kuivpastelleihin

Kuivpastelleihin, or dry pastels, are an art medium that combines the color and texture of powdered pigments with a binder that allows the pigment to adhere to the paper or canvas without the use of water. The term “kuiv” is the Finnish word for dry, and “pastel” refers to the fine, earthy instruments historically made from a mixture of chalk, pigment, and a small amount of gum binder.

The medium has its origins in the 17th century, when Italian artists such as Siviero and Ortensio began creating pastel portraits for their patrons. In the 19th century, pastel became particularly popular in France for its vibrant color and immediacy, with artists like Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Mary Cassatt embracing its expressive possibilities. By the 20th century, despite the rise of oil and acrylics, pastel persisted as a favored choice for portraiture, portrait studies, and landscape work, especially among artists who appreciated its softness and ability to create luminous washes.

Physically, a pastel stick typically contains 95–98 % pigment, 1–3 % binding agent, and a small amount of chalk or calcium carbonate to give the medium body. Artists apply pastel with firm, rapid strokes, often layering and blending with fingers, paper clips, or blending stumps. The pigment’s placement is permanent; it can be fixed with a fine dusting of fixative or encapsulated in a clear varnish, but the surface remains susceptible to smudging if handled carelessly.

Some notable contemporary pastel artists include Piter Liukkonen, known for his detailed studies of Nordic flora, and Katarina Linnamaa, whose large-scale pastel murals integrate traditional Finnish folklore motifs. Pastels are taught in many art schools globally, valued for their accessibility: the medium requires no solvent, can be applied directly to a wide variety of surfaces, and provides an immediate visual result that can be easily experimented with and corrected.