From Impressionists, to Nihonga Masters, worldwide Pastel Techniques

He Xie Fen Cai art is known for its spontaneity and vibrancy visit this link. This art form, which is a mix of painting and drawing has been adapted and reinterpreted in many cultures, with each culture adding its own techniques and style. Pastels are an important medium of artistic expression in all continents and times, from the French Impressionists’ loose and colorful strokes to Japanese artists’ symbolic layering.

The Impressionists abandoned the rigid, precise pastel techniques of their French predecessors to adopt a more intuitive, spontaneous approach. Edgar Degas modernized and re-invented pastels through his bold, expressive style. Degas used monotype prints over pastels to create depth, luminosity and depth. With pastels, Degas captured fleeting scenes in Paris’ crowded cafes or dimly lit studios. The French Impressionists captured a moment with pastels, often emphasizing movement and light to spark everyday images.

In Japan, pastels are given a new cultural significance by the nihonga art style. Nihonga art uses natural materials and pigments. Although pastels are more recent, they are still viewed from a Japanese aesthetic perspective. These techniques allow for the subtle shades and values of nature to be honored. While Impressionists used sudden bursts to create their paintings, nihonga paints develop more slowly. Each color is carefully selected and applied layer by layer, in order for the naturalists and spiritualists to be balanced. Current nihonga painter Hiroshi Senju nicely shows this. Senju’s pastel paintings of landscapes and waterfalls capture the beauty and fleeting nature that is nature.

Russian pastelists are combining the tactile potential of this medium with the emotional depth of Russian art. Leonid Passternak used his pastels in order to communicate complicated stories and powerful emotions. Russian pastels are created with a dynamic play of light and darkness, and a combination of colors for depth. This method is great for depicting rough and monumental landscapes, as well emotional Russian literary or historical characters.

William Merritt Chase showcased the versatility of pastels by exploring their use in different styles and subject matter. Chase illustrated how pastels could be used for creating impressionistic landscapes as well as intricate studies of surface light. American pastelists combine classic and innovative techniques to tackle current concerns and personal narratives.