Pastel is a pure, permanent pigment without liquid binding.
The pigments used in pastels are the same pigments used to produce all paints, including oils, watercolors, acrylics and others. Pastel does not refer to pale colors. It is not ‘colored chalk’ – a porous, limestone substance in dyes. It is pure, powdered pigment rolled into a stick form with a minimum amount of gum binder.
Pastel has its origins in the 16th century. Edgar Degas brought Pastel to popular fame, and his protégé, Mary Cassatt, introduced it to her friends in Philadelphia and Washington and thus to the US. Pastel is favored by many artists because it allows for a spontaneous approach. There is no drying time or change in color after drying as with other media. Artwork is created by stroking a stick of dry pigment across an abrasive ground, embedding the color in the “tooth” of the ground. If the ground is completely covered with Pastel, the work is considered a Pastel painting.
A particle of pastel pigment seen under a microscope looks like a many-faceted diamond; that’s why Pastel paintings reflect light like a prism. No other medium has the same vibrancy or stability.
|An Artist since her earliest memory, Rita Kirkman has been using pastel since she was 11 years old. Since 2003, her paintings have consistently won major awards in national and international competitions, and have been published in several magazines. She is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and a recipient of the Master Circle Award from the International Association of Pastel Societies. Her work is in public and private collections all over the world, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.
"...Kirkman paints beyond light, color and composition; she captures the essence and spirit of life. Her ability to communicate pure poetry is captivating and ...simply spectacular." ~C. P. Swing, Infinity Art Gallery
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