Use it Or Lose It Series- Hard Pastels w/ Watercolors

[@EnzFab73]

Soft pastels and hard pastels are naturally water-soluable so using them with water will only turn them to watercolour. For best results is to use them *after* you do your watercolour and washes - when dry. They add brilliant colour to watercolour paintings. Some also put a layer of transparent gesso once the watercolour dries. The gesso adds some tooth to the paper and you are able to apply the pastels to the painting. You do have to use good paper though with lots of tooth. Pastelmat is great and cold press watercolour paper is also a good option. I love using soft pastels on top of watercolour but to each their own I guess.

[@iritlandgraf]

👍👍

[@Angie-pl3uw]

Just stay the lovely way you are. I haven’t found a channel where the artist has the same spontaneity and exhibits the joy for color as you!!

[@iritlandgraf]

Thank you, that is so sweet! I have to agree... There's a lot of focus on reviewing products or techniques, but not so much worshiping the perfect pink 😂

[@KatheeRN]

I gave away my hard pastels, but enjoy using Blue Earth, and Terry Ludwig. Sometimes for just a splash of color in my watercolor paintings..depending on my mood. Will U b doing a vid on inks? That's another medium I love with watercolor.. I actually paint with them, and add granulation medium to some of my more unique colors...

[@iritlandgraf]

Granulation medium and inks are a great combo indeed. I hope to go through all my supplies, that includes inks as well :)

[@megperry5586]

I love your art style, I use pastel pencils (less messy) on top of my watercolours. I love the bright colors and to smudge them. I do not fix them and it is just for fun for me to play.

[@iritlandgraf]

Thank you so much 😀

[@impish22]

Thanks Irit... yes I seem to struggle with pastels also.. and I have to use a glove when I use them because it gives me the heebee geebees

[@iritlandgraf]

Haha yup, gloves are a good idea for sure!

[@markkennedy7154]

lol... fingernails on a chalk board, right? You can do some seriously cool things with dry pastel. Keep a pack of baby wipes on the table, keep cleaning your hands, keep them kind of wet and you'll get over that.

[@RamoArt]

I used to add some details with soft pastels to every single one of my watercolor paintings, but I no longer do and I don't really see the appeal anymore. I still clicked on this video right away because I love the concept behind these videos!

[@markkennedy7154]

As a long term watercolor person, I remember trying to marry the media and felt the same way. Your style is very cool. I notice a marked use of the white in the paper. When I got older and went through a period of boredom with watercolor - I learned a fun way of playing with the two. I took 140 lb watercolor paper, put a pastel (sand grit) ground on it, used good watercolor paint for underpainting sky and water and started throwing soft and semi hard dry pastels on top of it. I got me loving the drawing part of being an artist again. The tooth from the pastel ground grabs the pastel and the color just screams. You can layer the pastels about 3 layers deep with the ground. I love my watercolor dearly but the work I do with pastel added is bold, versatile and inspiring. There is a learning curve for sure because it's a totally different discipline but I would encourage you to try it again with different methods.

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks for sharing, that sounds lovely and how great is it that you found your way to make bold art!

[@susansacco7583]

I love the beautiful colors with soft pastels but hate the tactile experience when using them. I kind of enjoy my pastel pencils over watercolor as long as I use a q-tip. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Watching you play with them was fun. Toni Burt has new course for pastel painting. Check out the painting shown for her course. It’s glorious.

[@iritlandgraf]

I love her artwork! I have taken several of her courses, she does a good job breaking down her style and process.

[@susansacco7583]

@@iritlandgraf 💕

[@missipkina]

Love your content Irit! I feel your pain about Jackson's. Greetings from Slovakia.

[@iritlandgraf]

Hey, thanks!

