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Last updated 27th July 2005 by Bree
Types of Chalk, Pastel and Crayon used by Artists
Natural Chalks are thin sticks mined from soft mineral deposits. Most common colors are black (composed of shale) and white (composed of calcite chalk or talc).
Techniques: Natural chalks are very firm and best used on textured surfaces. Natural chalks useful in making studies for paintings or large drawings in other mediums, although it is possible to use them to create full drawings by themselves.
Pastels are thin sticks formed by hand mixing dry powdered pigments, inert materials and a gum binder. They are used more commonly than natural chalks since the artist can control the quality and hardness, as well as tone, tint and shade.
Techniques: Pastels best used on textured surfaces that capture particles of the stick. Pastels can be used in a linear manner or in a soft, brushlike way to create different effects. Applications can be nearly transparent or thick and heavy. Individual dots and strokes can be made in varying colors that when viewed as a whole create a unified image, or they can be aggressively smeared into the surface with the fingers. The use of pastels is limited only by the imagination of the artist, however care should be taken to preserve the drawing from smearing and smudging.
Wax Crayons are made by mixing small quantities of low quality pigments with large amounts of a paraffin binder. They are used mostly by children or young apprentices.
Techniques: Wax crayons are not typically used by working artists, though some might find them useful for preliminary sketching.
Oil Pastels are made in basically the same way as pastels, but with a waxy binder instead of a gum one. They are very versatile and have a natural cohesion that makes them usable on a variety of drawing surfaces.
Techniques: Oil pastels are used in much the same way as pastels. They can be blended and molded easily because they are slightly waxy. Fluid effects can be created by dipping the stick into a solvent, such as linseed oil, or by applying the solvent to the drawing with a brush afterwards. Oil pastels cannot be erased, due to their waxy nature, but the heavier deposits can be carefully scraped off using a razor and the area can be drawn over.
Conte Crayons are made by forming a paste with a mixture of pigments and a gum base, compressing it into rectangular sticks and allowing it to dry. They come in black, white, gray, sanguine, bistre, and sepia and in three degrees of hardness: hard, medium and soft. They can also be made into a pencil form by encasing them in either paper or wood.
Techniques: It is helpful to break the conte crayon stick into several pieces which will create several naturally sharp, crisp edges for detail drawing. Conte crayons are used most often to develop subtle mottling in drawings because it is very finely textured and can be blended easily. Light areas in a drawing are easily created by erasing away areas to reveal the paper beneath. Densely dark areas can be formed by using small amounts of a solvent either before, by dipping the stick, or after with a swab or brush.
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Techniques: Natural chalks are very firm and best used on textured surfaces. Natural chalks useful in making studies for paintings or large drawings in other mediums, although it is possible to use them to create full drawings by themselves.
Pastels are thin sticks formed by hand mixing dry powdered pigments, inert materials and a gum binder. They are used more commonly than natural chalks since the artist can control the quality and hardness, as well as tone, tint and shade.
Techniques: Pastels best used on textured surfaces that capture particles of the stick. Pastels can be used in a linear manner or in a soft, brushlike way to create different effects. Applications can be nearly transparent or thick and heavy. Individual dots and strokes can be made in varying colors that when viewed as a whole create a unified image, or they can be aggressively smeared into the surface with the fingers. The use of pastels is limited only by the imagination of the artist, however care should be taken to preserve the drawing from smearing and smudging.
Wax Crayons are made by mixing small quantities of low quality pigments with large amounts of a paraffin binder. They are used mostly by children or young apprentices.
Techniques: Wax crayons are not typically used by working artists, though some might find them useful for preliminary sketching.
Oil Pastels are made in basically the same way as pastels, but with a waxy binder instead of a gum one. They are very versatile and have a natural cohesion that makes them usable on a variety of drawing surfaces.
Techniques: Oil pastels are used in much the same way as pastels. They can be blended and molded easily because they are slightly waxy. Fluid effects can be created by dipping the stick into a solvent, such as linseed oil, or by applying the solvent to the drawing with a brush afterwards. Oil pastels cannot be erased, due to their waxy nature, but the heavier deposits can be carefully scraped off using a razor and the area can be drawn over.
Conte Crayons are made by forming a paste with a mixture of pigments and a gum base, compressing it into rectangular sticks and allowing it to dry. They come in black, white, gray, sanguine, bistre, and sepia and in three degrees of hardness: hard, medium and soft. They can also be made into a pencil form by encasing them in either paper or wood.
Techniques: It is helpful to break the conte crayon stick into several pieces which will create several naturally sharp, crisp edges for detail drawing. Conte crayons are used most often to develop subtle mottling in drawings because it is very finely textured and can be blended easily. Light areas in a drawing are easily created by erasing away areas to reveal the paper beneath. Densely dark areas can be formed by using small amounts of a solvent either before, by dipping the stick, or after with a swab or brush.
See Also: No articles yet
Referenced By: No articles yet