readily in water, but turns to a slick mess that doesn’t hold its shape. Definitely needs fillers.(Rublev pigments)
Verona Green Earth, and Cassel Earth are concrete. Without fillers, they need no binder but leave no marks. (Rublev pigments)
Blue Ridge Violet Hematite requires little binder, and no filler. Produces lovely marks. (Rublev pigments)