[@christicovington]

When you were asking if other people out there are mixing pastels with watercolor I thought to tell you to check out Monet Cafe with Susan Jenkins. She's a pastel artist that explores using them with other mediums and she has alot of videos where she mixes in gouache, watercolor,acrylic, etc. with pastel. She got a sweet disposition and enthusiasm that translates over to her videos and makes them enjoyable and easy to watch. Thanks for another great video! Much love from Nashville TN USA 🇺🇸❤

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks! Yes! She is the only one I could find but her channel and artwork is lovely!

[@rinavogels2712]

Thanks Irit, as always a great style in using your materials and in presenting them tot us. Makes me smile all through this video 😁😍

[@iritlandgraf]

Thank you Rina! Glad you enjoyed ❤️❤️

[@alicem1111]

Irit- Have you ever tried painting with the watercolor first and then working over top with the pastels? That’s what I have found to be the most useful. You let the pastels be pastels instead of watering them. Also, using a blending stump and/or a soft cloth will allow you much more of a range of textures than you got in the video drawing directly. I try not to use my fingers to move the pastel because The oils or lotion on your hands transfer and can change the color and texture of the pastel. Additionally- less textured paper helps move the pastel around. I really enjoy combining these two together. It can be very delicate. I never spray fix them because I tend to use only the palest pastel colors and they lose intensity once sprayed. I loosely tape a layer of glassine or parchment paper for protection when I store them. I do the same in sketchbooks and just flip the protective sheet up to view. This series is great- I hope you have so much fun exploring!

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks for sharing alice! I do paint with pastels on top and underneath watercolors, it's definitely worth trying all options and see what works best !

[@andee_]

I used to paint exclusively with soft pastels, I loved the messiness and that you can use your fingers for blending. While I don‘t use them anymore I couldn’t possibly give them away... 😊 Never much liked the hard pastels, tho. For soft pastels, Rembrandt and Schmincke both do them and you can get them easier in Europe, if you want to give them a try. Not sure how the availablity is in Austria, but they‘re available in Germany.

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks for sharing!

[@deejcarter2003]

I really enjoyed watching you play 🥰 I’m very interested in trying the Jackson’s soft chalk pastels

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks! I honestly doubt they are much different from other handmade pastels so I don't think I'd pay extra for them specifically, but if the price is right and you found some colors that give you all the feels, go for it 😀

[@deejcarter2003]

@@iritlandgraf Good to know, I’ll see what my local art store carries.

[@craftyjenschow]

I sooooo enjoyed watching this. You are amazing.

[@iritlandgraf]

You're sweet❤️❤️❤️

[@arielle2745]

I enjoyed this video. I hope you’re able to get to Vienna and really look forward to seeing your video about it!

[@iritlandgraf]

I did! I just took a quick video of the watercolor section for everyone here. Honestly after not seeing anyone or going anywhere since the summer I jsut wanted to enjoy the moment, not stand behind the camera...

[@arielle2745]

@@iritlandgraf Enjoying the moment is the best thing of all! ;-)

[@dorothyeileen]

Ooooo, I love the texture combo of the hard pastels with the watercolor washes. I have "all the colors" of both pastels and watercolors. I haven't tried the inktense blocks before before, very interesting. Your demo (despite the "mess") has inspired me fully.

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks so much 😊

[@susansacco7583]

Thanks Irit! I love this series!

[@iritlandgraf]

My pleasure!

[@jasmin5246]

I love your faces, Irit! They're really unique.

[@iritlandgraf]

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️

[@Anonymoi]

