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Christine Rogan

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Just wondered if anyone had used pastels on a canvas? Presumably it has to be primed with something to give it the “tooth” that pastel paper has to be able to work in layers?

Alan Bickley

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No is the answer Christine! There are so many gorgeous toned pastel papers out there I’m not sure why you would want to... It would need to be on board and not a stretched canvas, far too much movement in the latter. Most decent canvas boards will be ready primed but whether or not pastel will stick permanently to this surface is the issue. I suppose you could just try it and see how it goes. Sorry I can’t offer anything constructive, other than I wouldn’t try it myself, but someone on here may have have done, however unlikely that may be!

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by Alan Bickley

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Not a pastellist really, but I agree completely with Alan - the incomparable Jackie Simmons (incomparable, but that does NOT mean I've necessarily got her name right: we are not as young as once we were, and senility creeps in) has visited the Forum in the past, and could give definitive advice.  Or Arnold Lowry, whose pastel work is fabulous and has occasionally shown work in the Gallery.   My suspicion would be that canvas wouldn't have enough tooth for pastel, and the fact that stretched canvas has a bounce effect - contracts, expands, is subject to vibration - wouldn't be ideal either.  Canvas glued to a board - maybe.  I doubt it, but maybe.  Oil pastel works on canvas, after a fashion, but that's a totally different material.  

Christine Rogan

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Thank you Alan and Robert. I knew someone could give me an answer to my query. I love the pastel papers I use but just wondered  about canvas in case anyone asked me If I could do a painting for them on one! You never know these days. I love the way you can find out what you need to know on POL and everyone is always very generous with their knowledge. 
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Varvara Vitkovska

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Just wondered if anyone had used pastels on a canvas? Presumably it has to be primed with something to give it the “tooth” that pastel paper has to be able to work in layers?
Christine Rogan on 06/08/2020 13:31:04
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Varvara Vitkovska

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I used pastel on a primed canvas. The paint holds up well, but it is difficult to achieve brightness.

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Alan Morris

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Whilst not common, it Is certainly possible to use pastel on canvas.  The key to success lies in the primer you use.  Art Spectrum make a primer (colourifix) which is available in a wide range of colours much the same as their paper.  It provides a sanded Surface ideal for pastel. Interestingly I attended a demonstration many years ago by an up and coming young artist named Debra Manifold (now sadly no longer with us).   She arrived with a dry oil painting on canvas, an abstract that was obviously made with a plan in mind.  She then proceeded to paint a stunningly atmospheric cafe scene in soft pastels using oil painting as an under painting.  
Photo 30.06.2022, 09 09 07

Lucian Hodoboc

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I used pastel on a primed canvas. The paint holds up well, but it is difficult to achieve brightness.
Varvara Vitkovska on 18/09/2020 07:21:28
Good heavens! The amount of detail in that sweater must have taken you weeks to paint... :O Brilliant work!

Molly Enholm

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Oil pastels can be used on canvas as long as it has a rough surface that will help the pigments adhere to it better. To get better coverage and a smoother finish with this grittier texture, oil pastels with a creamier consistency are needed.

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by Molly Enholm

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xxBillxx xxDowniexx

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W.H.Smith sell canvas-textured acrylic paper, which I find great for oil pastels. You can create interesting effects by lightly brushing the pastel over the paper., stippling, etc. I've never tried pastels on canvas, but I imagine it would be similar. 
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xxBillxx xxDowniexx

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Here's another oil pastel I did on the textured paper. It's from an old photograph and it's a hill the Scottish highlands with a Gaelic name that translates as 'Treasure Mountain'.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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That's excellent - as is the portrait study first shown two years ago, which I completely missed at the time.  
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