5 Tools You Should Use When Drawing on Pastelmat | Materials Guide

I use many different tools when I’m drawing but what tools I choose to use, and how I use them, is dependent on the surface. When it comes to Pastelmat there are five tools that work beautifully, so let me shed some light on what tools I use and why!

Faber Castell Kneadable Eraser:

The first tool is my Faber Castell Kneadable Eraser which I just absolutely love and it’s definitely my number 1 tool for Pastelmat. I use it mainly when using white Pastelmat to create highlights, to help with a little bit of blending, and it’s fantastic for creating different textures, particularly in fur. So, if you haven’t tried a kneadable eraser yet that would be the one tool that I would recommend you try the most!

Scotch Magic Tape:

The next really handy tool is Scotch Magic Tape. This is brilliant on all types of surfaces, but I would recommend you do a little test first to make sure it doesn’t take the surface off, but on Pastelmat it’s wonderful for removing marks that you don’t want on your paper. It’s also great for creating highlights by gently laying the tape over your piece, using a pencil to carefully mark on the back of the tape and then lifting it off.

Cotton Buds:

Cotton buds are a staple in my studio and they’re so handy to have on hand, especially if you’re creating a background. They are so good for blending and creating softness in your art and you can see an example of where I have used them in the background of the wolf above.

Slice Tool:

Now a Slice tool isn't a tool I use often on Pastelmat but it can be really useful for adding sharp details to your work and again can be used to create texture. Even though this is a great tool I always stress to not overuse it because a slice tool cannot take the place of good pencil work. Plus it's always lovely to see your coloured pencil skills!

Small Dry Brush:

The fifth tool is a little dry brush, which is just fantastic for helping to create soft edges and I use it by very gently dabbing in places to help soften it slightly. You need to be very careful when using a dry brush because it will move and take off the pigment, so always make sure to use it very gently and carefully.

I hope that you have a go at using a few of these tools so you can see for yourself how they can really help to transform your work. You can find a link to my Materials Guide here to see some of the tools I use and where you can buy them. Watch the video at the top of this page to see more and to hear why I don't use an indenting tool on Pastelmat.