COLOURED PENCILS ON PASTELMAT - First impressions trying Clairefontaine Pastelmat - mini review

Welcome to this video all about my first time using Pastelmat paper by Clairefontaine. This paper is not what I expected it to be, it is more! Stay tuned in the video to hear about what I did and didn't like about this paper and whether it may be right for you. At the end of the day, paper is a very personal preference.
Thank you for watching my video. Please leave a comment down below, like my video with a "thumbs up" and subscribe to my channel. I upload a new art video every week, and work primarily in coloured pencil and traditional gouache paint. My focus is wildlife as I have a passion for conservation and biology, but I also do pet portraits and "how to" videos as well.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram - / brusheswithbec
Facebook - / brushes-with-bec-10626...
SUPPLIES:
Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils - www.faber-castell.com/product...
Derwent Drawing Pencils - www.derwentart.com/en-au/p/r0...
Clairefontaine Pastelmat - www.clairefontaine.com/subcat...

[@tlabelle1965]

This is gorgeous!

[@domaineartemis]

I’m learning how to use it. But more I try, more I love. It’s so perfect with Derwent drawing. And we can use pastel and pencil for finish. Pan pastel is great too for first laydown. Great job and comments 😀

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you very much, yes I still have a bit to learn with it but I find that diving right in is the best way to go about that, lol. It does seem to be a very versatile paper.

[@beckymadrid5894]

Why cant everyone make videos like this???? You doing the art and explaining about the product. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you so much, that's very kind of you.

[@Bonnie10au]

This is a wonderful drawing, Bec! I love it! Pastelmat was my second paper when I started with coloured pencils in 2015. My first one was Suede Matboard. Because I only used papers on which you are able to apply light over dark, I was always afraid of 'normal' paper and never used it. Yes, I love my Pastelmat. For coloured pencils, pastels, pan pastels, pastel pencils, watercolour pencils, and I even used gouache on it.

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you so much. Yes Pastelmat felt quite natural and easy to use versus working with a normal paper like a hot pressed watercolour where you have to be more careful about leaving light areas.

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Definitely love watching your videos!

[@bobnolin9155]

What a wonderful result! I almost like the branches better than the bird! I'm new to Pastelmat and I'll be giving your Q-tip (I forget your word for them) idea a try for blending!

[@brusheswithbec]

Haha, me too. I feel like a lot more work went into getting the branches and leaves just right. Definitely try it, works a treat.

[@Martin_Gregory]

Great review, gorgeous picture, thanks!

[@WeblightDreams]

Very neat review and love the drawing you decided to do when testing out this paper. It looks very realistic.

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you very much, I appreciate it.

[@DeboraExum]

I have been watching the progress of this on on your Instagram, and very happy to see the final result here. This is such a beautiful drawing!

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you so much, I was so pleased with the result. Sometimes you never know when trying new surfaces.

[@patton3338]

Such a great piece! So much detail in everything, great job.

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you

[@dijosephine9556]

Love love this. ❤️👍

[@dijosephine9556]

Really lovely drawing. Very helpful information.👍

[@vivjackson5497]

Thank you for a very informative video. To the point, looking at pros and cons and a non biased opinion. No waffle!

[@brusheswithbec]

I really appreciate that, thank you. Glad I could help you out 😁

[@stuartfowle3364]

Just getting back in to using colour pencils, so found this review of pastel mat very useful and informative, thank you.

[@brusheswithbec]

I'm so glad you found it helpful, thank you :)

[@PaintingwithIrene-Clarke]

Fantastic painting-beautiful art💖💛💚💙

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you so much

[@maritimemystic]

I love Pastelmat! It is one of my favourite papers for coloured pencil. I love using Derwent Drawing and ProColour, and they are excellent on this paper. These birds were lovely, and they make me want to try to the white Pastelmat- it’s the only one I haven’t used yet. 💗

[@brusheswithbec]

Yes it is such a versatile paper, it's definitely a firm favourite of mine. I haven't tried many colours yet but do have a few spring and waiting for be to give them a go. Thanks so much :)

[@artbycatrinakennedy6847]

I have purchased a multicolor pack of the pastel mat. I have not used it yet, but I am excited to try!

