My favorite pastel surface

by Robert Sloan
(Lawrence, Kansas, USA)

My favorite primer for watercolor paper whether I'm using dry (hard or soft) pastels or oil pastels is clear Colourfix sanded primer. A sanded surface holds more layers, but the clear is so crystal-clear that it won't distort the color of a watercolor or acrylic underpainting.

The tooth on Colourfix is so fine it doesn't stop my doing small details on it. But it allows much more than a dozen layers instead of just two or three whichever pastels I'm using.

Colourfix pastel paper comes in 20 colors and is wonderful, it's the same primer printed on 100% rag watercolor paper at a factory. But you can make it at home cheaper with a pint of the primer and any watercolor paper you've got -- including failed watercolor paintings.

The bobcat above is on Aubergine hue Colourfix paper, 8" square in oil pastels.

For more on oil pastels, please visit my website at http://www.explore-oil-pastels-with-robert-sloan.com or my daily art blog at http://robertsloan2.livejournal.com.