CHOOSING KEEPING ART HAUL ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆ Unboxing, swatching + painting

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

This box arrived a couple of weeks ago and I thought that it was about time I shared it with you all! I went on to their online shop to order a watercolour pad that I love to use (and can't find anywhere else), and while I was on there I was tempted by another couple of items, one of which I've had my eye on for about a year and a half! So I finally took the plunge, and in this video I'll share my new supplies with you and try them for the first time. I hope that you enjoy it! Natasha xxx

[@Vanitasmortedigital]

Another tip for you Natasha that you may find usefull with these wet and dry pastels,Derwent make a liitle accessory for their inktense blocks,it is a little pot with a screwtop lid and set into the lid is a kind of grater,the idea is you can run the inktense block over this,so it creates a powder inside the pot,You can then empty this poweder into a palette mixing well and add water to make the powder into paint,ot you can also add acrylic matt medium to do the same thing. This little pot by Derwent may work with these pastels to do the same thing. (matt) P.s you can get the Derewent pot on Amazon.

[@nafordebi]

@@Vanitasmortedigital they sell inexpensive holders on amazon like clips 3/$8

[@melsmuse2]

Pastels on paper can be washed nicely with a paint brush dipped in rubbing alcohol. This wash drys rapidly and is a great base layer for other mediums.

[@nicolem.3005]

Thank you for the tipp. But what is "rubbing alcohol"?

[@alicemlovegrove]

@@nicolem.3005 In the UK, it's usually known as surgical spirit, or isopropyl alcohol.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Great tip, thanks Melanie!

[@Msboochie2]

@@alicemlovegrove 😮 I know that we have different names for things here in the US, but I didn’t think rubbing alcohol was one of those things.

[@danieljamesbinderystu2968]

I work with pastel pencils, soft pastels and pan pastels... along with all other mediums as well. My favorite soft pastels are the Terry ludwigs and unison, and I own every professional artist grade brand of pastel pencils.... my absolute must is that I only use PASTELMAT! I do use some sanded papers for smaller things sometimes, but that needs to be sprayed.... pastelmat does not, infact they recommend against using fixative on their pastelmat. Pastelmat works amazing with all other mediums like colored pencils, WATERCOLOR PENCILS and even watercolors are amazing on pastelmat!!! And you can use water and solvents on pastelmat as well. I don't use water with my pastel work, but I will use 91% isopropyl alcohol with my soft pastels to paint an underpainting. Use rubbing alcohol with the pastels to create an underpainting, it dries quickly and doesn't get as muddy like water. It also sinks the pigment into the paper much deeper. Hope you have a great day Natasha 😀

[@willemijnkamerling4011]

The colours are lovely! I've seen others keep a wet rag on the table to wipe your fingers and keep the bin close, to tap the dust in often. 😊 Mixing maybe with a little tool thingy you use for makeup. Lindsay Weirich, the frugal crafter has good tips for pastels. Sandi Hester also uses them.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you for the tips, Willemijn!

[@bethcrane5780]

What a beautiful palette and I'm so intrigued by the wet/dry pastels. Thanks for the video. I suggest using qtips/cotton swabs to help smudging and to keep a moist (not wet) towel or paper towel near by to wipe off and redry finger tips to have more control when applying dry pastels.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Beth!

[@nicolawilkinson9079]

As a pastellist, my top two tips would be to use toned paper and a sanded or textured surface - Canson Mi-teintes touch, Hahnemuhle velour, Uart, Art Spectrum colourfix etc. and of course Pastelmat - the latter is probably the least messy to use. These all behave quite differently - I believe Jackson's does sample packs for you to try. Pan pastels and pastel pencils are also 'cleaner' than soft pastel sticks. Pastel pencils compared to coloured pencils are soooo pigmented and allow for looser, more painterly effects while still giving you a measure of control. You shouldn't use your fingers to blend as they contain oils (though I, and many others do) - you can use cotton buds, packing peanuts, make-up brushes/pads etc.

[@SN-sz7kw]

I keep a wet rag at hand at all times. Most dedicated pastel artists use an easel with a dust catcher at the base. The hardcore recycle the dust into new pastels. Lovely colors! 😊

[@miaomiaochan]

I'm going to have to look up how to recycle pastel dust into new pastels, because that sounds like a brilliant way to reduce waste. Or maybe make it into handmade watercolors?

