Clairefontaine Pastelmat | Properties & Techniques (Mini Review!)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Hi guys! Just wanted to add that alcohol (and alcohol based markers, inks etc) should be used with Pastelmat WITH CAUTION. It appears that high concentrations of alcohol dissolves the coating. You'll see this in effect in my Coloursoft review video where I demo it with the Derwent Blender Pen : kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHOcn6iGa5V9qa8m54s I've read in a few places that pastel artists will use 70% isopropyl or lower- this works ok, and many will use it to blend out an underpainting. High concentrations cause the issues- but as usual I recommend doing your own experiments before you start on a piece! :) Thanks to Marcotronic for bringing this up in the comment section!

[@stephengreico2810]

Claudia Sketches Straight water is ok thought right?

[@cuneytsonmez]

This is not a "mini" review. I've learnt more than what I've been searching for on this topic. Thanks a lot.

[@jacquelinedraws2842]

I only started using pastelmat a few months ago and I just love it! In fact, I started my channel shortly after and all my pieces (only 3 so far) I have used pastelmat. I haven't tried watercolour on it or solvents (I plan to) but I did use a bit of gold acrylic paint in my first drawing and it worked great. I have also struggled with the texture of the darker colours. I love the colours and versatility of the paper. Thanks for an excellent review!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting! Such a versatile surface- you've got me wanting to try out more mediums (and more metallic stuff!) on the surface. I'm a sucker for metallic and iridescent things... :P

[@leeludlowart237]

Oh my goodness. Now I’ve watched till the end I absolutely love this painting. It’s stunning. Congratulations you have a ton on talent.

[@athieliagriffin7957]

You can also use slightly watered down chalk paint. Works great and comes in lots of colors.

[@barbbell6291]

Beautiful cat, I can almost hear her meow, she is so lifelike! Thank you for the pastelmat information, I’ve not tried it yet. I haven’t found a shop that carries it in my area. I live on Vancouver Island, in BC, Canada.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you found the video helpful. I buy mine online and have purchased it from Jackson's Art Supplies (who ship internationally) and from Amazon. DickBlick and Jerry's Artarama carry it as well, but I don't know if these are shops that can ship to you.

[@deejay2838]

This cat is beautiful! your work is always AMAZING! I would like to try pastelmat but being more expensive and not available unless I get it online, I have been using Strathmore Bristol Vellum, and Strathmore toned for my Color Pencil. I am only 3 months into using C.P and have been making a few mistakes since leaving graphite art...but I am still not completely happy with Bristol Vellum either, especially when I need to erase!, ughh.Non the less, I am proud of what I have accomplished so far!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! I have used the Strathmore Toned Mixed Media pad recently- which also has a vellum finish- and although it takes layers well it has a habit of smudging and the colour doesn't lift entirely when erasing. It sounds very similar! Pastelmat is such a forgiving surface which is why I love it so much. I can be sloppy and make mistakes and it covers over- which is great for me as I'm an impatient artist and do dumb things a lot :D So lovely to hear that you're feeling motivated by what you're accomplishing! There's nothing better :)

[@janetsutton824]

DeeJay28 clairfomtane paselmat

[@peggycovicfineart]

I'm working on pastelmat with PolyChromo's for the first time and also trying Zest-it pencil blend out too. It's certainly a learning curve but loving the results I'm getting so far. This fluffy kitty is gorgeous!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you for watching and commenting, Peggy :) Awesome to hear that you're trying and enjoying it!

[@crazymomcraftsalot6351]

Thank you for helping answer all my questions!!! I have severe multiple chemical sensitivity and can only work with certain products as a result... i have been wanting to learn pastel pencils for years now but have withheld as i understood final works had to be sealed... hearing this particular mat can probably do without a fixative is exciting hopefully i can finally try it!!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You're most welcome! I'm pleased you've found the video so helpful. If it's of any extra help, I know plenty of professional pastellists who don't use fixatives; so many of them alter the colour of the pastels or appear to remove the final detail layer. Instead they'll ship and store the pieces in glassine/crystal paper, or have the piece framed under glass before selling or shipping the piece. As long as the surface of the piece isn't touched or rubbed, the piece should be fine.

