Swatching 3 of my Unison soft pastel sets!

[@KilbyDelaney-jt1kw]

I never get tired of listening to you react to the colours. It brings me joy.

[@eviedivadoodles]

Ah, thans Kilby! I am constantly amazed by how astonished I am by the colors available to us! 😍

[@thefoxbytheshore]

i can't get over how easy you make this look its so awesome

[@eviedivadoodles]

Ah, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Do you have any pastels to play with? 😍

[@ChantelleArts]

these look amazing, what a gorgeous swatch set ☺☺

[@eviedivadoodles]

They’re so gorgeous aren’t they? I need to swatch out the other three sets too, perhaps over the weekend! 😍

[@annewatson6390]

The soft pastels that I have used were never intended to be used with water. They were blended with your fingers to create beautiful blends of quite earthy colours. They were also used a lot in portraiture. Because the finished drawing was quite chalky you would use a fixative spray over the picture in the same way as you would with a charcoal or purely graphite drawing. The idea of using water with them is very new to me

[@eviedivadoodles]

Oh absolutely Anne, I agree that traditionally soft pastels are designed to be layered and smudged and used with fixative etc... I used to use them during my GCSE and Art foundation years ago, but I very much disliked the texture on my hands then and still do today (I am an odd being who has an actual phobia of velvet 😬). But using water with them is appealing so that I can have the vibrancy of the color when our and about, without the liquid mess of wet mediums. Not sure I'm explaining it too well, but hoping you get my drift! 😎

[@annewatson6390]

@@eviedivadoodles the unison pastels you have are glorious colours, I love that you are very colour oriented. 😊 I've just ordered some pastel pencils to try, looking forward to seeing how they compare with the soft pastels that I used to use

[@eviedivadoodles]

@@annewatson6390 they’re so beautiful aren’t they? I have three more small boxes of half sticks to swatch out, so lots more colour to come! I hope you enjoy your order, let me know how you get on with them! 😍

[@clairewalters8238]

❤i did not know chalk pastels were water soluble. I am going to check my Faber Castel Pitt pastel pencils are also water soluble. Thanks for Sharing this technique. Much love & *Virtual hugs* from Perth Western Australia 💜💜💜

[@eviedivadoodles]

Hi Claire! Not all are - but definitely worth experimenting to see what yours can do! Lots of hugs back! 😘❤️

[@anitadavidson1266]

Fantastic Evie! I have been collecting several samples of soft pastel brands, but found I have the same issue as you - dislike the feeling on my fingers, along with mess. Watching you add water to them and watch them literally transform was a complete 💡moment for me. I ought to have thought about it as I too have a small set of Inktense sticks, but the full set of Inktense pencils. I enjoy putting down colour, then adding water. I am excited to watch where these supplies will lead. 😊❤️❤️🎨🖌️👩🏻‍🎨❤️❤️

[@eviedivadoodles]

Hey Anita! 👋 Yay, so glad that you too had a 💡 moment! Let me know how you get on with yours! 😍😘

[@CherylsCreativeWorld33]

Loved the swatching! I actually have a little set of these, they’re great colours, I never thought to add water but I’ll try it :)

[@eviedivadoodles]

Hope you enjoy having fun with them Cheryl, I know I do! 😘

Soft pastels are dry media, they're not supposed to be watered unless they're marked as «watercolourable» or «soluble». Unison and Sennelier are the best quality out there, next to Jackson's own brand (made by Unison). You can use them on their own or together with pencils, wax sticks, oil pastels and other similar dry media. If you want to blend the colours you can use a blender, your finger, a piece of tissue or cotton or a stump. Hope this helps!

[@eviedivadoodles]

Thanks Sylvia! I am aware of all of the above, but I bought them as I wanted to experiment with them as a ‘wet media’! 😉

@@eviedivadoodles You could make a paste with some water and soft pastel. I know some use something like that and a brush. No idea how it works, but maybe worth a try =)

[@eviedivadoodles]

@ ah, this is a fun idea, will give it a go! Thank you!

[@jackielubeck]

Hi Evie - hows Groningen? We are now 2-3 weeks in Adam … I’m a little lost and Gaza is only worse and worse and USA also worse and worse but … How come you put water on dry pastels? They are so beautiful when you mix them together (lots of finger work) and they do so much… but ahhh these are beautiful pieces … painting with velvet … looking forward to meeting you but so far no trips on the agenda. Let me know if you are down here. Jackie

[@jenns_artlandia7896]

What do you mean by USA is getting worse and worse? I take offense to your comment. We are going to be stronger when Trump is back in presidency. I love this channel and I love my country USA. Please be careful what you post. Thank you for a wonderful video on the pastels🎨🇱🇷

[@eviedivadoodles]

@@jenns_artlandia7896 hi there! Just to note: 1. I have made no comment in my video or on this channel regarding US politics. I have very strong views, but I don't discuss politics here on this channel. 2. I also have very strong views on humanitarian crisis' and how governments around the world appear to be pursuing (or not) outcomes for their own monetary gain. But again, that is not something to be discussed here on my channel. 3. I do offer support and space to those who have experienced / are experiencing situations that we can only imagine. @ Jackie is one such person, so I ask you to please be mindful when you have not experienced what she has over the last few months. 4. I am glad that you enjoyed the pastels video!

[@eviedivadoodles]

Hey hey @jackielubeck - Grun is draught today, so much wind from the storms! I can only imagine how you are feeling - the world in general feels like a different place to a few years ago now... 😔 The water on dry is for fun really. Looking to see how I can use vibrant dry materials out and about, but as a wet medium. The soft pastels are a lot lighter than a bunch of watercolor or gouache tubes, so it's more for me to experiment and see if it works or not. I'm not one for using them dry as they make my hands feel weird, really give me the heebie-jeebies. 🤣 Hoping to pop down to 'Dam in February, once pay day has happened, will keep you updated! 😍 And sending hugs Jackie. Take care of you. ❤

[@robinsamuelson3626]

Square one is Blue Earth

[@eviedivadoodles]

Ah, thank you! I knew someone would know! 😍