What paper is that? where did you get it? why should I get it?

When I attend workshops I notice many beginners and intermediate pastel artists are overwhelmed not only by the different brands of pastel but more importantly (in my opinion) by the variety and options that exist when it comes to surfaces to paint on.

I learnt about them by trying them all, like most of us did, as they became available on the market.

My intention here is to save you some time with this post. By listing and giving you some information about the products we have available as pastelists. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I hope it sheds some light.

Pastel papers can have different grit, different thickness, different waving and density and not even be sanded at all!

Here we go:

La Carte

This paper is a colored sanded paper, with a lot of grit. It will grab layers and layers of pastel which is great. It's very dense in its sand distribution. You can actually touch and feel the sand particles on it.

La Carte cannot get wet. Water or any kind of fluid will ruin the surface. The strength of this paper to me are the variety of colors that are available and the fact that it can take a lot of material with no problems.

UART

This whitish-cream colored paper is the most similar to the sanded paper that you buy at the hardware store. It comes in grits from 280 - 800. A favorite among pastelists is UART 400. Not too soft, not too rough. It can be bought in sheets or mounted on a board. There are several options when it comes to boards.

Dakota Art Store sells UART pastel boards. There is a 4-ply version with a thin cardboard and borders around the paper itself, and also a 8-ply version with no borders. 8-ply is more sturdy and weights more. They are mounted at the store.

UART is a paper that can "take a beating" a common phrase among artists. You can apply different wet materials to it, color it and it takes many layers of pastel as well.

Dakota UART panels

UART has recently come up with its own panels. The differences are almost unnoticeable. The UART board feels lighter in weight and it's a thinner board (see photo below). I believe they are also the same price as Dakota's. So you can't go wrong with any of these if you like UART.

UART mounted boards

UART board on the left - Dakota UART board on the right

Pastel Premier

This paper is very versatile as well. Its surface is quite gritty but not as much as UART. It comes in a regular grit, and a fine grit. I would compare the regular grit to UART 400. With the fine one being similar to UART 600 or 800.

It comes in white and in colors. Pastel Premier's Italian Clay color is very very popular among plein-air pastelists. This tone is perfect for the outdoors where the natural light can trick the eye and affect the darkness/lightness of a painting. By using Italian Clay, you have something in between and fairly neutral to start painting on. This is a big advantage over other darker colors and obviously over white.

Dakota also has mounted versions.

Pastel Premier 4-ply mounted version Italian Clay color

Richeson

Richeson is a surface that comes only in one grit (just like la Carte) and in a variety of colors as well. They make their own boards. The boards are super sturdy and light. This paper is different in the way it grabs pastel. Unless you are using pretty soft pastels, I find that the material just falls of the paper. Overall I dont think it grabs as many layers as UART does. It's a surface that has been available forever. I recommend trying it at least once.

Richeson mounted surface

PastelMat


Last but not least, we have PastelMat. Now this paper is different from all of the above. One can't say PastelMat is sanded paper or that it has a grit. It feels velvety and like fabric to the touch. At first it doesn't seem like a paper like this could hold on to pastel pigment but sure it does!

When pastel is applied it "glides" over it and will not sandy at all. But artist beware, that it will grab pastel and hold on to it tight. It super hard, if not impossible, to do any type of blending or even move pastel around until you get to the latests layers of application.

I believe that the paper has very microscopic sized rubber "hooks" where pastel particles are held. Until those are filled up, blending won't happen. Another thing to notice is that once you get to the latest layers of pastel it will become "saturated". At that point you won't have other option than finishing your painting!

PastelMat paper in several colors

I have been using this paper a lot recently. I like to use a lot of material in my work and I love that gliding feeling when painting over it. I am also quite hooked with the colors it comes in. There is white pastelMat but they also have 12 colors to play with. The 3 above are my favorites.

When using white, a wet underpainting can be used but with restrictions.

This is a surface that should be given a shot as well. Warning: it might be addictive. Ha!

In a following post, I will share information about what kind of underpaintings can be done on each of the brands mentioned above. 

Let me know if you have specific questions in the comments section.

Thanks for reading. Hope it helps! oh, and keep painting :)

Recovering

I was finally able to have hip surgery to fix a tear in my hip joint. I had had pain for almost 2 years and it took a while to correctly diagnose it and also to get my health insurance to approve the procedure.

Recovering from this is a long process mainly because you have to babysit the hip joint a lot so that it wont re-tear.

This is my third week after surgery and I am now able to sit for a while with almost no pain. I started working on some small landscapes with the objective of making larger paintings from them.  I can't really stand up and move close and far from a bigger painting to get good results. Small pieces (6x8 or so) are easier to handle when you have to sit.

The studies are available at https://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/alejandra-gos-5082/artwork.

This is one of them:

"Time to head back home" 6x9 pastel.

I am trying to stay positive (time goes by very slowly when you are not having that much fun) and painting once again is helping me on that.

My first workshop this year is with Mike Wise (oils) the last week of April. Need to be able to drive by then. No pressure. I am happy that I was able to get this surgery done with time to heal before plein-air season begins!

Art Show photos

The exhibition of my art works along with Anne Martin McCool's will go until January 14th.

Here are some photos of the opening.

Art Show

"Blueberry Fields Forever" 11x14 pastel.

You are invited!

Join me on December 16th anytime from 1pm - 4pm for the Opening of my Art Show at Hadrian Stone Design and Gallery in Bow, Washington.

Me and another artist will show our latest works. My new landscapes are filled with light and seasonal colors - how I miss the fall!