[@crazymomcraftsalot6351]

Claudia Sketches oh my goodness thank you for this info!!! This has literally been the only thing holding me back ☺️

[@lorrainemarcketta489]

Thanks so much for this, Claudia. After hearing rave reviews about pastel mat, I ordered some from one of the online art supply sites from which I frequently order other items. What I wound up with is not thick, so it continues to curl up on the sides (annoying while I'm working), and I find myself sort of fighting with the abrasive texture. I will say, as promised by other KZbin artists, once many layers are applied, application feels smoother and can more easily blend. So, until I have four or five layers down, it's a struggle. So far, one of my favorite papers is Stonehenge, which accepts many layers and is quite comfortable to work on. Since I'm primarily a portrait artist, smooth transitions are important to me. Thanks again for your words of wisdom.

[@trondsi]

I have now tried Pastelmat as well. I think the surface is probably similar to pastel surfaces used in the 18th century, when some people (e.g. Liotard) used smooth parchment that had roughened slightly for pastels, so that the keratin fibers held on to the pigment, sort of like the cellulose fibers in pastelmat.

[@leeludlowart237]

There’s a painting on my Chanel of my boxer George, I used fixative on that and the whole painting disappeared. Luckily I had a decent photo of it so I hung the print. I really enjoyed your video and The painting is beautiful.

[@c8Lorraine1]

Thank you for sharing this review. Quite relaxing watching you draw the kitty

[@7000bass]

Hi, I’m just starting out with this medium which I’m very excited about, and this is hugely helpful. Awesome work, awesome talent. Big thanks 😊

[@MixedMediaCraftsbyDiane]

Beautiful cat portrait!! Have you compared Pastelmat to Lux Archival paper from Brush and Pencil? Thank you for sharing.

[@miriammoore1261]

Miss your videos, art, and your calming voice. Take care. GOD BLESS.

[@sharonknight4570]

Lovely ! Thank you for all your videos. Im looking forward to using CP . I illustrate for outdoor magazines, and use Bristol, but once I get used to CP, I will suggest to my editors to work in the coloured backgrounds at times, too. Enjoy your videos and art very much , Claudia.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting! I hope you find coloured background successful :)

[@davidlandry4119]

You are a really good artist. Their is no indication that face would nockdown a ChristmasTree at 2:00 0'clock in the morning. Or texturizzzzz the furniture after a catnap.

[@usuarios.164]

Your work IS amazing as stated here. I am so surprised at how many layers you can get with Pastelmat. I struggle to get the minimum. Looks like magic! ✨✨✨

[@saltlifegull4091]

OMG, I just found your site. Your talent is amazing! Thank you so much for your review of this paper. Never tried pastels, which brought me to this research. You go girl! Subscriber from Florida.

[@kimbearlysoriginal4276]

Beautiful work of art. Great video as always. Thank you.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting, Kimbearly! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@fayvickers985]

Great video, very informative and easy to listen to. Adore your cat it’s soooooo good 😍. I’m definitely going to give this a try thank you for sharing 🥰

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much for watching and your kind words! I'd love to hear what you think about Pastelmat if you give it a try :)

[@maureendaunt8665]

your teaching is so informative and detailed. Congratulations, l love it. Thank you so much for all of the effort you put into making these tutorials. 👌👍🏻❤️

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You are so welcome!

[@avigail5356]

Thank you for this video, there is so much I didn't know about this paper! I can't wait to try it, I loved the cat and listening to you, you have a new subscriber, I want to see more! 😍

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Avigail :D Glad you found the video informative- and thank you so much for subscribing too!

[@triciat-b3972]

Very beautiful cat and lots of good information. Thanks for sharing.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks, Tricia! Glad you found it informative :)

[@leeludlowart237]

Oh my goodness. This is absolutely stunning work. I have a set of prismas and polychromos. I have some thinner and I have pastel Matt but I’m terrified of trying something new. But I love the effect of colour pencils. I’ve got a picture of a puma I want to paint so I will give it a go. Thank you for this video it’s really given me a little more bravery to have a go.

[@jtpaar1732]

You're an amazing artist with incredible skill and your videos are very informative! Not sure why you don't have tens of thousands of subscribes, but I will certainly subscribe to your channel. Thank you!

