What I want as an artist is that my art can convey the stories that I want to tell and interact with the audience in a positive light and that it leaves a lasting legacy for other artists who love to tell stories.
I love pastels and charcoal. I’ve had professors scold me for using my fingers to blend but I love the feel and the control. I use FaberCastell for playing with and creating primary sketches but love the creaminess of Rembrandt. But sometimes I mix the brands depending on colors and blends. There’s no such thing as wrong in my definition of art.
To answer your question: what do I want when I do art? Well, I want to create. As a curious human who gets bored quickly, I want to create new things and be satisfied by them. And I want to get better :) I think I want to experience inspiration which will lead me to experiment get more technically skilled, express ideas and thoughts and emotions and organize them in my head. I recently really got into perspective drawings, like, suuper suuper deep into it with all the boxes and planes. I noticed now when I look around the city, that I *feel* the perspective. This new experience is something that only art can give me, imo.
As a person who works at Michael's part time, I NEVER recommend Artist Loft (their brand). If it works for you, I don't mean to diminish that, but I find that most of their products are very cheaply made and aren't worth it for professional level work.
Ummm... All soft pastels are water soluble. As a pastelist who uses water and alcohol to create effects on my paintings, I think "water soluble" is a gimmick.
I agree with you, Art Prof is not using this correctly and hence a negative application. I do not have this brand but something similar which I have used for over 35 years,. so I think i know what I am talking about. How to use is- you do a light graphite sketch (as graphite does not run when wet). Then you submerge the whole sheet of paper in a water bath, tape down all sides, and then you paint or draw your artwork with the sticks while the paper is wet. Spray paper with water if it gets too dry. That is how I have always used these kind of specific pastel sticks. Read the instructions next time!
@@LuGam-vf1yi graphite can also be washed with water, oil, or alcohol. maybe try something other than the same thing for over 35 years and you'll learn things like that. that's what this channel is for.
I believe that pastels that are water soluble have some kind of clay in them. The grainy is how the clay is ground. When the clay is wetted it puts the pigment into solution. The pigment is also ground. Maybe the price is more important and the amount of work and content put into the product shows up.
Yep, I always feel like my art looks amateurish for a while. I think in part it has to do with the fact that younger artists stop too early for fear of ruining their piece but don't fully push it to its full potential. As for what I want: I want to make people feel things the way certain art makes me feel things. Sometimes I can see art that is technically good but it doesn't make me "feel". Of course, this feeling is going to be different for everyone so I guess it's hard to quantify but I just feel like if I can someday get to be good enough to be like the art that speaks to me, I will find like-minded individuals. I want art that transforms me to a different place and maybe gives me a bit of escapism, like a good story. I want to figure out how to do that.
That scratchy feel, and poor saturation don't say good things about quality or value. Product design POV: Dry pastels are usually just pigment with the smallest amount of binder that will solidify enough to make it usable. They're prized for intensity of color, and disliked for the mess, fragility, and 'one chance to get it right' qualities. The 'fineness' or quality is determined by how small the particles are ground, intensity/purity of pigment, but there are many recipes that determine hardness and solubility. Kaolin clay, plaster of paris etc. can be used as binders, it can be easy to over-pay, and 'feel' is pretty subjective, so price can be a poor indicator. I have some vintage Grumbacher sticks that are extremely soft, smooth as velvet, extremely saturated in color; they're consumed very quickly as they have little binder, wash easily, and maintain brightness. Traditional 'Conte' crayons come in many different hardness, have a different binder/pigment formula, can draw very sharp lines, and can also be washed with water or solvent. Generally harder crayons have more binder, less free floating pigment particles, and respond less to suspension by liquid. They can also be ground on sandpaper and the powder mixed with linseed, egg, milk, water, glue - anything to dissolve or act as a vehicle to make liquid paint. Soft graphite pencil is a favorite wash technique. I'd like to try drawing with these on canvas board, and activate with linseed/turp.
See more soft pastel tutorials in this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLvt8_pMl6ywm19gDgXNRBhu9XUmLspW6i.html
What I want as an artist is that my art can convey the stories that I want to tell and interact with the audience in a positive light and that it leaves a lasting legacy for other artists who love to tell stories.
This is so beautiful, ty for sharing! -Prof Lieu
@artprof You're welcome Prof. Lieu!
I love pastels and charcoal. I’ve had professors scold me for using my fingers to blend but I love the feel and the control. I use FaberCastell for playing with and creating primary sketches but love the creaminess of Rembrandt. But sometimes I mix the brands depending on colors and blends. There’s no such thing as wrong in my definition of art.
