Making Pastels

Pastel is the most basic way to work with pigment, because in the pastel technique, pigment is practically left in its natural state and is bound with minimal amount of natural glue. There is a large variety of natural glues (see watercolor binders) that can be used in Pastel-making, starting with any sort of starch— methylcellulose (Tylose), or the most traditional one...

Tragacanth is best suited for pastel-making, because it has a very high pigment binding strength, while not sticking to itself. This means that if you have gum Tragacanth on your fingers, they won't stick together.

The Gum Tragacanth (full strength) is prepared with the following ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of Gum Tragacanth
• 8oz. of Water

Directions:

• Mix the Gum Tragacanth into the water and allow the mixture to sit for 1-2 days.
• The mixture should set up into a gel.
• At this point a mold inhibitor may be added if desired.
• For an even mixture, add a small amount of water and stir the gel with a blender or hand powered egg-beater.
• Not all Pigments react the same, when water and binder is added to them and they must therefore be blended with varying Gum Tragacanth solutions and Champagne Chalk, which makes hard Pastels softer.
• In order to adjust for the required varying levels of Gum Tragacanth, the Gum Tragacanth should be thinned into the following proportions:
  A)Full Strength
  B)1 Part Solution A) to 2 Equal Parts Water (30%)
  C)1 Part Solution B) to 2 Equal Parts Water (10%)
  D)1 Part Solution C) to 2 Equal Parts Water (3%)
  E)1 Part Solution D) to 2 Equal Parts Water (1%)

• Place a small mound of Pigment onto a clean non-porous surface.
• Add a small amount of the Gum Tragacanth Solution
• Work the Gum Tragacanth into the Pigment with a palette knife or for larger quantities mix in Mortar and Pestle or with a Muller.
• Work Mixture into a rubbery consistency. If the dough is too wet it sticks to paper and if its too dry the pastels will fall apart before they dry.
• Roll the dough on newspaper, until a pastel stick shape is formed.
• Allow Pastel Sticks to dry for a day or two, before use.

This is the basic formula for Pastel Making. To figure out required Gum Tragacanth Solutions and amounts of Champagne Chalk, further experimentation is suggested.

Generally to allow for smoother mark making, most Pastels require an addition of Champagne Chalk,. With most Pigments (especially the Organic Manufactured Pigments) the Pastel Dough can be adulterated extensively with Champagne Chalk, without compromising the color's richness. Here is a partial list of binder solutions and pigments that work well together:

Solution B)
Titanium White
Titan Buff (Natural Titanium)
Iron Oxide, Black Bluish
Ultramarine Blue, greenish light
Ultramarine Blue, reddish
Ultramarine Red, pink
Ultramarine Violet, Medium Blue
Ultramarine Violet, Reddish Dark

Solution C)
Zinc Oxide
Slate Grey, neutral grey
Permanent Yellow HKA
Raw Sienna
French Ochres
Iron Oxide Mars Red
Persian Red
Terre Ercolano

Solution D)
Champagne Chalk
Bologna Chalk
Kaolin
Blanc Fix
Ivory Black
Yellow Iron Oxide
Hematite (not fine grind)
English Red

Solution E)
Italian Dark Ochre, transparent orangish
Burnt Umber, Cyprus, very dark
Fawn Ochre, German light
German Ochre, light warm brownish
Satin Ochre, greenish brownish
Bohemian Green Earth
Pompei Red

PLEASE NOTE: Since working with pastels emits a lot of powdered pigment, working with a dust mask and gloves and protective clothing is highly advisable. Please be aware of all available safety information and Warning labels.

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