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Seven years ago in October of this year, I got very serious about painting with pastels.  By that time I had looked at probably hundreds of pastel paintings and images trying to learn more about the medium.  

When I first started my journey,  I often wondered how many different pastel sticks a pastel artist would use to create a particular painting.

(I'll just say here that I  also wanted to ask them just how long it took them to create it! But I digress.)

I just finished this pastel painting of a dahlia titled, "Unfolding", and also took a photo of the pastel sticks I used.  I always found what other artists used fascinating...maybe it will help you on your journey.  

As you can see, there aren't a lot of pastel sticks.  I know what you're thinking, "You're kidding me.  That can't be right!  Or is it....or did she not photograph all the sticks she used? "

This is the real deal.  I didn't use any other pastels than you see pictured here.  The top 2 rows of medium round ones are Rembrandts.  You may already know they are fairly hard pastels.  They are my favorites.  They're very dependable!  They're inexpensive, good quality and the pastel doesn't stain your hands to the degree some of the softer sticks do.  They also don't create as much dust! 

The smaller sticks  at the bottom of the photo are Prismacolor NuPastels; they are also a little harder pastel than most other brands.  I often use these when I want to dissolve the pastels with rubbing alcohol to create a wet underpainting.    

There is a smaller mid-tone green in the 3rd row, and that's a Girault pastel.  Love this brand!  Softer than the harder pastels, a little more expensive, but the colors are swoon worthy!  And the Girault sticks make wonderful blending tools. 

The bright white stick (which was only used in the very center of the flower on a few tips of the still to unfurl dahlia petals) that  is 1/2 of a Blockx White 802.  It's a new acquisition.

The pastel pencils are Gioconda Koh-I-Noor brand.  They are kind of an expensive brand.  I bought this set off ebay and got a pretty good deal.  I use these to draw the major shapes before I flesh out the shapes with the pastel sticks.  

I do grid the surface of my Pastelbord to help me keep track of proportions.

In my next blog post I'm going to share a tool I just started using that's really been useful.

I'm not aware of anyone else writing about this tool, so please stay tuned.  Until next time.....get out and enjoy some nature!