These pastels released by Art Spectrum have qualities to attract many pastel artists.
They move freely over the surface of any toothed paper; retain their brilliant pigments whether blended in with other colours or placed over the surface of tother pastels; their water resistance is a positive factor when working with mixed media and pastel; their square shape makes for easy handling and many opportunities for various stroke-making; and just looking at the colours melts my heart!
Photo 1 – Ease of stroke on AS Colourfix Original paper, over pastel. It is apparent how this new soft pastel glides over the surface and retains its brilliance. You simply adjust the pressure if your stroke to have the pastel either blend in with other pastel, or remain a brilliant splash of colour on the surface.

Photo 2 – “Waiting” Pastel on Colourfix original Paper – 47h by 57w cms. Using the new square pastels over a wet soft pastel base highlighted the creamy texture and ability to retain the integrity of the pigment over a pastel surface. This work also shows how smoothly this new pastel blends in with other pastels.

Photo 3 – The square shape makes this new pastel particularly useful for working over texture. It attaches itself to the surface of even the smallest texture marks, and makes for a definite one-stroke application with no fuss or mess.

Photo 4 – “By Kin Kin” Ink and pastel on 300 gsm watercolour paper – 48h by 33 w cms. This new pastel takes to being applied over a textured surface other than pastel as well – here it is placed over collage and AS inks.

Photo 5 – “Of Service” Acrylic, Ink and pastel on 300 gsm watercolour paper – 48h by 33w cms. The water resistant quality of these new pastels flummoxed me initially, until I worked out how to use this to my advantage in mixed media. With this piece, I placed the turquoise strokes to indicate movement across the top of the water, and then was able to continue adding drips in ink and wet pastel to the background. These further wet drips did not inhibit the turquoise layer at all – they just passed right over on the top.

Progression “Peninsula Morning”
Photo 6 – On a piece of AS Colourfix board (Elephant Grey in colour) I placed tissue paper with binder medium. When this was dry, I placed a layer of AS clear pastel primer.

Photo 7 – Using my As original soft pastels (because the new ones don’t readily mix with water) I placed the pastel to establish the basic composition, and then pushed this pastel into the board with water and a bristle brush.

Photo 8 – I worked on this piece as a demonstration for the Pastel of Australia Sunshine Coast Group. The “oohs and aahs” when I placed the new square soft pastel Turquoise C (420C) were wonderful! How gorgeously it glided over the tissue paper texture, and how it kept the integrity of the pigment even when place on the top of other pastel – readily appreciated by other pastellists!

Photo 9 – detail. Turquoise D (420D) brought all the edges of the strokes in the ocean together; Turquoise A (420A) extended the brilliance of the initial turquoise evenly into the edge of the highlights; and Marine Blue D (465D) was fabulous for greying the edges of the brighter strokes and bridging them to the darks.

Photo 10 – “Peninsula Morning” Pastel on Collaged Colourfix Board – 52w by 72h cms