[@brusheswithbec]

That's exciting! I hope you like it :)

[@miriamwagner6156]

I really must laugh. The cat hair problem is so familiar to me. Great drawing. Thank you

[@brusheswithbec]

Haha, yes, it was just impossible to stop from happening. Thanks so much.

[@Nicole-cg3zo]

my first pastelmat arrive in a view minutes... i am so exited to try it out :-D

[@brusheswithbec]

That's very exciting, I hope you enjoy it!

[@susanfield2444]

Great video.

[@michellewidlake7765]

I've been waiting for this video 🙂 thank you very informative. I will have to give my paper another go, I didn't like it, but I don't think my heart was in the reference photo I was using.

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you found it helpful. Don't feel too discouraged if you don't like the paper when you try it again, I find it's a really personal preference.

[@claritzairosario68]

I love Pastelmat! But it is very expensive. I have bought them little by little, when I have the opportunity. I used them with the Panpastel, Rembrandt soft pastels, and polychrome pencils. It's really worth it. It just takes a lot of practice to be able to handle the cons. Beautiful drawing you make!🥰🥰🥰 thank you for share your experience!

[@brusheswithbec]

I love it too! It definitely is pricey but worth it I think when it helps me to produce better art. Thanks for your comment 😊

[@claritzairosario68]

@@brusheswithbec ❤👍🏻❤

[@bampidraws]

Great video. Found you by shear luck. I love your artwork you make it look so easy 😊. Got my sub

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you so much, I appreciate it

[@bampidraws]

@@brusheswithbec you're very welcome

[@dohraime140]

This is a gorgeous piece and such an informative video! I’m curious, how would you transport a commissioned piece on pastelmat given it smudges so easily?

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you very much. That's a very good question and something I'm still researching myself. I'm told that Glassine does not smudge. I would probably either use a sheet of that or tracing paper the same size or bigger and secure it over the surface so that they remain secure together, rather than rubbing back and forth. If that makes sense.

[@dohraime140]

Yes, perfect sense. Thank you.

[@ClaudiaBugh]

I love watching you draw - I do have a reference image but it doesn't have the leaf is there any way you can share where your reference image came from? Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[@brusheswithbec]

Thank you very much, my reference photo is one that I took myself.

[@ClaudiaBugh]

@@brusheswithbec Then you a good photographer too! Thank you for the reply.

[@walle5667]

I have no idea how people use Pastelmat for coloured pencils 🤷‍♀️ I've tried it a few times, it gets shiny (not in a good way) and grainy very quickly. Pan pastel clogs the paper a lot and prevents me from adding pastel pencils, let alone coloured pencil. I do not understand how people do it 🤷‍♀️ UArt and Lux Archival work beautifully. They practically turn the CP into pastels.

[@rtb03791]

Hi do you find it easy to blend on pastelmat with polychromos pencils i guess it helps if your pencil has a sharp point

[@brusheswithbec]

Yes i do find it easy, I'm happy using both sharp and blunt pencils on Pastelmat, sharper is always a little easier but I don't need to sharpen unless I'm doing detail.

[@mariamnahaboo6105]

I love the paper but find it almost impossible to get a background. How would you do a background? Thantks super video, although a bit too dast.

[@rosered8234]

Use pan pastels they make the best backgrounds - sofft tools make the work faster , good blending , you can use colour pencil over pan pastels , or pastal pencils .

[@coypu2005]

Are you blending with water or OMS?

[@brusheswithbec]

No, neither of those. Only dry blending with the pencils or a cotton bud (q-tip).

[@bozoclown2098]

Is it impregnated paper/surface ?

[@brusheswithbec]

I'm not sure what you mean.

[@joyfulldj]

You need to tell kitty that bird is not real. I can do colored pencil in the livingroom. But watercolor with both kittens; not a good call lol