My children get dirty. And I like to leave them that way…. no, no, not my actual children, my pastel sticks…..
I don’t worry about keeping my pastel sticks clean- who cares? Yes, they look pretty in the box, so shiny and bright, but then there is the stress of keeping them all tidy. I don’t have time for that. Some artists pack sticks in rice, or cornmeal. They vacuum them with special hoses or spend lots of time lovingly wiping them down.
Again, I don’t have time for that.
That is why I love microfiber clothes. Such a great invention! I just throw a microfiber cloth over my shoulder and mark the sticks on it as I go along, getting each stick nice and clean before each mark I add to the painting. (be careful that you don’t forget to put a cloth on your shoulder and then wipe the stick off on your shirt….been there, done that.) Again, for me this throws back to painting with watercolor. Using the same brush, a watercolorist is always checking on what pigment is loaded in the brush and constantly obsessed with how clean it is before getting another color loaded into it. So, “cleaning as you go” as it were….So I am used to that mentality….
The microfiber clothes are gentle on the sticks and don’t take too much dust off. I used to use regular clothes and I felt like I lost a lot of pigment.
They wash up very well and are just nice and fuzzy and comforting to hang onto.
I must have had a a fuzzy blankie when I was little…..
Great idea Christine. Can’t tell you how many expensive shop paper towels I’ve gone thru! And I have plenty of these cloths hanging around…
I know- right? and the Norwex ones are good for cleaning and don’t require any cleanser to clean an area. They have silver threads infused in the microfiber and it cleans with only a bit of water.
Very timely post as I woke up feeling a tad guilty that my pastels were so messy and was going to clean them all. Your plan makes sense as they are perpetually getting dirty. Leaves me more time to paint!
yes- more time to paint is the most important thing!
Sorry can’t do that. LOL I have a covered box with corn grits that I use for my palette. It holds all of the pastels that I am using for any particular piece. A simple shake and walah. It doesn’t matter what colors, lights or darks, it works the same. But this is what I’ve been doing for a number of years. To old to change now. Hope all is well with you. Now the micro fabric. Still use it to keep my hands clean (er). LOL until I’m done for a session and can clean up.
whatever works! 🙂
Thanks for the great tip, I like my “children” dirty too
It was a great workshop you gave in Cleveland, I learned a lot and you are such a wonderful artist and good teacher.
thanks! it was fun….
I used to have a paint shirt that constantly had multi-colors of pastel on the right shoulder. I switched to an bibbed apron but then I had pastel all over my right breast–which seemed like a worse problem when I have students. Ha! Your suggestion of the micro fiber cloth is timely so thanks.
sure!! 🙂
Good to know, I’m going to a Nowex party this week. I have been using microfiber to clean the glass and frames on my paintings with no cleaner, works well.
ooh! I just discovered those. Love em! great for car too! no toxic stuff!