[@jpwartist]

You can also use watered down acrylic paint on PastelMat to change it's tone. I often paint it jet black for projects.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Fantastic tip! This is awfully tempting :D

[@jpwartist]

@@ClaudiaSketches just make sure to tape it down until it dries to stop it warping or curling.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

@@jpwartist For sure! I've used heavy washes when using watercolour pencils on it (for my Albrecht Dürer review) and found that it warped a bit where I hadn't taped down well enough- the water crept in at the edges. Lesson learned! Edit: Must say though that it didn't warp nearly as much as any other paper I've experienced! Pastelmat also has a natural tendency to curl in a little on itself though, especially when cutting larger sheets down into smaller ones.

[@AlexisCassandraArt]

This cat turned out beautiful ! It actually almost looks like it was done in pastel because of the smoothness. I’ll have to look into zest it pencil blend online because I don’t think it’s as easy to find in my country.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :) I bought it online as well- from Jackson's Art Supplies and from Amazon. I've never seen it in physical shops.

[@AlexisCassandraArt]

Claudia Sketches thank you, i will look into it! :)

[@jaydee177]

You can make your own Pastelmat paper that is FAR less expensive and goes a looooong way by using Golden Fine Pumice Gel on the substrate. It’s also already toned to a beautiful medium grey tone. And if you want to take it one step further you can make your own Pumice Gel by using fine marble dust with clear Gesso that you can tint to any color.

[@raze956]

can you go into detail? like what substrate to use, how much pumice gel and so on. im really curious

[@saltlifegull4091]

OMG, seriously? What do you tint it with? I'm new to all this. Awesome tip!!! What paper do I begin with? I'm clueless but you sound like you are the master. Help:)

[@hayleyjackson1849]

you can buy the base paint that they use to make the Pastelmat paper in all the colours available for Pastelmat. I use it instead of buying Pastelmat paper and the only draw back to it is it can warp the paper just like any paint would however it gives the exact same results as just buying standard Pastelmat paper. It is also cheaper in the long run I believe and can be used on all surfaces. It is called Colourfix Original pastel and multimedia primer by Art Spectrum.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Fantastic suggestion! Most likely cheaper in the long run (and handy if you want to work bigger than the 50x70cm sheets that Pastelmat sell). I'm not sure if the texture is a perfect match to Pastelmat- I have a feeling that Colourfix uses a grit rather than rather unique cellulose fibres that Pastelmat does. I have a couple of Colourfix sheets I've been meaning to try out and compare to Pastelmat as the colour range (and open claims about lightfastness) have intrigued me! My first impression is that the surface is rougher than Pastelmat, but smoother than Mi-Teintes Touch. You've absolutely reminded me that I need to try the paper out (I've had it for ages now), so I've put that near the top of my things-to-do! (Thank you :D) Priming boards with pastel ground is something I'd love to experiment with in the future as a way to offer artwork on a more weighty surface. Unfortunately I don't have the space in my apartment currently- the mess and added prep time is a bit of a drawback.

[@revllorlegit117]

Thank you for this video. Just purchased this prod. Anxious to try. Tha ks for info

[@happyone444able]

Hi Claudia! I continue to learn so much from your wonderful videos! May I ask what size you usually work on?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Ruth! Glad you find my videos helpful :) Most of my pieces (including commissions) are about A5 size (roughly 6x8" or 15x20cm). The paper dimensions of this piece is 15x24cm though, as the paper I used was half of a sheet of pastelmat from a 30x24cm pad. If you'd like more information about paper dimensions, check out my blog post about pastelmat- link to which is in the description box under the video.

[@happyone444able]

Claudia Sketches thank you very much! I will check out the blog today!!😊💕

[@carollizc]

Wow, what a beautiful drawing. And such helpful information as well.

