Pastel Portrait of My Older Son, Joseph Kellum.
I created this portrait and many more similar portraits of children in 1980 — 45 years ago. I created this drawing while I was living in Tupelo, MS. That was many years ago, and I’m finally getting back to working in pastel again, but the playing field has vastly changed for pastel artists since 1980.
For one thing, in 1980, I could purchase large sheets of sanded pastel paper for a reasonable price, and there was enough grit on the paper to hold the layers of pastels that I enthusiastically slashed across the surface.
More importantly, in 1980, I had recently bumped into a massive set of Grumbacher pastels at an estate sale. That was probably my greatest find in my art career. Until I used all the sticks, I was in pastel heaven, but Grumbacher quit selling their wonderful pastels, and since that time, I have been looking for a reasonably priced — but quality brand of pastels.
Believe me, I have kissed a lot of frogs during my search, but I am currently very enthusiastic about the pastels being sold by Rubens.
Paul Rubens Professional Soft Pastels
Handmade Set of 72 Vibrant Colors
Image Credit Rubens at Amazon
Handmade Set of 72 Vibrant Colors
Image Credit Rubens at Amazon
I like the buttery softness of Rubens pastels. I especially like that the sticks of color do not crumble like their much more expensive counterpart Sennelier pastels. I have vowed never to buy Sennelier pastels again.
Paul Rubens pastels are much softer than Rembrandt pastels. Drawing with Rembrandt pastels is like trying to draw with a rock. I have also vowed never to buy Rembrandt pastels again.
Nupastels are my favorite hard pastels.
Nupastels are excellent hard pastels, but I also need a set of hard pastels: I hope that Paul Rubens pastels will be my workhorse in terms of a soft pastel.
Paul Rubens Pastels are round. They come in half sticks and have no wrapper.
Paul Rubens Pastels Have Strong Pigmentation. They are not loaded with powdery fillers.
Paul Rubens Soft Pastels are Chalk Pastels. They Make Smooth Marks and Have High Adhesion for Painting,
Peter Rubens Set of 72 Soft Pastels
After I ordered the Paul Rubens Set of 72 Pastels [pictured above, I discovered the larger set of 96:
Set of 96 First Tray
Set of 96 Second Tray