Velour paper is my substrate of choice when it comes to pastel. I use Hahnemühle velour and it feels velvety or a bit like suede. I started using it predominently for animals as the softness really lends itself to creating fur. But now I’ve used it for landscapes, people, just about everything! It can be a love or hate relationship with velour for some artists and I found when I first started using it, I encountered several problems. After years of experimenting on it I’ve got to the stage where my work is very stable and I’m even able to post it worldwide with no problems.
Here are some useful tips for painting on velour pastel paper…
- Firm up the surface
Try mounting your velour paper on some self adhesive mount board or foam board. This firms the paper up and makes it not only nicer to work on but easier to handle and less likely to warp in the future. I’ve started using a 5mm self adhesive foamboard and it makes the piece a really firm object which is easier to post also.
Your framer will also thank you as it makes them much easier to handle in the framing process.
2. Sketch and transfer
Velour is tricky to sketch on. If you want to be able to draft out your painting with an initial line drawing do it on a thin piece of normal drawing paper. I draw freehand mostly but will use a grid on larger or more complicated compositions. Then cover the back of the drawing with pastel, tape it onto the velour and trace your sketch on. Just enough to give you a faint line. Then I use a pastel pencil to go over this and neaten my sketch or tweak at certain parts again.
Here is my initial sketch being drawn over onto the velour. I’ve rubbed black pastel all over the back of the paper and rubbed it well in so that not too much will transfer.
Here you can see the faint line this gives me on the velour.
I use pastel pencil to strengthen my outline.
3. Rub in the layers
When blocking in areas of colour really rub the pastel into the paper. I treat this part like an underpainting to stain paper with general shapes allowing the next layers of detail to stick better. I’ve got into the habit of giving most of my marks a soft rub into the paper rather than leave it sitting loose on the surface as this will result in excess dust knocking off too easily.
4. To fix or not?
I used to spray a small amount of fixative in between early layers of pastel. Surprisingly it hardly darkens the pastel at all on velour unlike other papers. The only unsprayed layers would be my details and highlights. The early layers have really stuck to the fibres of the paper so the only ones likely to produce excess dust are these last layers.
However, I have not been spraying fixative at all recently. I think it may be because I’m trying to paint a little looser and use less layers to create the effect, therefore less pastel. I also consistantly rub in the marks I make. By the time I’m finished I don’t see how fixative would improve it’s stability as everything is really well rubbed into the paper anyway. It’s worth experimenting as everyone paints so differently and how you make your painting stable on velour will be quite unique to you.
5. The best pastels to use.
I find the softer the pastel the more likely it is to fall off velour. Some brands are just too soft for it. The softest I use are Unison and I love them! Their colour range is exceptional and they’re lovely and buttery to work with. These make up the main part of my collection.
I use some Faber Castell sticks and especially love their black for really dark areas and sketching. They are slightly softer than Conte crayons.
I use Faber Castell Pitt pastel pencils for very small detail. These do the job well but they really only work on top of a layer of pastel. I use pastel pencil to shape some of my bigger marks made by the big sticks although most small marks can be achieved by a tiny shard of soft pastel. They are useful around eyes and noses and very fine hairs around the edges of an animal.
I recently purchased some darks from Terry Ludwig, an American pastel maker. They are a lovely addition to my dark range and are very rich in pigment.
6. Frame to protect
The final thing to ensure the longevity of velour is the framing. I use three different methods.
Method 1 favoured by most clients for pet portraits of a smaller size
Double mount with space between the inner and outer mounts for any dust fall off. Looks great and most of the time any excess dust will fall down the gap. I have had times when the dust dirties the mount due to a bump or knock. I tell all customers to ensure they transport the piece on it’s back and avoid placing them glass down. But otherwise, a very successful framing method which increases the size of the overall frame.
Double frame with the glass between the 2 frames. This is possibly my favourite framing method and I use this frame in particular a lot. Always an effective way to frame a pastel and very attractive too.
Framing tight against the glass. I use this for all my large work as it ensures the pastel on such a large area stays in place. I love this method as it makes the glass almost invisible and gets you right up close to the pastel. It’s not advisable on a lot of pastel surfaces but works great for velour. I’ve had pieces get knocked and even fall off a gallery wall framed in this manner and the paintings were undamaged and practically no pastel fall off at all!