[@Becca-UK]

Very helpful thank you 🙏 Beautiful art as always xx

[@emilyerdbeere9210]

Amazing, lovely kitten ❤️ Pastelmat is my favorite paper, too. I love the surface, it holds sooo many pigments, and colours get so vibrant. Water doesn’t wave like all the other papers. It’s so wonderful. The dark grey coloured paper is smoother than the other colours. What tape do you use to fix it? Mine destroyed the surface 😩

[@michaelmcewan432]

Lovely work again, love pastel matt paper,

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much as always, Michael! :)

[@TjVoelkerArt]

You’re very talented and I love your voice!! Thanks for the detailed review!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you like my videos (and my voice!) :)

[@walle5667]

When I use Polychromos, Caran d'Ache Luminance and Derwent Drawing pencils on the Pastelmat I feel like the pigment is just being pushed aside rather than accepted by the paper. E.g. I put a layer of one colour and when I go over it with a different colour I do not feel like they mix very well. Rather the previous pigment appears to be removed by the pencil (quite some dust) to make room for the new pigment. I use Pastelmat with pastel pencils all the time and love it, but I cannot fathom how you and others use Pastelmat with oil and wax based pencils and do not end up with a grainy mess. I even attempted using Pan pastel as a base layer and Pilychromos on top for finishing touches, but same results: The polychromos only sticks to the upper part of the tooth and seems to push aside what pigment lies underneath.

[@Sunandshine1234]

Very useful , thank you for sharing your knowledge .

[@CassandraHanley]

Ooh I am so curious about the pastelmat.. I have used the mi-Tients and ampersand pastelbord with colour pencils and I really liked The results. I think I'd really like to play with another textured surface! I recently found a supplier for pastelmat in Australia, so your video has definitely inspired me towards perhaps going in a little shopping spree :)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you for watching, Cass! If you're already into textured surfaces, I'm sure this will be right up your street too! I'd love to know what you think if you do make the purchase :)

[@usuarios.164]

You did a GREAT job with this kittie! Congratulations! ✨🦋

[@azalea1404]

Hi Claudia, could you perhaps make a video on the differences between Caran D' Ache Pabło and Luminous?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I can add it to the list :) Thanks for the suggestion!

[@slyseyes]

Your fluffy kitten is absolutely beautiful.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much! Took me a while to find the stunning reference I used :D

[@sarahdoyle1679]

What solvents did you use to blend please

[@rchines1975]

Beautiful job! So what does the number 1, on the cover mean.?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

The numbers and packaging colour refers to the colour selection of the paper within

[@karenmccoy5951]

Great video. Appreciate the information. The cat is gorgeous.

[@jaypritchardartist]

Hi love your art. What colour is this pastelmat you're using on this picture? I use the dark grey but seems very dark, was thinking of using Sand colour but interested to know what colour you're using for this one?

[@talimediaart]

Claudia, I couldn't find the blog post to the Arteza supplies. Are you sure it's in the description box because I looked and I didn't see it. And do you think the Canson Moulin Du Roy hot press watercolor paper is good for water based markers?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

The blog post I linked to is about lightfastness- there I give a breakdown of the lightfastness ratings of Arteza's coloured pencils- but the information also applies to their watercoloured pencils. :) As for the brush pens, they don't come with any lightfastness ratings so I wouldn't use them for art you want to sell or display. I intend on running a home-test on them to see how well they'd last for temporary craft projects though. As for Canson Moulin du Roy HP- it's what I use for all of my waterbased marker videos. :D I haven't tried a lot of different HP papers, but it seems to work well for me. If something didn't work I wouldn't use it, or I'd mention it in the video.

[@talimediaart]

Claudia Sketches Ah I see. Thanks!

[@artbyconniedawn9680]

Just beautiful. Love your work.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :)

[@claudiswelt.]

Thank you for your opinion about Pastelmatpapier. Your information was very helpful for me! Thank you! For crayons I currently use the Hahnemühle nostalgia paper. The polychromos practically glide smoothly over the paper. I think that's very good! Another equally excellent artist uses the Fabriano Artistico for crayons. Did you already use this paper for it! Greetings Claudia from Germany

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I haven't tried Hahnemühle or Fabriano Artistico- the latter I was interested in trying until I've heard that recently they changed their formula and it doesn't work like it used to for coloured pencil (still fine for watercolour though!). Generally though, I don't get on very well with smooth paper. I like paper with a bit of tooth as I like to build up lots of layers- and because pastelmat is so abrasive I can layer light over dark.

[@stephengriffin4120]

Great video. Great Drawing. I’ve been using Bristol board for pet portraits exclusively but have some pastel mat and zest it on order for my next coloured pencil pet portrait. I have a question. Can you use a precision eraser with coloured pencil pastel mat combo?