[@awatercolourist]

That is so interesting!

[@awatercolourist]

@@SUSSDUE This is so cool of you to include this information! 😊

[@maryannprzybycien2013]

Those are beautiful colors. I haven't worked with pastels in probably 40 years. They are really fun. When I was 12, I did a couple of still life paintings with them, and my mother had them framed and displayed them in her house. When she passed two years ago, I got them back, and now they're hanging on my wall so you can see them as you enter my apartment. She always wanted me to do something with my art so I'm getting back into it as a tribute to her as well as therapy for me.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I have a feeling that your mum would be very proud of you and what you're doing. It's the perfect tribute.

[@annesummer1]

The pastel set has lovely colours in it. If I do work longer with my pastels, I definitely put gloves on and put a piece of newspaper or so under my work to protect my desk and floor from the dust. To blend the pastels I use diffrent tools: paper stumps, a paper towel around my finger, q-tips, or make-up sponges and applicators.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Great tips! Thank you.

[@annesummer1]

@@NatashaNewtonArt It's a pleasure, if it helps you. 🤗

[@lizhart81]

I love the soft effect of the sky in the finished work, it's very dreamy. I've never used soft pastels, just hard conté crayons or school chalk. I make enough mess as it is, I didn't think I could deal with the stress of soft pastels with all the dust and potential for accidental smudging. The idea of using them wet or applying to a wet surface is definitely more appealing to me, and I don't know why it never occurred to me before that you could do that! I think it's a good idea to challenge yourself and experiment with new materials and techniques from time to time. I only tried oil pastels for the first time a couple of years ago, and now I have so much fun with them, and I've made a couple of things I'm really proud of.

[@sailorfan86]

Love the pastel set. Bought a set years ago. Never used it. But somehow I found myself using them last year. Used them first in my Fabriano Vergatone sketchbook & loved the experience. Recently I used them by wetting the paper first. Loved the effects I got. Do not forget the fixative.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's interesting, I'm so glad that you're enjoying using them now!

[@louisebourne5779]

Hi Natasha, what a lovely video. The paper looks amazing. I love the colour palette of the pastels and the fact you can use them wet. I love how you layer your work with mixed media this is something that I find difficult and something I want to learn I think I should keep practicing with the supplies that I have. Love your little sketch with your supplies you make it look so easy. 💗

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I'll be making more layering/mixed media videos for Patreon, Louise, so I hope they'll help! xx

[@C0raBr0wn]

I wear nitrile gloves to work with pastels, and use a rag or paper towel for blending. I don't like to get my hands dirty, so I never blend with naked fingers. I love Diane Townsend pastels, and have spent hours looking at all the color sets. Instead of fixative, I cover the drawing with newsprint and rub with my hand to damp down and remove excess dust.

[@nisar6339]

I use dedicated brushes for my pastels. I use a Matt spray varnish to fix mine. You can use Windsor Newton in a airbrush to reduce the fumes.

[@Diaryofachickadee]

Thank you so much! Someday I so wanna go visit their store❤

[@KittehNow]

I ADORE the painting at the end of video!!! Beautiful

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much, Sassi!

[@gadabout522]

Living vicariously with those pastels. Someday, I’ll buy some. Gorgeous

[@reneescott6249]

I always keep a rag close by to wipe my hands, as well as a bin to tap the dust into. Those colors are gorgeous!!

[@patriciatolliver4057]

Patty- you've given me an idea for my pastels. I have Faber Castell soft pastels. I'm very excited to see what happens.

[@mekagooden4915]

I’ve also been interested in this medium. I love the raw unblended look of it. I’ve been wanting to be more loose with my art and this medium makes it look so beautiful. I also love Jackson’s watercolor pads for sketches. The paper is so cheap but holds up beautiful. Love your end art piece so beautiful.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Meka!

[@gabihuber6181]

I love it so much! The colours are so beautiful. And i love your sketch too! ❤️

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Gabi!

[@nancysharp3933]

Wet pastels, what a revelation!! Enjoyed you video! Lovely painting too!!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much, Nancy!

