PASTELBORD - THE SOLID CHOICE FOR PASTELS AND MORE!

Conservator quality wood materials and sealing processes, no other panel on the market protects an artist’s work like an Ampersand panel.

Key Features:

• 1/8" flat wood panels
• More durable and more versatile than paper
• The coating is pH neutral and non-yellowing
• Truly permanent museum-quality surface
• Marble-dust tooth holds more layers than pastel paper
• Holds artwork while still eliminating excessive pastel dust collecting inside the frame
• Available in white, gray, sand, and green tones
• Archival, Handcrafted in the USA
• Great for Soft or oil pastels and pastel pencils, Achieve excellent results with acrylics, oils, watercolours, gouache, charcoal and more
• Exquisite Sanded Surface
• More durable and more versatile surface

Some General Tips on Using Pastels

Pastels are, in general, a fragile medium. They require a durable sanded surface because the pigments need the texture to grab onto when painting in layers and when repeatedly blending.

For the pastelist using hard pastels, soft pastels, oil pastels, and pastel pencils, use our Pastelbord, designed with all these qualities in mind. In addition, try using water-soluble pastels because Pastelbord can be used wet or dry without the fear of curling or buckling. Pastels must always be framed behind glass because when sprayed with a fixative, the colours can appear dark and dull.

Tips on Using Pastelbord

Pastelbord is a sanded, absorbent, durable surface. Pastels may be used alone or in combination with other media on this panel. Pastelbord works well with all types of pastels and other paints, including oil and acrylics.

Try these tips to get the maximum results out of Pastelbord. It is easy to combine painting techniques with dry drawing techniques for diverse and interesting surface control using this tip. Lay down a watercolour or acrylic wash before using your pastels. Either work over the washed surface while wet or after it has dried. For blending, use a damp brush to go back in and soften edges and blend colours.

For maximum detail, try using pastel pencils in the finishing stages. The panel's colour may be altered by applying light washes of acrylic paint or by airbrushing a new colour over the surface.

To save your expensive soft pastels, start your piece using hard pastels and then cover it with soft pastels. You will use less pigment this way and achieve great results.