Here is a random tip which helps in using pastel pencil on velour. To make a light mark make it left to right. For dark make the mark right to left. There is a nap to the paper a bit like suede. It’s a very subtle difference but it’s something I use in very fine detail. You will also want to have some layers of soft pastel on the paper first. This will provide more of a base for the pencil to apply to.
I’m sure there are more helpful hints and I’ll add to this as I keep discovering new things about this paper and medium!
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Hello Emma
I LOVE YOUR WORK! I have been using velour for a long time I live in Philadelphia and use to get my paper from dick block now, however they don’t carry as many colors as they use to.. Where do you buy your paper from?
Hi Trina, thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment. I did get my paper from my local art shop who started stocking it for me. It can also be bought online, I used Greatart.co.uk and although I’m sure they post to the US I’m not sure how much it is. Have you tried Dakota pastels? They are US based and I’ve bought giant sheets of velour from them before. Google them as I believe they will be your best bet. Happy painting 🙂
Hi Emma
I live your work and thank you for the tips. Can I ask how and what you use to sign your art on velour – I cant find anything fine enough that works on velour?
Hi Karen I usually use a black faber castell pastel pencil to sign my name. It works fine but I sometimes go over it a couple of times and then press it well into the paper.
Hi thank you for the great tips, I’m just starting out on velour and how found it to be my most suited medium. Does the left to right and right to left work when the paper is any way up? Plus do you always use a soft pastel for all base work? As I’ve found that my Faber Castel Pitt pencils don’t go on too great and I have to run the tip with a bit of sand paper.
I have also found that the polychomos pencils give me a very good fine detail edge.
Love your work very inspiring.
Many thanks
Kara
Hi Kara, yes I find the velour trick works no matter what way you put the paper. It’s a very slight thing but once you have a few layers of pastel down you will notice the lighter pencil colours go on easier from left to right and vice versa for dark. I notice it mostly around fine detailed areas like eyes. I do also tend to use the soft pastels for first layers although when I need to build up a lot of darkness I use a Faber Castell hard stick as it creates a lovely dark black. Really the pencils will not go onto the paper nicely until there are a couple of layers of pastel down. They’re not great directly onto the paper and I get what you say about using the sandpaper. I’ve tried some other pencil brands but like the Pitts the best but it’s interesting to hear you like the Polychomos, I haven’t tried those.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you’ve found it helpful! Happy pastelling!
Best wishes,
Emma
Hi Emma, I found your tips on using pastels on velour really helpful and interesting, but I am curious to know if the Method 2, regarding framing, helps limit the pastel dust going onto the glass as well as Method 3 would? Or is it not too much different (in that regards) to the Method 1? I imagine this would be quite a bit of an issue when it comes to pastels, and would be interested to know how you try and limit pastel fall-off (apart from just being careful with the paintings). Also, how do you sharpen your pastel pencils?
I hope you don’t mind my questions – I just find it amazing how you are able to create such beautiful detail with your art, and I hope you continue painting in pastels forever.
Thank you so much,
Sarah
Hi Sarah, Thanks for your questions. I tend to use a double mount with space between mount and picture (method 1) on smaller work. Sometimes the client really wants a mount but for larger work I try to direct them towards method 2 or 3. I find that if the picture is larger and gets a knock enough to dislodge some dust, the mount will get dirtied inside the frame in method 2. This then needs the frame to be opened and the mount cleaned or replaced if it’s bad enough. In the mountless options that dust would simply fall down behind the glass in a place it’s not noticeable. As you say though, the best method is to handle a framed pastel with a little care. I have lugged them around market stalls and fairs and exhibitions with few problems.
Also I use a boxcutter type blade to sharpen my pencils. I’m not a fan of sharpeners and with a bit of practise you can get a much better point with a sharp knife.
Thanks again for visiting and happy painting!
I am new to pastels. Could you tell me about the velour? Is it a type of pastel paper or is it cloth ?
Thank you,
Hi Emma, with a little research I found the paper. Thank you for putting your beautiful work out for us to see.
Jackie
Hi Emma, I love your work, really amazing. Just tried velour yesterday, had a few probs but since reading this blog I can try again with renewed faith. I can see what I have to do now. Thanks so much for these wonderful tips.