[@kaybreedlove3050]

Really enjoyed this! Watched till the end and will and watch again !♥️

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's lovely to hear, thanks Kay!

[@brittabeningfield3472]

I always keep a damp microfiber for my hands, can't stand the dust either. Definitely pastelmat paper. It handles wet and dry media, and you shouldn't need to use a fixative spray . Awesome for colored pencils too. Get a set of sofft tools, they apply more evenly than makeup sponges. Amazon sells little hand held vacuum cleaners shaped like critters that are brilliant for any kind of work that generates small crumbs or dust. Clear gesso on cheap watercolor paper will give you some tooth to experiment with if you want thefull impact of pastel. I absolutely love your work and your videos. Thanks so much for sharing with us. BTW, pastels can be scary addictive for those of us who love an array of color choices. Sometimes I just go down to my pastel dungeon just to make my eyes happy. Have fun !

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I'm definitely going to check out Pastelmat paper and the Sofft tools, thank you! Pastel dungeon, ha ha!

[@user-zu7gk9ol9f]

Hi! I am on 27:00 and want to say: I agree! I have wondered how pastel artists deal with the dust and the health warning! I recently purchased Diane Townsend violet set, was sooo excited, then read the warning. I donned a mask and turned on an air purifier… and have purchased more but really am not using them as often as I would like because of the warning! I watch Alain Picard lovely pastel paintings and he doesn’t seem concerned at all… Some artists wear gloves while using pastels. Is anyone concerned about the dust? I also saw a pump spray natural fixative, which I will try and find and share with you. Thanks!! I love the colors in your set, Natasha! And your papers! Thank you!!

[@beateklotz7192]

I have always kept a damp cloth on lap to clean fingers between colours. Love the colours

[@clairewalters8238]

The best thing to have on hand, I find is to have some baby wipes next to me whilst using pastels or a wet face cloth to remove the pastel dust from my finger. Thank you for showing us all your haul. Much love and virtual hugs xxx

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Claire! I definitely need something like that! xx

[@Vanitasmortedigital]

Knew this would be a special video when I saw "Choosing Keeping" in the title. They really are a wondefully unqiue little business. And so great that you are expanding your mixed media work by trying a new medium with these wet and dry patels. You should when you have some time check out Sandi Hester's channel here on you tube as recently she has posted a few videos about using soft pastels wet like watercolour and I think she has a video using these same pastels. You can also use them mixed with acrylic medims too such as matt medium so they become alnost like a paint. I have tried this and it works really well. I often use soft pastels by wetting them,as they are really when you think about it almost pure sticks of pigment.. I love the sketch you created and it's great that you can alreeady see how this new medium will fit into your artwork. I love the toned handmade paper from choosing keeping too it often features in my sketchbooks when I'm making them.. I can see why you went for that set of pastels toomdefinitly a natasha newton palette of colours for sure,and the organic shape of the pastels themselves does look really lovely too. There alternative pastel fixatives out there that are plant based/vegan, so you don't have that strong chemical smell.It's so nice that you share with us these new discoveries on your creative journey,and a new medium can only be inspiring as well. Maybe try seeing how these pastels work with your watercolours too or maybe your acrylla gouache. I had a trip to London very recently and I did actually get to go to the Choosing Keeping shop and I really loved it. These unboxing and swatching videos feel like we are on the creative journey with you and that's really inspiring for us on our own journey's too,These pastels might also be good for your new nore abstract pieces too.... (matt) P.s and it's always lovely to see you create an artwork in real time too.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you for these amazing tips, Matt! How lovely it must have been to go to the Choosing Keeping shop too. I've never been to their actual shop as I only discovered them since the pandemic and we haven't gone into London since then. I look forward to visiting someday - I'll be in stationery and art supplies heaven in there! Hope you're having a lovely weekend. :)

[@Vanitasmortedigital]

@@NatashaNewtonArt You will love the choosing keeping shop when you do visit it,The staff are so helpfull and knowledgable,I think some of them are also artists themselves. Did you know about a medium by Danielle Smith called watercolour sticks? they are basically a kind of crayon/pastel of soilid watercolour.. These might be good for your mixed media pieces. (Matt)

[@softandcosy]

the pastel swatches are so soft and glowy 🤩

[@lawsdraws]

Ahh I have that rainbow pencil... it's gorgeous!