[@62artemis]

Hi! Very nice video! How do you sharpe your pencils?

[@vapsman88]

Thanks for the great review. I have used Pastel Pencils on Pastelmat, but not CP's yet. This video has inspired me to try it. :0)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you for watching and commenting! Ooh- I hope you have fun! :)

[@TheRindyrae]

This cat is so gorgeous. So many pencils are used. I was trying to color a simple cat in a coloring book which is a Artist edition and each page is separate. My cat came out horrible. Trying to figure out how to fix it.

[@thomasweed8052]

Hi Claudia. Love your skills with pastelmat your portrait of the cat is fantastic. I use pastelmat i find them great and easy to blend the colours i use paper stumps can you tell me what is your preference please. Tom.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I usually blend with zest-it pencil blend, but I have a few videos on pastelmat where I've not used any solvents to blend. Polychromos blend and layer particularly on their own as the pigments seem to move around the surface a little more than wax based pencils do. I haven't found the need for tortillons in this case, but use whatever you prefer and are most comfortable with :)

[@nicolejulien4545]

Beautiful cat WOW; I'm working with Pastelmate but only with Pitt Pastel Faber Castell, may I use Zest-it with these Pastel or if it's only for color pencil? I know that I can use a blender for Pitt Pastel but I don't know if I can use Zest-it with pastel? Thank.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Not something that I've tried as I've only tried pastel a couple of times, but I'm pretty sure that I've heard that people use solvents with pastel. Experiment and give it a go on a scrap of paper. I don't recommend using alcohol as a solvent though on Pastelmat as it will dissolve the coating. OMS and Zest-it work just fine though. Thanks for watching :)

[@nicolejulien4545]

That you very much for your answer, it's appreciate.

[@attheranch873]

Excellent video, information and a lovely drawing 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting!

[@kristiinasakai9957]

Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your skills, knowledge and the products you use. I appreciate all of it. Can't wait to order some Pastelmat to try with my old Dervent pencils. I also have some Prismacolor pencils. How do you think they would work on Pastelmat? Thank you so much. I will subscribe to your channel.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I don't think I've tried Prismacolor Premier on Pastelmat, but their texture is similar to that of the Derwent Coloursoft (which I made a review video on Pastelmat) and they worked wonderfully. Prismacolor Premier have a waxy, creamy texture like Derwent Drawing- which I use incredibly frequently on Pastelmat. You may find a harder pencil would be helpful for details and texture- but if you happen to already have Derwent Artists or Studios they'd be perfect for this. Watch out that these pencils, as well as Prismacolor Premier, have a fair few colours that aren't lightfast- if that's something you're concerned about.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Oh! And thank you very much for watching and your kind words, I'm glad that you found the video informative :)

[@revllorlegit117]

Very nice. Beautiful work, ty

[@lynnrushton7458]

What a beautiful cat 😍 love the colours you have used 😁👍

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much! I was trying to push the warm lighting and cool shadows on this one- glad you like it :D

[@sgraham4533]

How do u know which side of the board to use? I bought it in white and both sides feel the same. Neither sides are gritty feeling like the pastelmat paper

[@ClaudiaSketches]

It's unusual that both sides feel identical - it shouldn't, unless there is a defect. Is it possible that a sheet of glassine (crystal paper) is laying over the top that makes both sides feel glossy? One side of the pastelmat card should feel slick/glossy (the back) whilst the other should have a very slightly coarse texture (the front). If that doesn't clear up anything, I'd try a pencil on the corner of both sides. It's worth noting that the white is a lot smoother than the other colours.

[@sgraham4533]

@@ClaudiaSketches thank you. Yes i bought the white pastelmat on board. There isn’t any sheet on either side like what comes in a pastelmat pad. Was there supposed to be?

[@ThePepperdawg]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful art and your knowledge. Considering the amount of time and effort that goes into each of our artworks it is my opinion we should strive to use the best surface we can use. I have regretted using a lesser surface more than once when I unexpectedly produced an especially nice piece when practicing. Since the last time I have vowed to be more cognizant of its importance anytime I draw or paint.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much for watching and your eloquent comment :) I agree entirely! In many instances the quality of the surface is more important than the quality of the medium. Building on this, for coloured pencils especially, I've found that different types of surface can greatly alter the feel and effects achieved with the medium.

