Why Pastel?

Pastel painting is arguably one of the oldest forms of painting: dry chalks were used in cave paintings and still survive today. The popularity of this medium was later inspired by Degas, and it is currently used by many contemporary and exploratory artists. Pastels are pure pigment, bound with gum tragacanth, and as such are durable and colourfast when under glass. They are not liable to cracking or fading, as can happen with other media.

From my point of view, it is an immediate and direct method with a fantastic choice of colours and tones. The strokes can be strong, vigorous and textured, or rubbed in and blended to create many different effects. Using refined sandpaper may damage skin on the artist’s fingers, but it provides a surface where layers of pastel can be overlaid, creating rich and full paintings.

I was extremely lucky to be tutored by the late Christopher Assheton-Stones, and went on many of his exciting and experimental courses. Christopher was a leading light in the prestigious London Pastel Society and constantly pushed out the boundaries of painting techniques.