Hi Anita, that’s great! Glad you found the blog helpful. I too encountered problems at the start on it so thought it would be useful to share what I’ve learned by experimenting. Happy painting!
I really admire your work and love your pictures of your adventures. Thank you so much for these tips for using velour paper. I have recently gotten some of the velour paper and just finished my 2nd painting with it. This is so helpful and I just placed an order for some of the pastels you mentioned in your tutorials. I will be posting a picture of the painting on FaceBook after tomorrow as it is a birthday gift. Thanks again!
Thanks Debbie I’m glad you find the blog useful! I know I had some teething problems on velour when I started using it so it made me want to provide a resource of information to help with it. Happy painting!
Thanks for all the very useful tips. When painting on velour, may I ask if you always cover the whole of the surface with pastel? Will the background fade if it is not covered? I mainly paint pet portraits but am never sure if I should leave the background natural or cover it with pastel. Many thanks. Barbara
Hi Barbara, Thanks for visiting the blog and glad you found some of it useful. I do tend to cover the whole background as a preference, I like to create a background that will compliment the image and that’s just part of my style now I think. I found I was quite messy and often smudged pastel over the background ‘clean area’ and velour is impossible to clean. So this is another reason I started working on my backgrounds more. But there are many artists who leave the background paper showing and this can create a lovely effect too. I see no problem with leaving the velour shade showing and no I don’t think it will fade. As far as I’m aware the paper is archival quality meaning it shouldn’t change over time. I’d say go for it.
Fantastic Site. Very much enjoyed reading.
I have loved watching your videos and find them very helpful. I am looking forward to your next videos about painting portraits in pastel and getting good skintones and features right and wonder when that might be please and how will; we know when that is online ? Thanks for your kindness in sharing your many talents.
Hi Elaine, I’m so glad you find my site helpful! I have already uploaded my skintones tutorial and a human eye tutorial to my Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/emmacolbertart. If you subscribe to this channel you’ll get notified each time I add a new video.
Best wishes,
Emma
Emma
I was wondering why you chose heavy pastel on paper to transfer the image? Is graphite unacceptable? They also make a transfer paper for fabric (sewing) that may work. Thanks for all of your input.
Hi Sandra, I find when I transfer onto velour, it doesn’t show very well if it’s not the softer pastel. I know graphite would work for some papers, but not velour. I also don’t want to have to lean very hard when I transfer, so I find a softer pastel goes on easier. I’m also not sure I would be able to do my initial sketching on a transfer paper. I choose a thin sketching paper for that and then it’s easy to just rub the soft pastel over the back of the drawing. If you use soft pastel, be sure to rub it in on the back of the paper otherwise it’ll make a mess of your pastel paper when you lean on it.
Hi, Emma, i paint quite differently, mostly using gouache from lascaux on wood. I try sometimes certain areas with unison pastel and don*t want to overpaint it when it came out nicely.I have no idea how to fix these parts,the gouache I spray,but pastel fades.Any idea?
Hi Helmut, that is quite a different technique to how I work. I always frame my pastels under glass so I’m not sure what to advise. I believe I have heard of artists working on wood before in pastel though. I think they were Spanish. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, I’m really not sure I would want to leave my pastel unprotected and as you say, it fades when you spray it. Perhaps this is a question for an art forum. Try one of the Facebook pastel pages as more people may have tried it. Best wishes, Emma
I learn sooooooo much from you! I do have a question regarding 5mm self adhesive foamboard. May I ask you the brand you use. I have been looking to get some as soon as possible. Thank you so much….☺️
What brand velour paper do you use and do you know what other brands are available? Thank you
Bill
Hi Bill, I use Hahnemühle velour. It’s easily purchased online. I also have another US velour paper that isn’t branded Hahnemühle but is exactly like it. They come in 40″ sheets which is why I got it. There is also suedeboard in the US. I haven’t tried this but I imagine it to be similar to velour.
Best wishes,
Emma
Thank you, Emma. This really answered a lot of questions.
Hi Emma,
I really enjoyed your instructional videos on the dog eye and nose. I’ve been using sanded paper for most of my pastel papers. I started doing pet portraits one year ago in colored pencil, but only did long haired dogs in pastel. I learned much from you already. I recently purchased the Hahnemuhle valure pad and I’m so glad to read your blog prior to using. Thank you. Your work is exceptional and I appreciate you taking the time to give us valuable tips. I have had no access to instructures in years. I depend on books and generous artists like you.
