Back to basics
The starter set. We’ve all received one and it can be a useful addition to a plein-air painting kit, and a chance to try something new and exciting, or a present to pass on to someone else. Whenever I run a workshop and students bring their own supplies, I try to tailor the painting palette to the colours found in a typical starter set. I want to show them how they can produce wonderful art by mixing the limited colours they have to hand. If they don’t like the medium after trying it, then they haven’t invested too much on materials. If they do like it, they can finish off what they have and add further colours as they gain experience.
Of all media, soft pastels tend to be the least understood by students. They are messy, dirty, imprecise, hard to carry and store, and very expensive – those little sticks that crumble away to nothing! Yes, they can be all of this, but it is also why I like to use them. They are an immediate and direct form of painting – the only tools you need are the pastel sticks and your
