Blog

Margaret Larlham (artist website: margaretlarlham.com) was our first pastel demo and we all got to watch and learn her creative process. She prefers using “sanded” paper by “UArt” or “Pastel Premier” which is an artist quality very fine tooth sandpaper that really "grips" the pastels.

Beginning with some small "notan" style compositional studies made with charcoal in a sketchbook, she next began with broad initial passages of color pastels working on the sanded paper.

With that laid-in she then went over these abstract passages of color with a bristle brush and rubbing alcohol which makes for a wash effect and allows for a very soft effect "underpainting".

When the alcohol evaporated Margaret then went back to drawing over the now dry washes with vine charcoal to firm up the composition.

Next she then because to block in major dark areas working again with the color pastels after which moving to find her lights and middle values.

As the still life took shape she makes sure to take advantage of all the versatility of marks that pastel can make: lines vs flat blocks of color.