Comments on: New Pastel Painting Tip video – all about breaking pastels

By: Gail Sibley

Gail Sibley — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 23:42:49 +0000

In reply to Hominy. Hi Hominy! And thanks! It's so funny how life can show us the way if we are open to it. I mean, who knew that broken pastels could work so well??!

By: Hominy

Hominy — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 07:54:48 +0000

Hi Gail ! I discovered by default that working with broken pastels is so much easier ! Dropped one by accident and found that I used that piece so much more ! Now I always break them !! Thanks for your blog …so interesting

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 06:19:26 +0000

In reply to Isobel Taylor.

Hi Isobel,

I know you said not to reply, and I appreciate it, appreciate you knowing how email etc etc takes away from the creating. But I just wanted to reply because of that!!

Damn it, get out those pastels… just 15 mins a day. Set a goal to use up those pastels by the end of the year!!

Laughed at your words about vandalism!!!

Thanks for your lovely words 🙂

Gail

By: Isobel Taylor

Isobel Taylor — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 05:46:31 +0000

Dear Gail,

Just a quickie to say I enjoy your newsletters, and that I particularly enjoyed your video on “Breaking Pastels”.

I have to tell you that my first reaction was “What vandalism!!!” My second was, “That might be a good feeling!”

My pastels are up in the attic – I saw them only today – and my art paper is under the bed. I promise myself, one of these days…

Don’t reply to this. Spend every moment you can creating beauty.

It was great to see you looking young, lovely and lively. You go, girl!

Best,

Isobel

By: sandy Gordon

sandy Gordon — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 17:20:21 +0000

You have returned with a bang. Congratulations on an outstanding blog. The more you do the more comfortable you become. One of these days they are going to discover you and put you on TV. Good Work

By: Pema Gilman

Pema Gilman — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 22:46:48 +0000

I learned to break soft pastels by removing the paper and then scoring around the pastel with my finger nail or a razor blade or exacto knife. This gives me a cleaner break especially if the pastel is “really” soft (sennellier/ludwig, etc). I found that breaking with the paper still on and wiggling the piece out often created LOTS of crumbly bits that were unusable (too much waste). Also the paper on some brands is stuck to the pastel.

By: Sandi Graham

Sandi Graham — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:32:34 +0000

Hi Gail , enjoyed your new video ..breaking pastels.
I hate breaking them but we must !
Recently I was setting up my new plein air pochade box ,adding a selection of colors , values and brands . I was breaking some pastels into smaller pieces for the box which is the medium Sienna with pastel insert 9×12 and I realized I wanted some Terry Ludwigs in it …I never break them .Well , I decided it was time so I scored each pastel I wanted to use with a small exacto knife all around and then carefully broke the 1/3 piece off . I still feel bad but I now have those luscious Ludwigs in my plein air box.
Thanks for all of your inspiration always.
Sandi