How to Blend Pan Pastels: A Journey in Blending and Layering Pastels

Do you ever struggle with how to layer and use Pan Pastels? Today we will be exploring how to blend Pan Pastels using Sofft tools in this art journal project.

Learning to Use Art Mediums

New art mediums are exciting to learn, but they can sometimes feel difficult to master. It can look so easy when you see a demonstration, but your own experience may be different.

Ever new art medium takes time and patience to master. By changing our expectations towards new mediums, and accepting that there will be trial and error, the process of learning can be so much more enjoyable.

Blending Pan Pastels

Pan Pastels are a new medium in my artistic practice. I have spent time experimenting with them over the past months but I am by no means a master of this medium. What attracted me to Pan Pastels was how easy they are to apply and the vibrant color they produce. Pastels have a different look and feel than paint, ink and other mediums which makes them a fun addition to our mixed media practice.

When blending Pan Pastels, pick up some of the pastel color with a Sofft tool and apply it to your surface. In many ways, a Sofft tool works like a paint brush. The color can be added in a variety of strokes and patterns.

For best results, add a thin layer of Pan Pastel at a time. You can create greater depth by adding additional layers. You can also add layers of other colors to add custom blends, highlights, and shadows to your surface.

For this art journal project, I specifically used a stencil for the design. When learning a new skill, it can be helpful to simplify. This can prevent feeling overwhelmed from learning a new product. By using a stencil, this allows us to focus on learning to blend Pan Pastels without having to create a drawing or sketch.

Tools for Blending

For this project, a variety of Sofft tools were used for blending Pan Pastels. These tools come in a number of shapes and sizes. This allows for a variety of different strokes and blends as you work on your art piece.

Pan pastels are great for getting large blocks of color down, but are also useful for creating details on your piece. The variety of tools helps with this process. Using the Sofft tools with a stencil is a great way of learning how to gain control with your Pan Pastels by working in small areas.  

The more familiar you are with your tools; the easier blending will come. Once you move on to more complex projects, you will find that the learning curve will come more easily.

Blending on Black Paper

I love to blend Pan Pastels on black paper, the effect can be striking. The key is understanding the pigments and which colors can stand up against the dark paper. When using darker colors, I will often add some white Pan Pastel to the background first. This will brighten the background so that the darker, more intense colors will stand out from the black.

Questions?

Have you tried blending with Pan Pastels? I would love to answer any questions that you may have. Please comment below or contact me directly.

I would also love to see your work! If you are on Instagram, use #hopalongstudio in your tags so that I can view and like your work. I hope that you give blending with Pan Pastels a try and that you incorporate this art medium into your creative practice.

Project Supply List

• Dylusions 8″ by 8″ Black Journal
• Pan Pastels: 580.5 Turquoise, 100.5 Titanium White, 580.3 Turquoise Shade, 921.5 Pewter, 680.5 Bright Yellow Green, 520.1 Phthalo Green Extra Dark, 430.5 Magenta, 250.5 Diarylide Yellow, 220.5 Hansa Yellow, 470.5 Violet
• Sofft Art Sponges