Limbering up

You can make lots of different marks with a pastel stick, especially if you take the label off. Then you can use the side, the end or the edge of it. You can break them in half unless you are working on a BIG piece of paper.

Time spent experimenting is worth its weight in gold. You can use the pastel stick on its side to make straight marks, or by twisting and turning it, or you can use it on its end to make little marks, dots and dashes. Vary the weight you apply. Try leaving the marks untouched in one area, and then blending and smudging in another. Notice the difference this makes.

Next, we’ll look at different techniques and marks individually. You can then combine these techniques in layers.

With all of the following techniques, try them with different amounts of pressure applied. By varying the pressure, you will really change the marks that you make…