[@gabbywilliamson76]

I love those colors. 😊

[@annhaycock2122]

I use wet wipes to clean my hands and the pastels. I also have a hand held hoover (with a good filter) to sort the dust out

[@annhaycock2122]

I have just bought Degas Fixative (from Jacksons) decant it into a fine spray. This fixative really works, its non toxic and can be used indoors

[@mariamontgomery2610]

Diane Townsend’s Terrages line have pumice added and can open up the tooth of the paper. I have the entire set and I love working with them. No pastel dust should be inhaled; it is best to not blow on them. Also most pastels can be used wet and dry. One can make an underpainting with them used wet, and then layer dry above.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Maria!

[@pennypop408]

Keep a wet rag handy and I use an up right surface. Take your board outside an tap often during your piece. I use hard square pastels for most of the work then go in with pastel pencils for details followed by softer pastels for highlights and low lights where you want a pop of color. They look lovely colors. Enjoy.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Great tips, thanks Penny!

[@deborahmeyers551]

This is very inspiring and exciting about how you will incorporate them into your artwork love your sketch too thanks for sharing Natasha 💜

[@michellemould2334]

I really like that little sketch. It had some great texture to it. Art graf have something a bit similar in their tailor shape which can be used dry or wet which i love and the intense blocks are the same in that they can be used wet or dry.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Michelle, and yes, they are kind of similar to ArtGraf tailor shape and Inktense in certain ways!

[@ageloe]

I’m inspired to dig up my pastels now after this video! Thanks for the awesome content

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Age!

[@nicolem.3005]

Thank you for the inspiration!

[@AlyonasWatercolourCreations]

Oh this is going to be enjoyable! Sitting in the garden with water feature on watching this, bliss!! Happy Friday Natasha!! 🧡🌞

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That sounds lovely! Enjoy your weekend, Alyona. :) x

[@Kyomiibrown]

Pastelmat is best for pastels. Less dust, more grip, no need for fixative. You can also use acrylic, watercolour or any watersoluble/wet media on pastelmat. You can wet any soft pastel btw, doesn’t matter the brand.

[@bobbiegraham7729]

Pastelmat is amazing. Even Nupastel, which I don't consider that soft can be used with water. Why don't more people know this?

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks so much for the tips!

[@azpartam3566]

afaik u can use all dry pastel with water, but it's not listed as a "feature". but if you really want to try they dry, get a pastel paper (you must) otherwise you will miss out on how nice it is to work with them. and for smudging, i just have a napkin. i sometimes go and wash my hands if things get too grimy.

[@patriciarae2133]

Hi Natasha - love u and your channel! Pls note though that Choosing Keeping sells items at a markup compared to original vendors. Same pastel set available at Jackson’s for less, at least for your Canadian viewers

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Patricia! Before I bought these I noticed that the same set from Jackson's was £84 GBP compared to £75 GBP from Choosing Keeping. I've just checked again and they're still more expensive on Jackson's for me!

[@patriciarae2133]

Thanks for clarifying Natasha - I apologize! It must be the exchange rate that makes the difference here right now? Also Jackson’s is incredibly inexpensive in their mailing costs to Canada. Anyway - the most important thing is to let you know that I so love your channel and your work ♥️

[@heatherdunbar421]

Beautiful work and video. I am trying to figure out the pastels too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on them.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you, Heather!

[@gemmashannon8796]

What a beautiful little haul! I feel the same about soft pastels! I love how they look in artworks, I wish I could get on with them ❤️

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Gemma! I hope that I can make them work for me and my style. :)

[@efkharisto]

a friend who introduced me to pastels, never used her fingers! She took small torn pieces of tissue paper to move the color and blend. So far that's been the best tip I've received because i hate the mess too!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Great tip!

[@nafordebi]

I use pipe insulation from the hardware store it’s inexpensive and use those and I is the sofft pan pastel tools to blend them , also you can use rwglarr alcohol to wet them as well it dries rather much quicker it cuts down on the dust

[@donnap2814]

You are so talented! Love your videos!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much, Donna!

