Caran d'Ache Pastel Pencil Art Work Of Grange in Keswick England

When I first received this beautiful set of Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils, I knew immediately what I wanted to paint, a landscape scene of a place very special to my wife and I. It is a very small hamlet in the Lake District not far from Keswick called Grange, we use to take our children there in the summer and while my wife and I sat on the grassy bank, the children would play in the river and pools. It’s truly a magical and beautiful place and I just hope that I have captured the true beauty of the area for you.

I have played about with various types of pastels while reviewing products, this was my very first attempt at completing a landscape scene. I use some Clairefontaine Pastelmat paper and of course the Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils, whilst the pencils performed beautifully, had I not been doing this painting for review and demonstration purposes, I would have also used some blocks of pastel of the larger areas of colour.

I personally find Pastelmat a much better surface of pastel painting, I feel the paper grips and hold the pigment well, ensuring that very little of the pastel powder falls from the paper while working on a slanted platform. I also find that with this particular surface, the is very little to no reason for using a fixative, providing the work is protect during postage and framed correctly, you should be good, however this is only my opinion and if you are used to using workable fixatives and final fixatives, by all means continue with your methods, but if this is the first time using Pastelmat I would try the fixatives on some tests rather than a final art piece.

I actually completed the painting with the use of photos taken over the years of visiting, I did however have to use a little bit of artistic licensing. As you look at the painting there is a grass bank on the right, on top of this grass bank there is actually a very small area for cars to park, approximately three or four cars, every time I have taken photos of Grange there has been at least one car parked and so I just removed the cars and gravel area.

I have also completed a speed painting video of this piece on YouTube follow the link to watch it, you can also take a look at the YouTube video review and demonstration of the Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils as well as my written review of the pastel pencils, where I have included links and prices as well as detailed Lightfast information.