Thank you for your report!
We have received your report and it is currently under investigation by a forum moderator.
Pastels on canvas
Welcome to the forum.
Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.
Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.
Showing page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2
Message
Posted
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!
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
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.
Posted
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.
Posted
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.
Posted
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.
Edited
by Molly Enholm
Showing page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2