Hopefully, you’ve read my first blog: Online Creative Counselling – What do I need?
This second blog in the series is the next step after you have bought your supplies.
The first time I used pastels was in my Creative Counselling training and I had a love-hate relationship with them for a while. I loved my training and got so much out of it but the one part that made me stall (aka freak out) was that I didn’t know what I was doing with the pastels in the first place. I’d have liked a little lesson on what they can do and all the possibilities before I expressed myself with them. They were lucky they didn’t end up out of the window at one point (that’s self-expression right?)
In the end, I just got over it and on with it and I have learnt what they do by watching others and experimenting but I still think a little prep would have helped me feel more settled in the first place.
In the end, I just got over it and on with it and I have learnt what they do by watching others and experimenting but I still think a little prep would have helped me feel more settled in the first place.
And I want you to feel settled.
Practice
So before we meet for Creative Counselling have a practice. Here are some ideas.
Many artists will do a sample colour palette when they get new art materials and before they start to use them. I think it helps me introduce myself to the medium and kind of become it’s friend. So do a colour palette like in the picture.
Work with one set of pastels at a time.
Make a mark, it could be a line or a shape.
Consider doing 2 marks, one to leave and one to smudge.
How did that process feel for you? Do you feel differently at the end to how you did at the start? Did you like using that pastel? What was it like to smudge?
Repeat that process with the other type of pastel and answer the same questions above.
Which pastel did you prefer and why?
Take 2 colours from the same set of pastels and draw lines or shapes and blend them together so you get a feel of what that is like.
Take a set of shades like blues or greens or sunset colours and use them together and blend them. You may create an effect that looks like the sky or countryside.
Create a rainbow and blend the colours
Take a fresh piece of paper and fill it with symbols and shapes or simple drawings such as; heart, cross, circle, cloud, tear drop, cross
If you’ve done some of those then you are well practiced with the pastels. It may be that you’ve found a set you prefer working with but keep open minded to using both as I've found I like different ones at different times.
Please look out for my next blog in the series: Online Creative Counselling – Room to Zoom.
As this helps you get ready to meet me online. I’m really looking forward to working creatively with you, let me know if you have any questions.
If you’ve not booked an appointment yet please email me at contact@nicolahughes.co.uk
If you’re not ready yet but want some interim creative therapy ideas then why not sign up and get my FREE Well-Being Worksheets delivered to your mailbox every month. Click here: https://tinyurl.com/yubt3dxf
I look forward to working with you soon
Nicola
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