Soft pastels are like sticks or blocks of soft chalk containing pigments. They can be difficult to work with because they crumble easily and can smudge. However, they produce brilliantly colored works of art. Using soft pastels is closer to painting than drawing.
Instructions
1. Begin with a sheet of paper suited to working with pastels. Tape it to the drawing surface on all four sides so the tape covers the edges of the paper, making a natural frame of white paper that will be revealed when you remove the tape.
2. Sketch the picture you want to create using a hard pencil and light pressure. The pencil marks should be completed covered by the pastels. You may need to use a kneaded eraser to pick up the pencil marks as you work.
3. Create a "wash" of background color by shaving the pastels to create powders and then rubbing the powders into the paper.
4. Layer the foreground colors on top of the background, using the pencil sketch as a guide. Use your fingers, a tissue or a cloth to work the pigment into the paper, and use a kneaded eraser to pick up any pigment that is in the wrong place. For smaller areas of pigment, use a paper stump to work in the color.
5. Use a black pencil, conte crayon or charcoal stick to create crisp outlines and dark shadows to finish your picture.
6. Set your picture using a workable fixative spray so the color doesn't smudge or wear off.
