Lesson Objectives: Hard vs. Soft Pastries
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify the difference between hard pastels (Nupastel) and soft pastels (Sennelier) and choose the right one for each situation.
- Control the pressure of your hand to create at least 5 different shades with a single pastel.
- Experiment with drawing with the side and tip of the pencil, and understand when to use each one.
- Understand how the type of paper affects the final result of your drawing.
Materials
For individual students (teens or adults):
For families with young children (ages 6–12):
Vocabulary
| Term | Brief definition |
|---|---|
| Soft Cake | High pigment concentration, creamy texture, blends easily. Ideal for large areas and blending. |
| Hard cake | Higher binder content, firm and precise stroke. Ideal for details and well-defined lines. |
| Pastel pencil | A pencil version of the pastel, ideal for fine details and preliminary sketches. |
| Side view | Use the wide side of the brush to cover large areas with broad strokes. |
| Point stroke | Use the tip of the pen to draw fine, precise lines. |
| Pressure | The pressure you apply with the pastel against the paper determines the intensity of the color. |
| Blender | A tool (rolled-up paper, sponge, or finger) for smoothing and blending the pigment. |
| Moldable rubber | A pencil that can be kneaded and used to pick up pigment and create highlights. |
| Binder | A substance that holds pigment particles together. More binder = a harder pastel. |
Standards (National Core Arts Standards)
Lesson Content
The Secret History of the Cake
Before graphics tablets and colored pencils existed, pastels were the medium of choice for artists who wanted to capture light and color instantly. Leonardo da Vinci used sanguine (a type of pastel) for his anatomical studies. In the 18th century, Rosalba Carriera became Europe’s most famous portrait artist by using soft, luminous pastels. And Edgar Degas, the Impressionist, revolutionized pastel by using it to capture the movement of dancers and horses.
But the cake also has a global history:
- In Mexico, Frida Kahlo used pastel in her intimate self-portraits.
- In India, Mughal manuscripts used powdered pigments similar to pastels.
- In Japan, ukiyo-e inspired Degas and other Western artists.
- In Africa, contemporary artists such as Romuald Hazoumè use pastel to create works that address social issues.
Today you're going to start your own story with this medium. You don't need to be a genius. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
Cakes: Soft, Hard, and the Magic of Pressure
Take a look at your pastel. Does it have a label that says "Sennelier," "Nupastel," or "Rembrandt"? Those names tell you what kind of character it has.
| Type | Features | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Hard cake (e.g., Nupastel) | Higher binder content, firm and precise stroke. Does not break easily. | Details, lines, sharp edges, precise drawing. |
| Soft pastel (e.g., Sennelier) | Highly pigmented, creamy, blends like magic. Breaks easily. | Large areas, backgrounds, blends, expressive strokes. |
| Pastel pencil | Precise control, just like a regular pencil, but with pigment. | Outlines, fine textures, preliminary sketches. |
Quick tip: If you only have soft cake, don't worry. You can do almost anything with it. And if you only have hard cake, that's fine, too. But when you learn to use BOTH in the same drawing... that's when the magic happens.
The Hidden Power of Pressure
Take your cake (whichever one you have). Place it very gently on the paper, as if you were stroking a feather. Make a mark.
Now press down hard, as if you were trying to make an impression on the paper. Make another mark.
Can you tell the difference?
The same cake, the same firmness, two completely different results.
You control it with the pressure:
- Lightweight → translucent color, almost like a dried watercolor (whisper)
- Medium volume → rich but controlled tone (normal conversation)
- A lot of pressure → intense color, almost like paint (scream)
💡 Tip from the mischievous one: A pastel isn't a pen. You don't need to press down to make it "work." On the contrary: the best pastel artists use pastels as if they were caressing the paper. Try making marks with VERY little pressure. You'll be surprised by the subtlety you can achieve.
Side stroke vs. tip stroke
There are two main ways to use the cake bar. Each one gives you a different result.
Horizontal line:
- Use the wide side of the bar.
- Comprehensive coverage.
- Ideal for backgrounds, large areas, and loose textures.
- You use more cake, but you cover it faster.
Vertical line:
- You use the tip of the bar.
- A thin, well-defined line.
- Ideal for details, edges, and precise lines.
- It lasts longer, but you cover less area.
Quick exercise: On a sheet of paper, draw a large circle using only side strokes. Then draw another circle using only tip strokes. Do you notice the difference in texture and coverage?
