Mixing pastel paints, whether soft or hard pastels, involves layering and blending techniques rather than directly mixing colors on a palette like with oils or acrylics. The final effect depends on the type of pastel and desired outcome.
Methods for Mixing Pastel Paints
1. Layering: This is the most common method.
- Spread the first color: Apply your first color as a solid area or as widely spaced, light hatching. Avoid overly dark applications initially.
- Overlay the second color: Apply your second color similarly, layering it on top of the first.
- Blend: Use your finger (or a blending stump/tortillion) in a circular motion to gently blend the pigments together. This creates an intermediate shade. This method works best for soft pastels. For hard pastels, more pressure is required to achieve the same effect.
Example: To create a light lavender, layer a light blue over a pale pink. Blend gently for a soft transition.
2. Watercolor Technique (for pastel-like effects): Some artists achieve a pastel-like effect by diluting watercolors.
- Select a base color: Choose a watercolor that's close to the desired pastel shade.
- Dilute with water: Add water to significantly lighten the watercolor, creating a pastel tint. The key is finding the right initial color and dilution ratio.
3. Limited Palette Approach: Instead of mixing multiple colors, select a limited set of pastels and layer them strategically to achieve a variety of hues.
4. Direct Mixing (Soft Pastels): For soft pastels, a small amount of direct mixing can be done on the surface itself by lightly layering the colors and gently blending. However, layering usually gives more vibrant and less muddy results.
Tips for Success
- Start light: Begin with light layers to avoid muddy colors. You can always add more layers, but it's difficult to remove excess pigment.
- Use different tools: Experiment with fingers, blending stumps, or soft cloths to achieve various blending effects.
- Consider the pastel type: Soft pastels blend more easily than hard pastels. Hard pastels might require more pressure or the use of a different blending tool.
- Experiment: The best way to master pastel mixing is through experimentation. Try different layering and blending techniques to discover what works best for you.
Remember, the references provided mention different approaches, including using acrylics to create pastel-like colors or using watercolors for a pastel effect. The core concept remains: layering and blending are key for mixing pastel colors, whether using pastels directly or achieving a similar effect with other media.
