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Events

Pastel Toujours 2012

Our 16th annual members' choice exhibition takes place at the Sinfonia di Colori Gallery, in Ste-Geneviève (on Montréal Island), from April 26 to May 6, 2012.

Les Pastellistes 2011

Our 16th edition of « Les Pastellistes » International Exhibition selected by jury was held from November 4th to 13th, 2011.

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News

Worldwide sketching day!  last Sunday of May, see details.

PSEC members can now read a new article from our master pastellist Claude Texier, in the Advanced Tips & Tricks section, under the Members' Menu.

(in French only) La Galerie Colline, de l'université de Moncton, Campus Edmundton, vous invite au vernissage de Jacques Clément, jeudi 22 mars 2012, 17h à 19h. L'exposition est en salle jusqu'au 27 avril 2012. Visitez son exposition virtuellement sur son site

(In French only) Jacques Clément expose au M.A.A., du 1er au 30 avril 2012 (Affiche - exposition ATHLETES+ ). Il présente une douzaine d'oeuvres dans cette exposition. Vous pouvez les voir sur mon blog

PSEC members can now read a new step-by-step article featuring our master pastellist Marie-Hélène Auclair, in the Advanced Tips & Tricks section, under the Members' Menu.

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Basic Material

The pastel artist's first tools are pastel sticks and pastel pencils, which will be carefully chosen among a wide range available on the market.  Personal preferences based on experimentation, as well as the type of support, will dictate the types of pastels used.    However, a teacher's advice will also be invaluable to any beginner.

The support  generally consists of lightly textured paper or board,which can be more or less abrasive.  The quality and texture of the support will vary according to the manufacturer.  Here again, the artist's experience will determine which type of paper support is to be used.

Cleanliness is essential when painting with pastels. It is recommended to keep  a paper towel or a clean rag within reach, and to wear an apron to keep clothing clean.

Pastel sticks should be placed in a box or container with low sills to prevent them from rolling or sliding out during the painting process.

It is preferable that the support be placed in an upright position in front of the artist, to allow the pastel dust to fall to the bottom of the work surface.

Other tools can be very useful:

  • Wooden board
  • Masking tape
  • Binder clips
  • Push-pins
  • Tracing paper or Glassine
  • Charcoal or Sanguine (for sketches)
  • Paper or foam stumps
  • Fixatives*
  • Appropriate lighting

*These sprays are to be used sparingly. The artist can experiment with different brands on the market to test their effects on colours.