Just when you thought you have tried out all types of pastel paper, along comes a new one that promises to be better. I have heard much about Clairefontaine’s Pastelmat paper, but I was a little sceptical. After all good pastel paper is plentiful. Would Pastelmat offer something different? Keep reading to find out plus check out the video review below.
We are so fortunate. Imagine back in the day when Rembrandt Van Rijn and other artists needed new paints for their work. No convenient art store like Artsavingsclub where you could order the world’s finest oil paints. No, you needed to be an apothecary to create paint by hand and storing the paint was a nuisance too. I admit feeling a twinge of guilt when I opened a new box of Rembrandt oil paints recently. But mostly I felt excited to try out these famous paints made by Royal Talens.
Its fair to say I’ve fallen for pastels hook, line and sinker. I do believe we each have a medium that is meant for us. From the moment I first put this medium to paper I knew I had found ‘my’ medium, the medium that finally magically set my inner-artist free. Pastels are renowned for being bright and intensely pigmented, easy to use and popular in many genres.
Recently I had the opportunity to chat with well-known Equine and Wildlife Artist Graham Kearney. I confess to being more than a little starstruck as I have been following his career for close on 7 or 8 years and have always been in awe of his work.
What’s in a name? ponders Juliet in Shakespspeare’s famous play. As it turns out quite a lot actually. For a start it would be a pity to call a rose a clivia, for example. Imagine the disappointment on Valentine’s Day. So when Dutch paint manufacturer Royal Talens came out with the Van Gogh brand of paints they had to meet certain expectations.
I have good news. It seems the number of beginner artists is increasing. This despite the digital age we live in is something of an achievement.
Pastel pencils changed my way of thinking about creating and allowed me a lot of freedom, but I confess that I’ve always been a little reserved about trying soft pastels. My childhood memory of pastels involves chalky dust everywhere and a lack of control I was hesitant to repeat.
