Gesture Drawing and Other Media, Part 4: PASTELS

        Soft, bright color blends, variety of line and tonal values, and textural interest are all strengths
of pastel gestures. This media, very compatible with gesture drawing, offers linear excitement
and colorful content essence as these examples demonstrate.

      Click on images for full views

The 3 color profile head combines broad stroke shadows with finer line hair texture. Using the side and corner tip of the pastels makes this an easy difference to achieve.

The vases have quick, broad shape definition, black finer detail, and yellow highlights added last.

  Both shells demonstrate "mass and line" drawing. The top shell in neutral black is heavy with firm
weight and strong contrast. The lower one's color suggests more delicacy and lightness.

The football player in wet pastel, is a very fast technique to enjoy. The paper is wet with a brush
  and thepastel draws directly into the area. The brush assists in moving and controlling where the
fluid color is placed. It's very spontaneous and color movement is often surprising and exciting.