Pastel artist Janice Scott tells us about her experience of using Art Spectrum Soft Pastels for the first time. Using the Art Spectrum pastels along with her other pastels she paints a sky study, a woodland study and a painting called ‘Summer Field’. Janice explains a bit about her painting process, tells us about the pastels and shows us the paintings step-by-step as they are being created.
Janice Scott works predominantly in acrylics, inks, pastels and collage. She was born in Yorkshire and is based in a small village on the outskirts of Norwich, Norfolk. She lived for many years in Southern Africa and says that this has definitely affected her outlook on light and colour.
Janice used the 20 half stick Art Spectrum Soft Pastels set.
Janice Scott Reviews Art Spectrum Soft Pastels
I was pleased with the way they were packaged and the handy printed insert, which gave details of all colours in the set.
I found the Art Spectrum Soft Pastels to be slightly chalkier and dustier than Rembrandt, which are very creamy and the main pastel brand that I use. The colours of the Art Spectrum set that I chose are true and easily worked up. I decided to do a similar theme, to the work I have done recently with Rembrandt soft pastels, to give me an idea of how they would perform. I was pleasantly surprised with the strength of colours when worked in layers, they blend really well. I also found it was easy to work with additional materials, such as ink and pencil over or under the Art Spectrum pastels. Overall I thought they were good quality pastels and I will most likely be purchasing some additional colours of the Art Spectrum Soft Pastels in the future.
I use a lot of purple, lilac, mauve; as well as all shades of yellow in my work and the set I chose was a bit lacking in that respect. However, I found the Spectrum Yellow very co-operative and once mixed with other colours, it gave pleasing results.
Since I started using the Art Spectrum I am finding that they are becoming the go-to pastel that I choose for the majority of the painting in my new work.
I did another piece this week called ‘Summer Field’ (see below).
I am enjoying the vibrancy of the Art Spectrum colours and intend getting more as soon as I can!
Sky Study
Painted on Daler-Rowney Ingres Stone Grey coloured paper (160gsm).
Sky Study step 1 and 2
Janice Scott
Sky Study nearly finished.
Janice Scott
Woodland Study
Painted on Daler-Rowney Ingres Stone Grey coloured paper (160gsm).
Woodland Study – Trees
Stage 1
Janice Scott
Woodland Study – Trees
Stage 2
Janice Scott
Woodland Study – Trees
Stage 3
Janice Scott
Woodland Study – Trees
Stage 4
Janice Scott
Woodland Study – Trees
Finished.
Janice Scott
Summer Field
Painted on Daler-Rowney Ingres Dark Brown coloured paper (160gsm).
Paper size is 40x30cm, actual size of the painting is about 30x20cm.
‘Summer Field’
Art Spectrum Soft Pastels
Janice Scott
‘Summer Field’ detail
Art Spectrum Soft Pastels
Janice Scott
‘Summer Field’ detail
Art Spectrum Soft Pastels
Janice Scott
Click on the underlined link to go to the current offers on the Art Spectrum Soft Pastels on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Postage on orders shipped standard to mainland UK addresses is free for orders of £39.