I know this is an older video, but I thought I’d comment. I love the effects you’re getting here! Re: artists using pastels with watercolor - I saw that someone else mentioned Susan Jenkins from Monet Cafe. There is also someone named Andrew Moodie (“Andrew Moodie Art” on KZbin) who has a newer channel and uses some interesting combinations. He has some videos combining acrylic inks with pastel, and I believe also watercolor with pastel. I like the painterly effects he gets. (No I am not Andrew Moodie, but KZbin recommended him to me.) Regarding the consistency of Inktense blocks - I think of them as being similar to the way colored Conte crayons used to be. Almost all Conte crayons (other than black sketching crayons, which are still made in France as far as I can tell) have been reformulated and are now like very dry gritty hard pastels. But, they used to be different 20-30 years ago, and the colored ones in particular used to have a consistency a bit more like graphite… like a smooth waxy feel, though I’m not sure they had any wax in them. If they did they were more similar to wax-based colored pencils, not wax pastels. That is kind of how the Inktense blocks feel when used dry. They’re hard but pretty smooth (unless you get one with a particularly scratchy area) and they create a look like a “chalk pastel,” but they are not really dusty, although you can generate crumbs depending on the surface and how much pressure you use. You can smudge them but they don’t smudge a lot. I actually would really like to find something exactly like that but that will not turn to ink instantly when moistened. I like the look of Intense blocks dry, but don’t like how vulnerable they are to moisture (which of course is the whole point with them.)

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks for sharing! Really appreciate it and I'll definitely check out the person you mentioned 👍 Inktense blocks... Can't love them no matter how hard I try 🤷

[@josie0304]

"A hideous orange" 😂 yes I get that vibe from orange sometimes

[@iritlandgraf]

lol it's a problematic color, what can I say...

[@AnitasDreams]

HI Irit ---I just wanted to let you know I received my Watercolor Stamp Set this morning. I LOVE it. I'm in the USA in Ohio so they are getting here. Thank You ---Anita

[@iritlandgraf]

Oh yay!!! Thank you Anita for the update!! I'm so happy you you got your set, have fun playing 😀😀

[@coloredcarol8074]

As you mentioned Jackson's and Brexit, I was super happy to find an amazing shop in Spain which carries a lot of stock similar to Jackson's and some more. It's called ArteMiranda. They shipped very fast to me and their prices were good, highly recommend 😊 love the video. I have inktense pencils and barely use them, but I'm intrigued by the blocks. I like how loose you can be with blocks like you demonstrated.

[@iritlandgraf]

Thank you for sharing, yes, I know the shop. I haven't ordered because the prices weren't much cheaper than Gerstaecker, a German store I shop at, but the website is really not user friendly in my opinion, which turned me off a little. They do seem to have a good range of products!

[@coloredcarol8074]

@@iritlandgraf Funny you say that, as it happened the other way around for me! I tried shipping at German based stores like the one you mentioned and it was a hassle... Couldn't understand if they shipped or not to Ireland, shipping costs not displaying ahead... I gave up in the end. Maybe for the best as shipping from Germany to Ireland usually is pretty expensive. I agree ArteMiranda website could be improved, but for me at least considering what I was paying in Jackson's and delivery time, they're even better. The fact I speak Portuguese and understand Spanish makes things easier too I suppose 😆

[@jeanettegillings7202]

I have the Derwent Inktense Pastels (and Pencils) but forget to use them! A case of too many art supplies? More than likely 🤣. I think Shirley Trevena uses them in her artwork... great video, as usual Irit...thankyou

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@azzuparis]

Hi Irit, thanks for this video. It looks fun to paint with dry pastels and watercolor. I got en email from Jackson’s, stating that now they can deliver again in Europe without any duty charges. Probably they explain better on their website.

[@iritlandgraf]

That is awesome, thank you for the update!

[@iritlandgraf]

ok so I checked on Jackson's, and basically they charge you duties beforehand, so while it might save me the 10 euro handling fee the Austrian post charges, the prices will still be 20% higher, which will most likely make it more expensive than EU shops.

[@azzuparis]

@@iritlandgraf oh ok I see. Thank you for clarifying ☺️

[@Angie-pl3uw]

Have you tried the soft pastel pencils? They can be used with watercolors to some extent. I have the full set, but, of course, I can’t remember their brand. I suffer from the large set syndrome. But then, at my age I better get 'em while I can. Ha ha!!