[@notesinthemargin]

The pastels look gorgeous, what an excellent colour palette, very you! 😁 I used to love working with pastels. As someone who loved to get stuck into some complex details, it’s quite freeing to use a medium that encourages one to keep it simple. I used to use a fixative spray, which worked ok, but smelt really strongly and had to spray it outside, so if anyone has a more user and environmentally friendly option for fixing pastels, I’d love to know it! I loved your sketch too, it reminds me of looking towards the Downs on one of our walks. Congratulations on another beautiful and calming video. 💖😘xxx

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

It's funny because I thought the same about the sketch, and yet it was totally unintentional! Our walks are obviously a strong influence. ;) Thank you for your lovely comment! 💖😘 xxx

[@chedoodles]

your videos are always so chill, so soothing to watch😍

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

So glad you like them! Thank you. :)

[@cindyfromsydney7693]

I also got some pan pastels which are less messy! Love them!

[@hannahellis7974]

i love hauls from this store!!! so beautiful!! i must order from them some day!!!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I hope that you enjoy it, Hannah! :)

[@averymorgan1369]

I prefer them wet and have been expierimenting lately, not all work wet is what i have learned and some more then others . I recently discovered Charvin wet and dry set,, super duper affordable and fun to use!!! My favorite fixative is the spectrafix advanced fixative, non toxic i think and no smell so indoor safe!! (I believe; not an expert just playing with art supplies))😍 fun video!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tip about the fixative. The one I have smells so strong!

[@tlembro]

Several years ago i purchased a set of Sennelier 1/2 sticks…..about 40 of them….gorgeous colors….i saw someone online using a wet brush and touching the pastel and then watercolouring with them! I was amazed! I mean I guess good pastels are actually pure pigment anyway. But it was fun!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

This is it - it's all pigment at the end of the day, isn't it?!

[@ChantelleArts]

Those pastels look like they could be really fun to use like watercolour ☺️ great haul, I’ve never tried anything from choosing keeping before (as they’re a bit pricey), definitely tempted now though! 😍

[@dorianadesanto4158]

I think you’ll really enjoy that 🌈 ✏️! I carry one and a tiny sketchbook with me all the time.

[@bobbiegraham7729]

Two suggestions for you, Sofft tools for pan pastel work for regular pastels, mixing strokework, different shapes with a handle. And makeup brush covers - sort of a netting, expandable covers are perfect for covering even half of a pastel stick so your hands don't get dirty. They also cover and keep expensive brushes in shape. Almost all pastels can be used with water. Or paint the undercoat with watercolor and use the pastel on top. Beautiful set you chose.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Bobbie! That's great. :)

[@yenaarts]

hey there, i use pastels regularly to prepare for an oil painting. The way i use them is on special pastel paper, like pastelmat or canton mi-teintes, which has a very rough texture. It’s also handy to have a sheet of paper as a trying surface for trying blending and other stuff. I don’t use pastels wet but i have been wanting to try hard pastels (like Conte a Paris carre pastels) with linseed oil. For sketching, try to draw it as light as possible, i always lighten it with a putty eraser. For blending, i try to avoid going from dark/strong colors to light/more delicate colors but if i have to, and all my fingers have been used, I put a circle (or some other shape) of the color i want to use to rub a finger into to have it lightened to that color and avoid unwanted blending. if that doesn’t work, it means it’s time to go wash your hands. I hope this helps. :)

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Lots of useful information here, thank you so much!

[@sylphofthewildwoods5518]

Those colored rag papers are nice and so are the pastels. That tablet looks to me me like it's for the pastels.

[@gillinacook1477]

I love my pastels. They work best on Clairefontaine pastel mat paper, well it’s like card with a sanded service. I never put water near my pastels and never needed to use any fixative as the Pastel mat grips the pastel and fixative changes the colour of the pastels. I use pastel pencils on top of my pastels. You can use colour pencils on top of pastels. I recommend watching Xrissart and Jason Morgan KZbin channels. You can use makeup brushes too but only work on Pastel mat for this technique. Pan pastels are fantastic.