To answer your question: what do I want when I do art? Well, I want to create.
As a curious human who gets bored quickly, I want to create new things and be satisfied by them. And I want to get better :)
I think I want to experience inspiration which will lead me to experiment get more technically skilled, express ideas and thoughts and emotions and organize them in my head.
I recently really got into perspective drawings, like, suuper suuper deep into it with all the boxes and planes. I noticed now when I look around the city, that I *feel* the perspective. This new experience is something that only art can give me, imo.
I use soft pastels from Artist's Loft, and they are okay.
Their supplies are all fine IMHO and great value. It doesn't say much for the artist input if success of a piece depends on materials.
As a person who works at Michael's part time, I NEVER recommend Artist Loft (their brand). If it works for you, I don't mean to diminish that, but I find that most of their products are very cheaply made and aren't worth it for professional level work.
Ummm... All soft pastels are water soluble. As a pastelist who uses water and alcohol to create effects on my paintings, I think "water soluble" is a gimmick.
Yeah its chalk
I agree with you, Art Prof is not using this correctly and hence a negative application. I do not have this brand but something similar which I have used for over 35 years,. so I think i know what I am talking about. How to use is- you do a light graphite sketch (as graphite does not run when wet). Then you submerge the whole sheet of paper in a water bath, tape down all sides, and then you paint or draw your artwork with the sticks while the paper is wet. Spray paper with water if it gets too dry. That is how I have always used these kind of specific pastel sticks. Read the instructions next time!
@@LuGam-vf1yi graphite can also be washed with water, oil, or alcohol.
maybe try something other than the same thing for over 35 years and you'll learn things like that. that's what this channel is for.
@@LuGam-vf1yi she read it and it says "For wet AND dry painting."
Be kind!@@LuGam-vf1yi
Sometimes I just try art supplies just for fun 😊
It looks like using the chalk as cheek blush works well too. Hope you don't break out.
try makeup sponges in a variety of shapes. I get water color effects with charcoal and pastels with them.
I believe that pastels that are water soluble have some kind of clay in them. The grainy is how the clay is ground. When the clay is wetted it puts the pigment into solution. The pigment is also ground. Maybe the price is more important and the amount of work and content put into the product shows up.
I think it’s so nice!! Really beautiful, imo. But sorry it was frustrating.
I bought a set during the pandemic and never used them. I'm curious to see your thoughts and results.
Do you think using better paper would help with the grittiness?
I doubt it, it was probably the grittiest soft pastel I have ever used. Some people may like that, but I like smoother pastels. -Prof Lieu
Yep, I always feel like my art looks amateurish for a while. I think in part it has to do with the fact that younger artists stop too early for fear of ruining their piece but don't fully push it to its full potential.
As for what I want: I want to make people feel things the way certain art makes me feel things. Sometimes I can see art that is technically good but it doesn't make me "feel". Of course, this feeling is going to be different for everyone so I guess it's hard to quantify but I just feel like if I can someday get to be good enough to be like the art that speaks to me, I will find like-minded individuals. I want art that transforms me to a different place and maybe gives me a bit of escapism, like a good story. I want to figure out how to do that.
I loved reading this, warmed my heart! -Prof Lieu
That scratchy feel, and poor saturation don't say good things about quality or value. Product design POV:
Dry pastels are usually just pigment with the smallest amount of binder that will solidify enough to make it usable. They're prized for intensity of color, and disliked for the mess, fragility, and 'one chance to get it right' qualities. The 'fineness' or quality is determined by how small the particles are ground, intensity/purity of pigment, but there are many recipes that determine hardness and solubility. Kaolin clay, plaster of paris etc. can be used as binders, it can be easy to over-pay, and 'feel' is pretty subjective, so price can be a poor indicator.
I have some vintage Grumbacher sticks that are extremely soft, smooth as velvet, extremely saturated in color; they're consumed very quickly as they have little binder, wash easily, and maintain brightness. Traditional 'Conte' crayons come in many different hardness, have a different binder/pigment formula, can draw very sharp lines, and can also be washed with water or solvent. Generally harder crayons have more binder, less free floating pigment particles, and respond less to suspension by liquid. They can also be ground on sandpaper and the powder mixed with linseed, egg, milk, water, glue - anything to dissolve or act as a vehicle to make liquid paint. Soft graphite pencil is a favorite wash technique.
I'd like to try drawing with these on canvas board, and activate with linseed/turp.
Great info, ty!! -Prof Lieu