10 Ways to Tell You’re a Pastel Artist

Open Sea by Claude Monet, pastel drawing
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Pastel Quiz: How to Spot the Artist

Pastel artists love color, texture, and creating! Time in the studio is the most satisfying part of any day, and art-making means setting our inner visions free! There are quite a few clues that make it easy to spot a pastel artist if you know what to look for.

Here are 10 ways to tell if you are one. Of course, this is not the complete, definitive list, but if you love pastel, then see what numbers apply to you and leave a comment letting us know — and let us know of additional traits we’ve left off.

Take our pastel quiz and see what kind of pastel artist you are!

Bank of the Seine by Claude Monet, pastel on paper
Bank of the Seine by Claude Monet, pastel on paper

Are You a Pastel Artist?

Pan pastels or stick pastels? We know -- you love them all!
Pan pastels or stick pastels? We know — you love them all!

1 — In primary school you lived to be called up to write on the chalk board. Though your teacher was always trying to get you to work a math problem instead of acknowledging the amazing marks you were making.

2 — Regular people see faces, you see half a dozen smudges.

3 — Blending is the answer to almost every question, inside and outside the studio. Seriously, guys, can’t we all just blend along?

4 — Your housecleaning philosophy can be a little unorthodox. You strangely covet the dust on your mantel and think to yourself, if I can collect the pastel dust in my studio, why can’t I collect it in my house instead of doing these chores?!

5 — You know there is only one rule about pastels: yes, I’ll have another.

6 — No matter what you are shopping for, you want to experience it texture first, from a soft sweater to a ripe peach or a sheet of paper.

7 — The debate between pastel “painting” and pastel “drawing” could have you going for hours, and most of the time it ends with clear consensus: it’s both!

Open Sea by Claude Monet, pastel drawing
Open Sea by Claude Monet, pastel drawing

8 — You carry full sticks, broken pieces, and even little nubs of pastel with you, but you have learned not to keep them in your pocket. #laundrynightmare

9 — You are unfazed by the weird names of awesome tools. Hello stump. Oh, you want to be fancy? Fine, tortillon. Yes, this means you, finger cot.

10 — You have to turn away when someone blows out birthday candles. It’s just too traumatic.

Which Are You?

So pastel artists, which of the pastel quiz characteristics describe you perfectly? I’m #1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 for sure.

Tell us the numbers that describe you in the comments and remember the 11th way that marks a pastelist: They give themselves the gift of knowledge, and that starts with learning from all the inspiring art educators at Artists Network!SaveSave

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Join the Conversation!

  1. I am a beginner and have just begun the journey of becoming a pastel artist. It only takes a look at “Bank of the Seine” by Claude Monet above to help me NOT worry about what my style is going to be like. All I need to be is true to what I see and feel. Thank you for starting my 2019 off in the right direction.

  2. Courtney, fabulous content. I look forward everyday to all your postings. This one was another delight and expands my horizons as an artist of life!
    Dan

  3. Love your humor, this was fun! Also I think any artist has the right to smudge, blend as much as his heart desires, right? Isn’t that what art is all about? So go ahead and have fun with pastels! experiment! Each one has their own way of expression, and way of making art, we don’t need to always copy someone else:)

  4. I don’t know if I’m a pastel artist,but I LOVE color! I go nuts in art supply stores and can be in there for hours! I love pastels, colored pencils, everything!!!

  5. Just for fun, I’m taking the quiz. I’m #s, 2,3,4,5,6,7,&9. The 11th for me would be, I almost hyperventilate when I am in the specialty art supply store, as I stand in front if the hundredsofpastels

  6. I cant cant grasp your angle on pastel Courtney. What research have you done for this ‘quiz’? Not impressed. As a pastel artist since the 70’s and a European Artist /tutor – I am a bit shocked by your lack of understanding.

    Is there a point behind this?

  7. If you believe what Courtney says from her knowledge of the pastel medium, then you need to be ordering books from Richard McKinley. Smudges, tortillions, blending, dust? They have no place in pastel painting techniques. Courtney, you need a refresher course in pastels.

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