Page:The practice of water-colour painting (IA cu31924014501971).pdf/252

rather disconcerting effect, as it greatly darkens the chalk touches and seems to remove many of them entirely; but, as the washes dry, the pastel returns to its right colours, and the greater part of it will be found to be still adhering to the paper.

In finishing the work after this first wetting the order of procedure can be varied as may seem convenient. When the surface of the paper is dry again fresh work in pastel can be added and then more washes superimposed, and the two mediums can be used alternately until the desired degree of completeness is attained. Or the painting can be advanced considerably in water-colour only, and finished at the last by free pastel touches applied to give accents of colour or sharp definition of forms. The process is one which allows much scope for individuality of expression, and it is not difficult to control.

It has, too, some really practical advantages. Pastel when combined with wash can be taken as a substitute for body-colour, inasmuch as its opacity is sufficient to allow of its being used for the addition of light touches over dark. But there are