[@nematarot]

Loved the Choosing Keeping unboxing! If you haven’t tried the water soluble caron d’ache yet I’d recommend those instead of the chalk pastels. The caron d’ache water soluble colors mix together beautifully (you probably know, but I figure its worth throwing out there.) I only have a little experience with pastels myself, but I will say, if you have a respirator, its great to use an exacto knife to scrape pigment into pans. You can mix pigments together this way before applying them to make new colors. I don’t work with them myself because of how toxic they are, and also please do note that breathing in fixatif can cause brain damage. Its just as toxic as the pigments.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you! I'm super careful with the fixative and only spray it outside. I love the water soluble Caran d'Ache Neocolors and have quite a few of them now! The toxicity of the pastels and fixative concerns me a little. I'm not used to using such toxic art supplies!

[@jessicastrideart]

I wish that I loved using pastels. Those you have there look so very beautiful, I love the colours and as you said, they look like stones.😍 We used them a lot when I was first at art college but Ive never liked the mess they make. I’ll just sit and enjoy watching yours!🥰x

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I do struggle with the mess! x

[@sumeyrae.2323]

great choices !! they look lovely. i hope you get to use them well

[@nafordebi]

also I use the pan pastels and if h get the 20 set u can mix yum to make the tints and shades

[@awatercolourist]

Choosing Keeping is on my list of stores to visit if I ever visit London again. I’d like to try their paper and maybe pickup a porcelain palette. There was something else that I also wanted, but I can’t remember what it was. The Saiundo paints that they have are very nice as well, but I’d like to travel to Kyoto, Japan to get them from there 🙂

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I've never visited their store in person, but would love to!

[@Calibizaro]

You can use paper tissues, cotton buds, "color shapers", and those tools you use with panpastels and you'll keep your fingers cleaner. Just like watercolor paint, your paper is important too. Pastelists often paint on an easel which solves some of the dust issue since most falls to the tray., and you can gently tap the backing board you taped your paper to and most of the dust will fall. NEVER blow on pastel paintings! That's when you can accidentally inhale the dust... you also get spittle on the painting, lol.

[@Calibizaro]

Dang it....now I want those pastels... lol!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Great tips, thank you so much!

[@sonja__k]

Hi Natasha! Just a quick comment because I don't have much time right now and couldn't check if someone else already mentioned it: Afaik the "Aquarella" paper is made or at least marketed by a small paper shop situated in Munich, Germany, called Carta Pura.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you, Sonja! I'll go and Google. :)

[@thepoodledoodlepainter]

Hi Natasha. That pad of multi coloured paper looks very interesting. I'm hoping you will do a video showing how it is for watercolours! Also, just so you know, personally I couldn't hear whatever it was you were worried about outside. Its often the case that you mention sounds you can hear but I really don't think they come through on the video so don't worry about it at all 🥰

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for letting me know that! :) I'm curious to try the paper with watercolours - I know that it works well for dry media, so it will be interesting to see how it handles water! x

[@inaanjakossowska6990]

Beautiful colours! As for the mess, you can use a plethora of things instead of your fingers - try cheap make-up stuff like eyeshadow applicators, tearshaped and wedgeshaped thingies and of course brushes😉😊

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips!

[@yaqian7435]

Sometimes art materials themselves are good enough to start a journey of experiment ❤

[@mell8205]

Oh wow, that's just lovely! I'd never thought of using pastels wet, to be honest. Now I'm eying those poor sennelier pastels I haven't used way too long.... 😂

[@patkelly275]

Hi Natasha. You can buy tools called Sofft Tools which are sponges specially made for blending or you can use makeup sponges. You should be careful with fixative as I find it dissolves white pastel and can ruin a painting!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you! But what do you do about smudging if you don't use fixative?

[@patkelly275]

@@NatashaNewtonArt Use glassine paper to lean on. If you are using Pastelmat paper (the best you can buy in my opinion) it comes with a sheet of glassine for each sheet of paper in the pad. It can also be put in front of the work when stored to protect it.

[@CuriosityRocks]

You use sponges and cotton buds to blend and you could get a little desktop Henry Hoover to suck up the extraneous pastel dust

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you!

[@arricamartin2045]

Lovely items. Choosing Keeping is such a self care treat of a store. I enjoy gifting from their curated treats. Pastels as a wet media opens up so many options. Cant wait to try with mine. Would be curious to know who you gain inspiration from on KZbin. Could you share a few of your favorite channels?

