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Soft pastels - crisp edges: How?

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Alan Green

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So, there you have it. no matter what I try and do, I have been unable to produce a nice clean edge between pastels. My edges always end up looking like a nasty bruise, so I'm open to suggestions about where to go from here.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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I'm a cow with a musket with pastels, and I have just the same problem as you - but I have found that employing a bit of charcoal, or conté crayon, can help. Not carbon pencil though, because the pastel won't stick over it. How you get a crisp edge with the bright colours, though - not a clue! http://www.isleofwightlandscapes.net http://www.wightpaint.blogspot.co.uk

Adele Elgood

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<div>I'm no help either Alan. I've just spent the day with my pastels and I am completely traumatised!</div>
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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When I remember in time I use a sheet of transparency film to rest my hand on when doing pastels, otherwise I smug it everywhere. But I can also use the edges of the film to to provide a barrier, when trying to produce a clean edge.
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Alan Green

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A physical barrier sounds workable; I'll give it a shot.
image

Sarah Bottjer

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I use masking tape which is very helpful when pastelling in an horizon line and you can shape it for sharp lines on other bits. Otherwise a well sharpened pastel crayon does the trick. A gentle stroke over the line will merge the lines together a little bit. I do usually use tough paper with a strong tooth which holds the pastel that much better. Hope this helps Sarah B
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Alan Green

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It does, thank you, but it also raises a further question - if I mask the middle distance so I can put in the foreground, will the masking tape lift off much of the masked colour? If so, should I fix the middle distance before masking?
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Alan Green

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Thanks, Marjorie; those results look good.

Ashley Pietras

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You can use masking tape or brown packing tape.... make sure you adhere it to your pants to lessen the stickiness here is a pic of the technique...

Timothy Moore

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I sometimes break a stick if i really need a crisp line. It gives you that knife edge for a bit.

Barrie Jervis

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If you sweep the pastel to and fro on to the paper, gradually approaching the boundary, you can control the application of the colour better and obtain a clean boundary. 

Frank Bingley

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I use a piece of card for a straight edge Alan. Also, I use a large holed pencil sharpener to carve a pastel to a point for thin lines.
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