[@janetsutton824]

ThePepperdawg panel matters

[@sandrapinto534]

Very useful video! and the cat is amazing!! thank you for all the information!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Glad you found the video informative. Thanks for commenting and watching :)

[@TjVoelkerArt]

I just watched this again and I do actually have a question. I notice you are using Derwent Chinese White (I'm assuming) and Caran D'ache Luminance White. Can you please tell me why you use two different types of white on one picture? Which is more opaque? Thank you!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

The Chinese White is more opaque, but doesn't sharpen to (or maintain) such a fine point, so I generally don't use it for details, and instead use the Luminance or Pablo white for the small details. The Caran d'ache I'm using is Titanium Buff, which is a creamy white, although I do use the White too- it's just nice to have some slight variation in tone and hue for highlights.

[@TjVoelkerArt]

Claudia Sketches thank you so much for the answer.

[@Antonio_Ortiz]

You're using Zest-it pencil blend on a paint brush to blend your colors?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Tony Ortiz Yes :) I always leave a list of the materials I used in the description box if you're ever unsure!

[@VANISHTHEWEAK]

Excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

[@emilyerdbeere9210]

Hi Claudia! Thank you so much for this Video. How do you blend the colours with the brush, I don‘t want to use solvents (because of Health) Burnisher doesn’t work at all. I still haven‘t found out how to blend my Polychromos :-(

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I used solvents on my brush in this piece. Check out this video (and the second video in this two part tutorial) for some footage and explanation on dry blending: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npO2p3ePhKeNis0 In short, it requires a lot of layers (e.g. 20 or more) applied with light pressure. You can also use paper blending stumps, blending cloth or similar to help soften edges and pencil strokes.

[@clearwater7000]

Really amazing work,cat is perfect!💓🌞

[@Vol4ica]

Came here from your article (was looking on how to cut 50x70 sheets). You noticed you had quality issues with one piece. Same went for me. I don't have bumps, however many of dark sheets have uneven color, highlighted spots and lines. And pretty much of them have unfair size, some of them lack 0.5 cm, some 1cm, and sometimes it is 70 on one side and 69 on other, so that paper is not a rectangle. I bought 20 pieces to be delivered from Jacksons to Ukraine (we dont have it here), and approximately half of them have different kinds of defects. I can only wonder if its manufacturer or shop fault (possibly they picked worst of sheets?), but refund/replacemend is not really an option to me because delivery price is 30+ euros. Anyway, it is obvious that pastelmat has huge problems with manufacturing quality and a big % of defects coming into shops unnoticed. For me it is unacceptable for such price. So no more buying without preview.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I've also had issues with purchasing open stock sheets- lots manufacturing defects. I contacted Clairefontaine directly and they sent me some replacements. I had a Dark Grey and a Light Grey sheet (50x70cm) that weren't up to standard and asked for them to send me a 5 pack of the 24x32cm sheets in each colour as a replacement (I was going to cut down the 50x70cm sheets anyway).They obliged and also sent me some extra ones too. I guess what I'm trying to say is that they customer service seems to be really obliging! I of course haven't had experience receiving 50x70cm sheets from them directly, but maybe it's worth a shot :)

[@Vol4ica]

@@ClaudiaSketches wow, that is really interesting. So you just told them "hey, I bought some paper which appeared to be defective, please send me a replacement"? Or did they suggest you a replacement by themselves?

[@Vol4ica]

@@ClaudiaSketches I mean, I would also try to contact them, but dont know how to start politely :)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Explain that you bought sheets and that they were clearly purchased defective (rather than e.g. damaged in transport). Attach some good quality images of the defects you see. They are aware of the types of manufacturing defects they experience so they'll know if your complaint is a legitimate one. It's not cheap paper so you expect to be getting perfect quality sheets- especially so when you ordered so many! When talking to customer service in general, it can definitely be helpful to outline what sort of resolution you'd like. Providing your suggestions is fair I've found that most companies will follow through. Ultimately they want you to be a satisfied customer- after all, something like this (also given the fact that the defects aren't isolated incidents) could be enough to get even loyal customers to find another product to use.