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Check out Melanie Chadwick (she's my friend and has a lovely channel), Lee Foster-Wilson who has recently started her channel but I love her style, and Kriksis for warm and cosy art videos. Of course Leigh Ellexson is amazing too, but I think everyone already knows about her!

[@user-zu7gk9ol9f]

The fixative I mentioned before is SpectraFix. It also has a FinalFix. It says it’s non-toxic, although I have not yet tried it. I too am very sensitive to chemical smells!

[@karenemmerich2572]

The colors are so beautiful that make me feel I should invest in some pastels 😅

[@francavan1295]

Try working on pastels with cotton rags not with fingers and wet them with Arabic gum to provide fixative action. When you are done spray with workable fixative or permanent fixative. Hope this helped

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Franca!

[@Cerydwyn87]

Pan pastel have a range of accessories called sofft tools that could be useful. They’re plastic tools in various shaped that come with little covers. That said, if you plan to mostly use the pastels wet could you not take the colour straight from the block? They’re essentially dried pigment (and chalk) after all, similar to pan watercolours (minus the gum arabic etc of course). Lovely video as always Natasha, loved the painting you did at the end 😊💚💚

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Nikki! I did actually use one of them from the block the other day and it seemed to work pretty well. I just didn't get as much of the amazing texture and marks as I would have done if I'd drawn on the paper with them first and then used water. x

[@nancyloomis3046]

I’m no pastel artist, and my experience with the medium is limited. But I do know for Pan Pastels, (of which I have about a dozen, and that are very soft, but in pans, thus the name. ) I’m in the U.S. so not sure if they’re sold in the UK.They have blending tools to go with them called “Sofft Tools.” They are kind of like high quality makeup foam on handles…some round, some square, etc. But as someone said, you can use cotton balls, and then q-tips, bunched up paper towel, old white thick cotton socks. Or anything that will softly blend. The Diane Townsend pastels are really lovely. I’m sure you’ll do some beautiful work with them.😁👍

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I've seen the Pan Pastels - I was very tempted by them at one time and then somehow resisted buying any! The Sofft tools sound great. Thanks Nancy! :)

[@amberrundell]

U can use a blending stump to blend u don’t have to use ur fingers or u could use a paper towel or tissue also if u want to work on top I would spray with a fixative first. I love the sketch u made very cool the texture is awesome

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Amber! I'd like to apply what I learned while doing the sketch to a larger piece next time. :)

[@SpookyRooster135]

Blend using make-up eyeshadow sponge applicators. Very cheap for quite large quantities. If you blend with your fingers, the oils in your skin can mark it. Before using my pastels i wrap each colour with a single piece of toilet paper, so you keep each one clean and don't transfer colour to other pastels. Keeps your fingers clean and stops you getting the oils in your skin on the pastels. Some people blend with blending stumps but you have to keep cleaning them, and it's too time consuming. I have a friend in South Korea who is a professional artist, selling his paintings for a fortune, quite often he uses his pastels as watercolours to paint with, I thought he'd gone mad a first but his paintings are beautiful. I didn't even know you could paint with them until I saw him do it, He uses the 48 set of Japanese pastels in the wooden box that is also on choosing keeping.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Ooh, that's interesting about your friend! I'd love to see his work. :)

[@anjaanja7684]

Regarding the dust I actually often use one of those fabric masks that most people have these days, because if it is a very dusty type of pastel then it can get in your lungs especially if you work on larger pieces. Rembrandt soft pastels are very good and much less dusty and messy......but honestly I love the mess that pastels create but I do wipe my fingers a lot when working with them lol 😆 Actually most soft pastels can be used wet.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's good to hear about the Rembrandt soft pastels as I bought nine of them recently (I'll be using them for the first time today to film a video for Patreon!).

[@fuzzydragons]

just got use to the mess, i ty not to wear anything i care about. have a rag next to use to wipe off the pastels. I usually use them dry but in college we did use them wet, gives a really nice look to them.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I really like them wet - I have a feeling I'll be using them more often like this!

[@Amber29]

Beautiful!

