Firmin Baes, Sunlit village at Faux-les-Tombes, pastel on paper; 44.5 x 60 cm
Firmin Baes (1874-1943) was a Belgian painter who specialized in pastels.
Firmin Baes, De schoonmaakster, 1910
He developed "a pastel technique on canvas which contributed in large part to his fame. The new techniques allowed the application of a powder, with the tip of the thumb or the little finger, to creates a discreet or vigorous aspect to the tone as well as a velvety delicacy to his compositions."
Firmin Baes, Sheaves of Corn
Wikipedia on Firmin Baes
Can you elaborate on what that technique was? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this James. I have a particular interest in pastels and it can be difficult to dig up masters of the medium beyond the really wel-known ones.
ReplyDelete@Peace I have read the french article from the encyclopedia wich is the source for that particular quote. And the wording is different, he starts with thumb and fingers, and then applies his secret technique.
ReplyDeleteIf I would have to guess, probably some kind of direct transfer method, putting some pastel marks on a waste piece of paper, and then applying it by applying pressure from the other side with a pointed instrument (pencil).
@Peace Also, cutting a paper mask for preserving contours comes to mind. Draw a figure or some detail on the paper and cut it out. Or one could use impromptu curved mask and use it as a spray painter would.
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