[@Vol4ica]

@@ClaudiaSketches so I have contacted them when you adviced me to. I explained the situation, attached photos/videos and asked for a replacement. We had some discussion and then they went silent for long 3 weeks. Today they have finally responded, confirmed that these are manufacturing defects and agreed to send a replacement. That is thanks to you, so have my appreciation!

[@femalereddevil]

Beautiful piece of art

[@krc5210]

Hi Claudia. I am wondering if the Zest It Glaze medium we can purchase in the US is the same Zest it you are recommending? thx

[@ClaudiaSketches]

No, Zest it pencil blend is the product I use. Zest-It has a number of products designed for different applications, and a product description of each can be found on their website. Their glazing medium is designed to be used for oil painting- it's not just a solvent, and will leave a glossy residue on the surface of what you're using.

[@krc5210]

@@ClaudiaSketches I can't seem to find it in the us. 😕

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Jackson's Art Supplies sell it and offer international shipping. A lot of artists use Gamblin Gamsol or Mona Lisa Odourless paint thinners as solvent for coloured pencil, applied in the same way. I've not tried either of these (because of their regional availability and cost for me), but have heard they don't have any smell and are great for coloured pencil work.

[@rtb03791]

What brush did you use for the zest it blender

[@ClaudiaSketches]

A cheap synthetic filbert brush

[@dijosephine9556]

Claudia your work is sooo beautiful. This is a very informative video thank you. Do you have a Patreon channel.👍❤️

[@gurfatehjassalrollno9878]

How clairefontaine gray toned paper with Derwent colorfast pencil and fabercastle and prismatic color?

[@artbyconniedawn9680]

You are amazing and provide great info.

[@revllorlegit117]

Does it work well with pan pastels?

[@jaydee177]

Can I use my Sennelier oil pastels with solvent blending on this Pastelmat paper?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

That should be fine. It's only high % alcohol that has adverse effects with pastelmat. Of all the other solvents I've used so far it's just alcohol that is a no-go. That being said, always try out your materials together before approaching a piece. Materials testing is a good way to find out what does/doesn't work without wasting a large amount of paper or the time you've already sunk into your sketch. :)

[@techjunkie68smusicandtech56]

Beautifil cat, he looks like our cat Ziggy, great job!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :)

[@thomasweed8052]

Hi claudia. Many thanks for youe reply.👍👍👍

[@lenacraib1549]

Great tutorial, thankyou. Xx

[@ClaudiaSketches]

You’re welcome 😊 Glad it was helpful!

[@astrid4328]

pastelmat is my favorite too!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Awesome! Thank you very much for watching and commenting :)

[@johanjacosteyn]

Pastelmat and gouache show great compatibility !!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Lovely cat....other paper which is worth trying meteintes touch...sandpaper...

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I have a big pad of the Mi-Teintes Touch, and although I've tried it a couple of times, I just don't like it as much as Pastelmat. It's a lot coarser, so it's more difficult to build up initial layers. I think also for the size I usually work on, the texture is a touch too rough, which makes it difficult to get fine details. I'll definitely need to experiment some more with it, though! Perhaps I'm missing something...

[@roxannelundenart2150]

Please can someone give me advice: Can you roll pastelmat into a tube to deliver to someone? Can it then be unrolled, flattened and framed?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I wouldn't, it seems too thick/rigid to roll well. I've also found that if pastelmat is bent or creased, the surface coating separates/delaminates from the backing card, creating ridges or pockets. I always ship pastelmat pieces flat. I haven't heard of other artists shipping pastelmat rolled (though that isn't to say it doesn't happen).

[@roxannelundenart2150]

@@ClaudiaSketches Thanks for the answer (and awesome video!) Just now I had to send off a piece rolled- I tested another sheet first and it seemed to be flexable and bent back to it’s original shape relatively easily... I don’t know how I can ship packages flat, as sending them rolled weighing nothing it’s already damn expensive to ship within Europe... It must be quite ’heavy’ to ship flat? And also the extra materials? I always work on 30 x 40cm...

