Old Spanish Trail Studio
Lindy Severns on Painting in Pastels
Lindy C Severns Explains Pastel Painting, Supplies and Techniques
def: PASTELS :
thick sticks of compressed pigment (pure color) which, when skillfully applied to an appropriate surface, allow an artist to create lasting magic.
thick sticks of compressed pigment (pure color) which, when skillfully applied to an appropriate surface, allow an artist to create lasting magic.
This photo shows about half of the ten pastel trays in Lindy's studio palette. The artist uses metal ROZ pastel cases to hold her studio pastel collection.
Each specially designed, foam-cushioned tray holds 64 pastel sticks. Lindy removes the trays from their metal cases for convenient studio use. Two trays stack in each Roz case, protecting the fragile pastel sticks during travel in the Severns' RV.
A much smaller plein air collection is stored in the artist's SOLTEK easel for quick painting on location.
Lindy arranges her 1000 odd sticks of soft pastel first by value, irregardless of brand. Within a given value (light to dark) range, the sticks are lined up according to hue (color) then further broken down according to temperature (warm or cool tones.)
Each specially designed, foam-cushioned tray holds 64 pastel sticks. Lindy removes the trays from their metal cases for convenient studio use. Two trays stack in each Roz case, protecting the fragile pastel sticks during travel in the Severns' RV.
A much smaller plein air collection is stored in the artist's SOLTEK easel for quick painting on location.
Lindy arranges her 1000 odd sticks of soft pastel first by value, irregardless of brand. Within a given value (light to dark) range, the sticks are lined up according to hue (color) then further broken down according to temperature (warm or cool tones.)
A PAINTING TIP FROM LINDY:
Judging the underlying VALUE of a color can be deceiving.
The complex pastel shown above uses a plethora of colors inside three bold values to create drama and interest.
To determine whether two different colors share the same value, stroke each color side by side, touching but not overlapping one another. Now, squint at them. If you see a line dividing the two, they are different values (one lighter, one darker than the other.)
No line? Your two colors share the same value.
What value, you ask, is there in knowing this?
Using different colors of the same value adds interest and vibrancy to a painting in any medium.
Whether a postcard-sized pastel miniature like the Lindy Severns pastel painting shown here, or a grand pastel painting five feet tall, each of the Big Bend artist's landscapes are created with leading brands of soft pastels on museum-grade KITTY WALLIS pastel paper, a toothy, canvas-like surface that holds multiple layers of pigment in a death-grip.
Regardless of the manufacturer, the artist-quality sticks of pure, compressed pigment Lindy uses are lightfast (non-fading) and permanent.
Regardless of the manufacturer, the artist-quality sticks of pure, compressed pigment Lindy uses are lightfast (non-fading) and permanent.
ART COLLECTORS AND ART GALLERIES:
Education on pastels as a painting medium, how Lindy Severns paints with them & their archival qualities. Read the information sheet the artist gives to buyers:
ABOUT MY PASTELS by Lindy C Severns
Education on pastels as a painting medium, how Lindy Severns paints with them & their archival qualities. Read the information sheet the artist gives to buyers:
ABOUT MY PASTELS by Lindy C Severns
"I live three hours from the nearest brick and mortar source of art supplies, that one by no means a supplier for professional artists,muchless a pastel purist. So when I state that BLICK ART SUPPLIES pays me to mention them on this website. it is more out of gratitude than full disclosure!" ~ Lindy Cook Severns
MY ART NECESSITIES, REGULARLY
ORDERED ONLINE FROM
DICK BLICK ART:
- REMBRANDT SOFT PASTEL STICKS
- SCHMINCKE SOFT PASTEL STICKS
- TERRY LUDWIG SOFT PASTEL STICKS
- CONTE PASTEL PENCILS
- CARB-OTHELLO PASTEL PENCILS
- NUPASTEL STICKS
- KITTY WALLIS MUSEUM GRADE PAPER
Want to know more about what's behind Lindy Severns paintings? Read Lindy's blog about why and where she paints.
Wanderings of An Artist in Far West Texas The Big Bend artist weaves stories about life in the vanishing western wilderness of the Davis Mountains, the Chihuahuan desert and Far West Texas. 
LINDY COOK SEVERNS, BIG BEND ARTIST
LINDY@LINDYCSEVERNS.COM
OLD SPANISH TRAIL STUDIO
401 CROWS NEST ROAD
PO BOX 2167
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS 79734
Studio visits are available by appointment. 
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