Loved working on this. Such sweetness. Pastels on pastelmat.
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This is so very sweet. Black dogs are a real challenge to photograph and draw! You’ve done a nice job with the values in this piece. And that puppy is too cute for words. 
Do you like the pastelmat paper?
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Hi Brenda,
Thank you. Yes I love Pastelmat paper. After using it, I don’t want to use anything else. I use lots of layers and it takes them. I seriously believe this is an instance where you truly get what you pay for.
Thanks for your response. I am going to order some of the pastelmat paper and try the pastel course next I think! Any suggestions on color of paper? I notice it comes in several different pads of 4 colors. Or do you prefer buying the individual sheets? Thanks again! I haven’t used my pastels in ages, but this paper may make me pick them up again.
I use Buttercup or Maize. I buy it by the sheet. I get it at Dick Blick. It comes in different sizes. I like the 19 1/2” x 27 1/2”. I probably waste paper, but I like doing a bigger pastel and cropping it as I go. I think I would recommend getting a pad of assorted paper to see what colors you may like. I can’t wait to hear what you think and to see your pastel work.
I’ll order a couple of pads to check out the colors. I usually get my supplies from Texas Art Supply in Houston, but I can’t find the pastelmat paper on their site. Blick is my backup art supply resource. I usually try to order enough to get free shipping. 
Of course, the pads cost enough that two of them will probably do it. I’m excited to try the paper out. Thanks for all your help, Lori.
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I simply love this because of the Pugs! This a beautiful pastel. I love the details you have captured on their faces. Very sweet. 
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I agree with @Brenda! This is not easy to achieve, and I can feel the fur! So adorable!
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This is beautiful. The detail overall is fantastic (the fur and the nose in particular). Very impressive! Thank you for sharing.
P.S. - Thanks everyone for the paper discussion too, I have been looking for something different than the Strathmore I have. I’ll give the pastelmat a try.
Thank you. I hope you let us know if you like the pastelmat.
This is gorgeous! I can feel the love. The shine on the fur and the muzzled on the mom are amazing. I agree with you. Good paper (whether Pastelmat or a sanded one like Fisher or Uart) make a world of difference. I recently started doing more pastel work and love it. But I only started loving it once I switched from Canson Mi-Teintes (I don’t like the waffling) to Uart 400 and 600. I will soon try Pastelmat but I might be shooting myself in the foot. It is rather expensive and I have a limited budget. But if it is as good as everyone says, I may have to break the bank 
Patricia.
Lol, Patricia, you just may.
Brenda or Ken, did either of you get the Pastelmat? How did you like it?
Hi Lori! I did order a pad of Pastelmat, and I love it! It works wonderfully well with the Pan Pastels especially! I’ve ordered a second pad with the same colors, because they seem to be fairly compatible with anything I might choose to do – Buttercup, Maize, Light Grey, and Dark Grey. I ordered from the Blick website. Texas Art in Houston only had another brand of this type of paper and only “sample” sizes. I got a package of those, but I’ve yet to try them. They are by UART, premium sanded pastel paper in the “sand” color. This pack has "7 sheets, 7 grades of texture. The sheets are about 7.5 x 12 inches. I’ll be testing them out over time.
Happy New Year!!!
Brenda
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Amazing detail in the fur for pastels! Looks colored pencil was used with all the fine detail included, I guess I need to try that pastel mat paper/film as everybody that does loves it.
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The paper is really expensive, in my opinion, but worth every penny. 
Brenda
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I did get Pastelmat and really like it. I was amazed at how much build up it was able to take and how nicely blending worked on it. I posted a couple of items on here that I did on pastelmat. Worth the money and time to get it (it took a couple of weeks to receive it where I’m at).
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I have now tried Pastelmat. WOW! I understand why so many people love it. I am partial to UART and PREMIER, but Pastelmat is definitely in a class of its own.
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