Category: Pastel, Conté & Chalk
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Paul-César Helleu
Though he painted landscapes and still life, and worked in oil, French artist Paul-César Helleu was known primarily for his beautiful portraits of turn of the century society women, done primarily in pastel, chalk and drypoint etching. Helleu entered the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts at an early age, studying in the academic tradition under Jean-Léon…
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John Singer Sargent’s portrait drawings
John Singer Sargent, one of the best portrait painters of the 19th century, eventually tired of his role as a society portrait painter. In his later career he greatly reduced the number of formal portrait commissions he accepted, preferring to travel and pursue his own on location watercolors. However, he continued portraiture in a different…
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Eye Candy for Today: Antoine Gros chalk portrait
Portrait of a Woman, Antoine Jean Gros In the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Black chalk, 11 x 8 inches (28 x 19cm). I love the way the application of the chalk is alternately bold and delicate. For such a seemingly basic material, chalk can be astonishingly subtle. With the help of a stomp, Gros has…
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Eye Candy for Today: Jean-Baptiste Greuze chalk drawing
Head of a Young Woman, Jean-Baptiste Greuze Red chalk on paper. 16 x 12 inches (41 x 31 cm), 18th century. In the Morgan Library and Museum. Use download link under image, or zoom version. Greuze has drawn an understated but elegant and remarkably strong study. The hands and bonnet are quickly realized, but the…
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Noah Klocek
Noah Klocek is an art director, production designer and concept artist for the film industry, who has worked for companies like Industrial Light & Magic, PDI/DreamWorks, and Pixar Animation Studios. His film credits include titles like Wall-e, Up and Brave. Much of his production work embodies some of the best characteristics of children’s book illustration…
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Bill Cone
Bill Cone is a visual development and background artist for Pixar Animation Studios, and is also a dedicated plein air pastel painter. There is often some question about whether pastel is “drawing” or “painting”. It can be either, of course (or even both simultaneously), but I think the distinction has more to do with handling…