💡 Tip: In the same drawing, use a side stroke for the background and a tip stroke for the details. Your drawings will immediately gain variety and visual richness.
Paper: Your Silent Ally
The paper you choose makes all the difference. Drawing on smooth paper isn't the same as drawing on rough paper.
| Area | Features | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Fine-grain paper (e.g., Canson Mi-Teintes) | Lightweight texture, versatile. It holds pigment well but allows for fine details. | All-purpose. The best choice for beginners. |
| Coarse-grained paper (e.g., Ingres) | A pronounced texture that locks in the pigment. | When you want to make lots of layers. Ideal for soft cakes. |
| Sandpaper (e.g., Pastelmat) | It holds the pigment firmly. | For highly pigmented works with many layers. |
💡 Tip: If you only have plain printer paper, that works for practice, too. But when you can, get some textured paper. The difference is huge.
Featured Artist for This Lesson: Rosalba Carriera (1673–1757)
Who was it? A Venetian artist who became the most famous portrait painter in Europe in the 18th century. She was one of the first women to achieve international fame in the art world.
Why is this important for this lesson? Carriera was a master at using soft, luminous pastels. She knew exactly when to apply light pressure to create delicate skin tones and when to use firmer strokes to define features. Her portraits seem to have a life of their own.
Fun fact: Carriera used colored pastels on blue or gray paper, taking advantage of the paper's color as a midtone. This gave his portraits a unique depth and warmth.
🔍 To explore: Search for "Rosalba Carriera pastel portraits" on Google. Notice how she uses pressure to create textures of skin and fabrics. Do you notice areas where the pressure is very light? And areas where it's firmer?
Activity: Choose Your Adventure
📌 Individual students (teens and adults)
Activity Title: "The Map of My Cake"
👪 Families with children (ages 6–12, when accompanied)
Activity Title: "The Festival of Pressures"
AI Activity: "My Virtual Materials Curator"
Objective: To explore how AI can help us visualize results before working with physical materials.
Instructions:
- Simulation: Use a generative AI tool (e.g., DALL-E, Midjourney, or even a free generator like Craiyon) and enter the following prompt: "A simple still life with an apple and a cup, drawn with pastels on fine-grain paper, with loose strokes and warm colors"
- Generate 3 variations by changing only the paper type in the prompt:
- Variation 1: "...on fine-grained paper"
- Variation 2: "...on coarse-grained paper with a pronounced texture"
- Variation 3: "...on sandpaper that traps the pigment intensely"
- Compare the images and reflect:
- How does the perception of color and texture vary depending on the type of paper?
- What kind of paper do you think would best suit your style?
- Journal: Write a paragraph in your journal about:
- How could AI help you choose materials in the future?
- What limitations do you see in the use of AI for this purpose?
- Ethics (class discussion or individual reflection):
- Is it ethical to use AI to "see" what a work would look like before creating it?
- Where is the line between inspiration and dependence?
📤 Submission for a Personalized Response
For the Crecer and Sembrar memberships—with feedback from the instructor
🌐 Submission for the Community Forum
For the "Create" membership – without instructor feedback
📝 Artist's Journal (Writing)
This week, write in your journal:
Week 1 – First Impressions:
Write a paragraph about your first impressions of working with pastels. Answer:
- What surprised you?
- What was difficult?
- What was easier than you expected?
- How did it feel when you touched the cake and the paper?
Week 2 – Research:
Research Rosalba Carriera and write down 5 key facts about her technique.
Week 3 – Reflection:
How do you think materials (the hardness of the pastel, the type of paper, the pressure applied) influence artistic expression? Relate this to your experience in this lesson.
End of the Lesson
Today you met your partner in crime. You learned that not all cakes are the same (soft vs. hard), that pressure is more important than the type of cake, and that side strokes and tip strokes give you completely different results.
A pastel isn't just a boring art supply. It's an expressive tool that can whisper or shout, cover vast areas, or draw lines as fine as a strand of hair.
You've met Rosalba Carriera, an artist who mastered these fundamentals more than 300 years ago and whose portraits continue to move those who see them.
In the next lesson (1.2: The Importance of Surface – Papers and Textures), we'll take a closer look at how the paper you choose makes all the difference, and how different textures can completely transform the same stroke.
💡 Assignment for the week (if you want): Take a crayon with you everywhere. To boring meetings, while you wait for coffee, at traffic lights. Make marks. Just marks. Experiment with pressure, the side, and the tip. Make your crayon an extension of your hand.