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

Some tips. Keep a damp hand towel by to keep hands clean. After applying pastel on paper use a soft tool to blend or paper stump or make up brush

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Great tips! Thank you.

"How do you cope with the mess?" It's part of the fun! 😃

[@coloredcarol8074]

Like you I also got tempted to try using pastels after watching Kriksis video, as I didn’t know either they could be used wet. I love the texture they give when used dry also, but after reading all about the precautions one needs when working with them I gave up completely. I already started using watercolours exactly because I have respiratory allergies that won’t allow me using things like oil paint and varnishes, so the fixative is also a no-no for me. I had hoped water would “fix” it, but since it doesn’t, I’ll just stick to my beloved watercolours. Lovely colours though.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

This aspect is a bit of an issue for me too, so I understand where you're coming from.

[@largojunkie]

I use eye shadow applicators to blend them. x

[@jessicabaca5186]

You may want to have a microfiber cloth on your lap for the pastels

[@gbear768]

Is there anything quite as yummy as soft pastels?? I am also fairly new to this medium but I like to use them with liquid matte medium. More permanent than water and I think the caran d'ache will still go over them ok.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's interesting, thank you!

[@catbugg9957]

They sound like an expensive version of the charvin water soluble pastels. You should do a comparison video

[@nafordebi]

The revolution fixative is suppose to be incredible I can’t get Jackson’s to import them to the USA I do use another one spectrafix is really great for pastels, I also use the brush an pencil texture fixative gives you more ability to put more Patel layers down and the final fixative works really great, keep tracing paper over the painting to keep it the way u lay it down , I hope it helps but the revolution fixative is even better than the soectra fix, which works awesome, you’ll be able to maybe get Jackson’s to deliver that one to you

[@miaomiaochan]

I'd been eyeing that Aquarella pad for some time, but haven't bought it because I didn't know if it was made of cotton. I'm going to have to get a pad the next time I order from Choosing Keeping. And those pastels...I usually stay away from pastels for the mess they make, but I'm sorely tempted to try these wet/dry ones because of their their water solubility. The dust will be an issue in my desert climate, though.

[@vivohayati1931]

I love the aquarella pad so much, I’ve gotten it multiple times and I also totally recommend it

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

The Aquarella pad is honestly one of my favourite watercolour papers!

[@nattyw495]

Enjoyed video, interesting layering technique, i like how you can use the pastel with water or layer on them, they look a bit like a graphtint watercolor pencil the gritty colors, even tho i know they aren't graphtint they just remind me of that type of median.i think these would be good for people who dont enjoy the feel of pastel on their fingers or the messiness...lol,.....i also liked the different color pages of the sketchbook do you have a idea what country they make the sketch book in???? Mikelle art mom🎨👩‍🎨✍

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I've just checked on their website and it doesn't say where the pads are made, sorry. I know of several people who love the Graphitint watercolours!

[@impish22]

looks like fun..!!

[@MsMoniqueWilson]

This was fun. I know you'll do something amazing with them if your little sketch is any indication!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks so much!

[@pamelameredith1762]

I don't use water but you can or fixative use glassine paper rubbed over the won't smudge but will push the pastel in the tooth and use pastlemate paper for your work it is better pastels work to keep baby wipes to wash your hands to keep them clean

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tips, Pamela!

[@hannemarielorenzen3428]

Hi, try to look up Karen Margulis. She is great with soft pastels and include other wet art suplies as underpaintings.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I will, thanks for the recommendation!

[@julienotsmith7068]

I’m not a pastel artist but I’ve fooled with them… you might want to see how these behave with an alcohol blending marker, or colored pencil blending solvent / odorless mineral spirits. Often if it works with one, it will work with all. I like to use an alcohol blender with Inktense pencils.

[@naomifreya1481]

You can use pastel blending brushes x

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Naomi! :)

[@anchesenamonsims5356]

I always use Pastelmat paper from Clairefontaine, because it takes the pastel really well (less dust!), so the right paper makes things a lot easier (same as with watercolours or any other medium really). When it comes to mixing colours, you are going to get messy fingers! LOL But I love working with soft pastels. Jason Morgan has a wonderful YT channel and he works with pastels a lot as well, you might want to check him out.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I'll check him out, thank you!