Come and enjoy a glass of wine, relax, chat and meet the gallery owner Houston Foist. I am grateful to be given this opportunity.

The show will run from December 16th thru January 7th. So there will be plenty of time to check it out if you can't make it to the open.

The gallery's address is  5717 Gilkey Ave, Bow, Washington 98232.

Hope to see you there!

Big piece on display at Christopher Framing and Fine Art, Edmonds

If you are around the area, come visit Edmonds and stop by the gallery to see my biggest piece yet.
A challenging one for me, this luscious and colorful marsh landscape is 20 inches high and 36 inches long.  Michael - the gallery owner- has done an amazing job with the framing. The overall quality of the piece is exquisite. Pastel pigment vibrancy, composition depth and the wood patterns in the frame are worth at least to stop by and take a look.

Michael also has more of my pieces in stock ready for the holiday. It will not disappoint your eye. I promise.

Endless Dream- Pastel.

Shows and exhibits

I have been dealing with an injury in the hip area that has bothering me since March. I believe I am getting closer to find a solution with a new doctor I found. Fingers crossed!

In the meantime, since I cant workout - which drives me crazy- I have been trying to channel all my excess energy into painting.

I am happy that it's working so well. I got accepted to several shows I was hoping to get in!

Click on the image above to see the description of the show "For the beauty of Earth".
The entire show is published online at: onlinejuriedshows.com

The two paintings below are in the show.

At Ease. 8x10.

The Golden Hour. 9x12

Pastels USA 31st Annual International Open Exhibition

This exhibit takes place at A SENSE OF PLACE GALLERY, FRESNO, CA.
From SEPTEMBER 19 THRU OCTOBER 21.
If you are in the area stop by to see the art pieces. They will be excellent.
You can also visit: onlineJuriedShows.  To see all the paintings online.



My painting included in the show is "Gold in the lake" an 8x10 landscape.

The Pastel Society of North Carolina is sponsoring an online competition.
Pure Color:
An Online International Juried Exhibition of Pastel Paintings September 1-30, 2017

This is an online show that will be published September 1st. Thanks to Juror Lyn Asselta for accepting two of my paintings in this show. This is a great show!

The golden hour. 9x12

Summer trail 9x12 (Sold)

Be protective of your environment to set yourself for success

How do I do this and how do I do that? I get that question a lot. Many people approach me and ask me how I have the energy, the motivation, the drive to do the things I do. Crossfit, Painting, driving to Seattle every day. A day job in engineering. And the reality is that I have narrowed it down to a couple items I will mention below. But what's really hard is not how I do it, but to be consistent and persistent with it. Now, that's something I might have been born with. My mom is very much like me in that. But if you have those traits, then I am going to tell you what I tell all my friends that ask me, hey ale, how can you do so much?

Many books and articles have been written about this subject but... I am particularly going through a moment in my life where this has become more than essential.

Want to be a good painter? surround yourself with the masters. Study their process, how much do they paint? how do they paint? what other activities or accessory work do they do to help them be good? and start doing it. Not only watch them, but start walking the walk, your own walk.
But before you can paint your way, you have to paint like the master whose work you love. Or at least, try to do it. This is not copying, this is learning.
Do it and do it so much that it becomes natural to you. Do this taking from several not just one artist whose work you admire.

Eventually your "style" will emerge. It just takes time. I am still trying, but I can see how it has taken me further already. Closer to my goals, closer to liking the paintings I produce.

Hang out with people that love art, just like you do. If you only go through life not connecting with people that love what you love, you will become confused. You will end up in a spot where you feel disconnected, like you are the only one who cares. This has happened to me many times. To the point that it throws me on a spin of depression and mental illness. Surely enough, when I push myself to spend quality time with people that share the passion, it feels like a super energy boost. Motivation comes back, life feels better. Inspiration comes back. Everything has meaning again.

Yesterday, I drove all the way to Mt. Vernon (a one hour and half from home) to visit the Dakota Art Store warehouse and to spend quality time with my artist friends. I got to see Richard McKinley and talk to him about painting and life. On the way home I was in so much better mood than before.

Lisa, Rebecca, me and Patricia. They are all inspiration to me.

Some random guy I found on the street. He is very funny! :)

I was talking to an artist there about why I have my pastel box clean and organized all the time.
Well... as painters, we do make a mess, and pastels in particular become grayish when in use.
The reason I clean my pastels when I am done with a painting or even before, between sittings, is part of a strategy. I noticed a long time ago, that when they are clean and the colors are vibrant, I get more attracted to come back and carry on with the work. It also helps me get started. If the box is dirty and disorganized it really affects me. It wont stop me, but: it doesn't help.

My studio. Watercolors, pastels, oils, and .... and ....

Want to lose weight? be healthier? surround yourself with people that strive to do the same. If you only hang out with people that don't care so much about those things, you will not do it. Or it will be so much harder you will give up on your goal easily.

I went to my gym and talked with coach Alex, the fittest guy I know.  I asked him how he does it. Yeah, I bought an apple watch and I have to log my food all the time, but guess what: I have lost those pesky 5lbs I wanted to lose for so long. The watch sure makes it fun.

My fridge - relatively healthy food overall.

Whenever I am feeling like I am not making much progress I look for him at the gym and just say hi. That's it, then all we talked about exercise and nutrition comes back to me and I feel supported again. It's like "ok Ale, you are on the right track, you can do it".

So remember, your environment has to support your goals. Be protective of it, find the time to adjust it and make sure you are setting yourself up to succeed.

And remember to always have fun!

"Early Fog" 9x12 pastel.