[@iritlandgraf]

I have the stabilo pastels pencils, they will be featured in a future video because I have a neglected large set (shocker), but I don't know if they are soft or hard 🤔 I will explore all option in the Vienna art store 😀

[@pagewhite61]

These last two videos have come at a perfect time for me as I am trying to make some choices about these kinds of products. I appreciate your thoughts Irit, thank you.

[@iritlandgraf]

I'm so glad!

[@cigimon4]

have you heard of the alcohol underpainting technique for pastels?

[@iritlandgraf]

No, what is it?

[@cigimon4]

@@iritlandgraf you use the hard pastels on the paper and then use a brush with alcohol and is like they were water soluble, you can search "alcohol wash pastels" for tutorials from really good artists they usually use for depth, using a dark background and building on top with lighter pastels, but it can be modified to use with lighter colors and watercolors

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks, good to know!

[@Christine_R]

Danica Sills uses soft pastels on top of a watercolor painting as far as I know.. I never tried pastels on watercolor because I think they are too messy for me. I can't even eat a pretzel without any crumble action going on so.. not my cup of tea. But watching other people doing great things with it it's really inspiring to me. But I will not touch pastels again because I rather want to have a plan to all that mess.

[@throughmyeyes9940]

when will you review A. Gallo watercolors

[@iritlandgraf]

Never, they are honey based. The brushes the website offers however are gorgeous and I have mentioned them several times in my gift guides and other videos 😀

[@throughmyeyes9940]

@@iritlandgraf does that include Sennelier watercolors?

[@iritlandgraf]

Yes, Sennelier and M. Graham are also honey based.

[@beckysmith1950]

I see that someone mentioned Roben-Marie Smith - her work is loose and fun.

[@peteinuk]

Would it be feasible to send stuff from Jackson's here in the U.K. to send to you?

[@iritlandgraf]

Thank you so much for the kind offer. Jackson's was convenient but I don't think there's anything there that I couldn't find in Europe, and with the extra shipping charge it's just easier to order from within the EU. But thank you again!

[@peteinuk]

@@iritlandgraf the ignorance of the British population and the strength of the media it seems little Englanders are still celebrating their 'empire' and still fighting the 'Germans' 70 years later - I despair!

[@fuzzydragons]

they are people not flowers! looks great 😀 brexit is a PITA and not just if you want to buy something, im glad i got my 3D printer before it all started (by like a day luckily lol) or i would have had to pay about the third of the cost to get it into the UK. so many small business' are having to stop supplying things to the EU from the UK

[@iritlandgraf]

I totally agree! Such a shame.

[@Julie-vy3oz]

I am trying....TRYING....to be more discriminating about what art products I choose to buy. I keep telling myself I’m not going to try a new medium. Oh it’s so hard! I bought Pan Pastels and Carbothello pastel pencils a while back; I had to have them, and honestly I don’t use them very often.Sigh.

[@iritlandgraf]

Yeah, same here. I have the Carbothello pencils and am looking forward to trying them for this series as they are currently quite neglected.

[@katejanes4724]

You should check out what Roben-Marie Smith does with soft pastels if you haven't already. She likes to incorporate with water, watercolor, pencils, etc.. I'll send you a couple videos in instagram messenger if you're interested!

[@iritlandgraf]

Thanks Kate! I know Roben Marie and agree her use of pastels is lovely!

[@gillinacook1477]

The hard pastels and soft pastels are not supposed to be used with a wet medium but I know some people do. You should try them on Pastel mat paper, dry. They are awesome 😃

[@peteinuk]

Thanks Brexit to us all - I didn't vote for it!

[@iritlandgraf]

I hope it benefits the UK, I really do. For me it's sadly eliminates the options to buy from most UK based shops anything over 21 euros. Such a pity.

[@peteinuk]

@@iritlandgraf it won't benefit the UK - just more racism and xenophobia sadly.

[@jenniferweisinger6014]

Brexit- 😒

[@iritlandgraf]

Indeed 🙄