Hi Ruth, Thanks for your message and I’m so pleased my Youtube videos have been helpful to you. It’s great to experiment with different papers and find one that suits the style you want. If you’re interested in longer tutorials I’ve just launched a Patreon channel which you can see more about at http://www.patreon.com/emmacolbertart. I do hour long tutorials there and am working flat out on producing new content for that and Youtube this year.
Happy pastelling!
Emma
Hi Emma
Thank you for a very useful blog. I am 78 and thoroughly enjoying a portrait painting class. I did an exercise using pastels a few weeks ago and fell in love with them. I have been trying out velour as I wanted to find out what is was like to use, particularly with portraits. I was very interested in your experiences with different kinds of pastel. You’ve really confirmed what I was beginning to think about how they worked. So glad to have someone like yourself giving some really clear principles to follow. Much appreciated.
Hi John, thanks so much for your message. So glad you are enjoying discovering pastel! I have lots more work in progress here on my blog which might be of help. Also on my Youtube channel you’ll find some tutorials and other informational videos about pastel. http://www.youtube.com/emmacolbertart. Also I have a Patreon channel where I’m making in depth hour long tutorials. It’s a great place to learn if you want to develop more in pastel. http://www.patreon.com/emmacolbert.
Happy Pastelling!
Emma
Hi Emma I love your paintings and all your very helpful videos. You are so generous to share your process. I’m planning on trying a portrait of my little Tia who is part Pappilon and part Chihuahua and will try velour because of all your helpful hints. Could you please tell me what you mean when you rub the pastel into the paper. Do you use your finger or any special tool? Thanks so much! PS I love your country so much. We visited in 2017 and hope to visit again in May 2018.
Hi Sharon, thanks for visiting and commenting. If you haven’t already I’d highly recommend the North Antrim coast for a visit. The scenery is spectacular.
When I’m blending I am using my fingers a lot. Sometimes for very small areas that need blended I’ll use a small tool called a tortillon which is made from paper and just a pointed stump to blend with. But mostly it’s my fingers really pushing the pigment into the paper. This means it’s well stuck and leaving space for more layers on the paper. You don’t want to see loose pastel sitting on the surface as it will easily knock off.
If you haven’t already discovered it, I have a Patreon channel at http://www.patreon.com/emmacolbertart. I share more in depth tutorials there with a lot more explanation of what I’m doing. Good luck with your portrait of Tia!
Best wishes,
Emma
Emma,
You are a positively wonderful person, I love your kind manner and all that you so generously share. You are of course brilliantly talented and anyone who sees your work or watches your videos will be dazzled 🙂 Thank you for this informative blog, my velour has just arrived.
Hi Kathy, thanks for visiting and glad you found this helpful. Happy painting!
Emma
I have been painting with pastel pencils, mainly animals on velour for a number of years. I always have trouble getting white to take when trying to do white whiskers on an animal. Do you have any tips for doing this as I am at my wits end. Will acrylic paint take on velour as this seems to be the only way.
Hi Carole, I have a video on how I do whiskers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFlYjm8LzRc. It’s tricky to get the lighter colours. Hope the video gives you some tips 🙂
Hi Emma, I have a good selection of unison pastels. Could you tell me the numbers on the sticks of your animal selection please. Brenda millen
Hi Brenda, You’ll find the numbers in one of my blog posts at https://www.emmacolbertart.com/2014/10/16/unison-pastels-animal-se/. I also have a video on my Youtube channel about the animal set. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diJt3iOyegA
Hi Emma! I was so intrigued by your use of Velour for your pastel painting, so I had to try it. I absolutely love it, so much that I prefer it to sanded paper! Fellow artists cringe when I tell them I use Velour (LOL), so I guess it isn’t for everyone. I have a very light touch, so this works well for me. Does it matter which way the paper goes? I never thought about that. In any case, I love doing animals as well and purchased your Animal set from Unison. What a wonderful choice of colors! Thanks again for all of your videos and information!
