Hi,

I am very new to pastels and although I have attended a couple of workshops my knowledge is limited. I can se that my subjects are improving but I am getting a bit stuck with my backgrounds.

I have just completed a hereford bull laying down and my first thought is to surround him with alot of blended greens but perhaps he would look better against a different back ground.

Can you tell me where I can get more info on how to tackle backgrounds, colour, rules, effects etc as they tend to be a bit of an after thought for me at present.

Unfortunatly this forum does not enable me to send you a photo as an illustration.

Tell me about it Buffy. I am the same, and one of the ladies at my art group always says, 'what about your background'. Well right or wrong I dont worry about it now. I always ground something so it doesnt look like its floating, but unless the subject is set in a background, I tend not to put one in. I am sure I will be told its wrong, but check out my pictures on the non professional gallery under Margaret Russell, and you will see what I mean. Hope it helps, but as far as pointing you to a professional to advise, cant help there, just tell you what I do. Good luck.

Hi Buffy! Whenever I paint a subject in pastel, I tend to leave the background as hazy and indistinct as possible, as this has the effect of standing out the subject image.
I also like to use dry tissue to blend in my backgrounds, rather than blenders or fingers!

Good luck and very best wishes,

Steve Williams
PA & RSC Wigan area

Thank you both for your replies. Like you Steve I too like to keep my backgrounds smudgy and hazy to make the image stand out but I'm not sure that I use the most aprriate colours to achieve the best effect.

Margaret, I can see that you are right not to to worry too much about it. I do have some of my pictures on the site if you search for Sue Doherty in this years SAA challenge you can see what think.

Hi Buffy

How you approach painting the backgrounds depends on whether you are doing a portrait which almost fills your paper OR painting an animal in its surroundings. In the first instance you may want to choose a background colour which compliments your subject with touches of other colours in the background which you have already used in your subject. This will help to bring your painting together. (Take a look at some of my animal paintings which are almost all done in pastels - www.carolkibble.co.uk)

Carol

PA Wiltshire