[@ClaudiaSketches]

I offset some of the cost of packaging into my commission prices, but clients also haven't had a problem with my shipping prices (and often opt for more expensive options as well). I ship between 4 layers of mountboard, then all of that in a cardboard box. The boxes I buy are quite tall but I cut them down so they're flatter. Prices for me don't vary too much in terms of weight. My reasoning is that the extra cost of packaging/shipping is a small price to pay to ensure that an artwork arrives perfectly, given the value (and sentimental value) of the artwork.

[@roxannelundenart2150]

@@ClaudiaSketches Fair enough! Yes, I think I will ship flat from now on for sure 😅 I was thinking for some reason to use a wooden board for support, but cardboard makes so much sense! (how impracticle am I? 🤭) Thanks so much again for the advice and tips!! ❤️

[@vduron1]

WOW! Beautiful!

[@lonironi3754]

Holy crap! Very, very talented.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you! :)

[@beverleygardam151]

Just beautiful work ,and l love cats .!!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much! Me too! Grew up with them and volunteered at a cat shelter for a while- incredibly rewarding work. Don't have a little feline army of my own yet, but it'll happen one day. Do you have any cats?

[@createwithmary630]

Very beautiful 😊❤️👍

[@DiRidpath]

This cat is beautiful!

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you very much :)

[@tinalandrey5104]

awesome!!

[@karenhinson9582]

What is zest it pencil blend? Great video! Lovely cat.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

A liquid solvent :)

[@ParasolMushroomStudios]

This kitty is so soft looking omd. I just wanna pat the kitty ;-; I use Canson XL mixed media paper, its not the greatest paper ever, if someone wants to use lots of layers it does get wax bloom. You can use watercolor first though. Ignore buckling, using colored pencils actually flattens it out. Its good if you don't have a lot of money. I hear Strathmore mixed media paper us much better, but it costs a lot more.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you so much- and thank you for watching and commenting! :D

[@suspensefulness]

can you airbrush on it?

[@marygraydon7156]

Is this velor

[@pattravis2434]

fabulous kitty' thanks

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thank you for watching and commenting :)

[@mcfloat575]

Hi Claudia, I'm a new subscriber 😊

[@mcfloat575]

Ohh what paper can I use as an alternative to pastelmat?

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Thanks for subscribing. I explain this in the video (at about the 12 minute mark :) )

[@marcotronic]

gorgeous drawing again and very nice review. I recently tried Pastelmat for the first time (using Soft Pastels) and I loved it. Really expensive, though, unfortunately. One thing I didn't like was the fact that when I used rubbing alcohol (99% Isopropyl) on my first pastel layer the alcohol lifted the abrasive coating of the Pastelmat at some places which made the drawing/painting useless and I had to start from scratch.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

This is really great information! I haven't tried isopropyl alcohol on pastelmat but now I'm very curious now- I'll need to give it a go. I've used other aliphatic solvents on it without any issue at all so it seems bizarre to me that isopropyl alcohol would cause issues. I do want to double check though- are you 100% certain that this is Clairefontaine Pastelmat and not Sennelier Pastelcard? (The latter of which does not take wet media whatsoever, and has the exact problems you describe). EDIT: Sorry about the skepticism! It's not uncommon to confuse the two papers because of their many similarities, so I always like to double check when something surprises me :) . I've just done a bit of research, and whilst I've found some artists who happily use alcohol washes with pastel on pastelmat, I've read others who have experienced the same as you- where the surface pills, lifts and becomes tacky. Looks like it's the higher concentrations that cause the issue- as pastel artists seem to use 70% or lower to good effect. This no doubt wouldn't be a very effective CP blender because of the higher water concentration though. Very odd! Eager to test it out- and thanks again because this isn't something I would've investigated if it weren't for your comment.

[@ClaudiaSketches]

So... after reading up on all that, I had a sudden realisation and remembered that I had something like this happen to me already, but forgot about it- and in a video too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHOcn6iGa5V9qa8m54s I use the Derwent Blender Pen (alcohol based) on pastelmat with Coloursoft and the surface did just what you said! I didn't put two-and-two together until now. Amazing!

[@marcotronic]

@Claudia: you're welcome. Thanks for your detailed answers. And yes, my paper was Pastelmat - not Sennelier Pastelcard.

[@suzypastel5206]

Ce chat est magnifiquement réussi bravo vous êtes très habile

[@dijosephine9556]

Beautiful 👍