Thanks Marilyn, Yes I think velour freaks some people out. I don’t mind it’s bad reputation, I do love it! A light touch is perfect for it and yes you might notice when you work there is a nap to the paper. Doesn’t seem to matter which way up you put the paper, left to right (backwards) marks seem to go on darker. Very useful for extra subtle values.
HI! Emma, Thanks so much for sharing your artistic skills and techniques with pastel painting. I paint in other mediums, but an not trying pastels. I love it especially for portraits of animals of which I am learning to paint now. I have more control over the individual marks for the hair and fur application.
Best Eithne, from County Louth, living in New York, USA
Hi Emma,
I want to thank you for your website. You are a godsend for one just starting to use velour paper. I called and talked to a rep at Dakota Pastels about velour and he told me that it works best for portraits both of people and pets. So since I have three people portraits and a pug in my cue I thought I would give it a go.
I am so glad that I did. Before I jumped in and started painting I did a search for velour and pastels to try to get the best advice that I could find and your site was at the top of the list. And WOW am I glad I read your blog. You saved me from making terrible mistakes because I assumed that I would need to use my Senniliers but with your advice I started off using Prismacolor Nupastel and haven’t stopped. They are all I need to on this wonderful paper.
Nupastels are so hard they are usually used only as a base layer and then add the softer pastels on top. With velour there is no need. The control that I get with these hard pastels on velour is amazing. I can draw very well using a corner or turn them on their side and cover a large area easily.
I have also discovered that my Pan Pastels work wonderfully too. But in reality not as well as the hard Nupastels. The velour paper feels so much like fur; I just love running my fingers over it. It is not that different from my puppy. 🙂
Thank you so much Emma for your website; your the best friend a pastel artist could have. God Bless You!
Hi Wayne,
What a lovely comment, thank you! I’m glad you’ve found your way with velour, it is a fantastic paper to work on. The Nupastels are something I’ve only just tried myself and they are quite similar to some of the harder Faber Castells I use. I too love the feel of the paper and it’s amazing for portraits as you mentioned. Enjoy!
Best wishes,
Emma
Emma
Thank you for posting the options to frame a pastel on velour. I just ran across a portrait of my mother that was produced in 1968. I want to frame it as it is a lovely portrait. It doesn’t seem too damaged or smudged especially since I found in in a brown mailing envelope. Anyway, after reading through 5-6 different sites that gave little to no information on framing, your blog was much appreciated. I’m thankful I ran across your blog.
Thanks for the comment! Check out my Youtube channel also for lots more pastel videos at http://www.youtube.com/emmacolbertart. I’ve been hoping to make a video about framing but it hasn’t been possible yet with the current restrictions and not being able to visit my framer. Soon I hope I’ll be able to 🙂
Thanks for the comment! Check out my Youtube channel also for lots more pastel videos at http://www.youtube.com/emmacolbertart. I’ve been hoping to make a video about framing but it hasn’t been possible yet with the current restrictions and not being able to visit my framer. Soon I hope I’ll be able to 🙂
Thank you so very much. I mostly paint on Uart 400 & 600 but have been struggling with velour. I now have renewed enthusiasm since reading your detailed instructions.
BTW your art is absolutely wonderful.
Andi
Thanks for the comment! Check out my Youtube channel also at http://www.youtube.com/emmacolbertart. I have several videos about velour which might be of help too 🙂
Thanks for the comment! Check out my Youtube channel also at http://www.youtube.com/emmacolbertart. I have several videos about velour which might be of help too 🙂
Watched your video in you tube and found this blog. Thank you for taking time educating people who wanted to learn. I am having hard time with pastel pencils on velour. I want to dotted with white pencil , refined the splash of water I paint it on velour. But white is not showing on top of dark blue ocean I paint it with soft pastel. What should I do? I know some pastel artists spray area they wanted to add more highlights. I am afraid to spray on it. Any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Shirley, sorry for the slow reply. My blog has been a bit ignored this year with my Youtube and Patreon needing much time and effort! I recommend using a small shard of white pastel if you want to get really strong highlights. I hardly ever use white pencil when trying to get strength in the colour. The best pencil I’ve found when you do need to use one is a Generals called Pastel Chalk 4414. You could also try NuPastel white. Both really good!
Thank you for all the tips as I will try velour. Love the softness as I usually use Strathmore paper. Excited to use Velour.