Which statement about pastels is true? pastel colors allow the artist to focus more on broad areas of color. pastel colors darken over time. pastel colors are mixed with binding media such as oil or egg.

The correct answer is:

Pastel colors allow the artist to focus more on broad areas of color.

Explanation:

Pastels are basically powder pigment combined with a binder resulting in a pastel stick.  Some of the binders used to create pastel sticks are:  gum Arabic, gum tragacanth and methyl cellulose, also a chalk component is used.  They have a higher pigment concentration so more luminosity qualities are achieved and a broader area of color can be created with broad strokes by the artist when using this art medium.  It has a wide range of colors and blending abilities.

There are different types of pastels and their categorization depends on the amount of binder in the stick, so you have soft pastels and hard pastels.  Soft pastels have more powder pigment and less binder, they are more chalk-alike and easier to blend or smudge by using your finger.  These types of pastels create a lot of powder when they are use; therefore an art work done with soft pastel requires some sort of fixative to endure and be framed under glass.  Hard pastels are a better medium to use when trying to create a more precise detailed form.  

They come in different forms: sticks and pencils.  Pastel pencils are encased in wood, therefore are less messy and allow you to have more control over details.  The finishing art work with this medium is that of a lighter dry matte color.

So far we've mentioned chalk-alike pastels in terms of texture, but there are also oil pastels.  Oil pastels use wax as a binder, they can create a more painterly effect but cannot be mixed with chalk-alike pastels.  They are more crayon-alike.

Another important thing to take into account when using pastels is the support.  A more rough abrasive paper is recommended, so the pigment can attach better to the surface.

These art medium has been used since the Renaissance period, mostly for sketching, but on the 18th century they were a very popular means of artistic work as they became the primary medium for several artists.  This type of artwork is called Pastels (same name as the art medium).  As there is not much preparation to pastel paintings (no brushes, no solvents, etc.) it was a practical art medium for plein air painters in 19th century such as: Millet (one of the first painters to use pastels as broad strokes of colors), Manet, Degas, and so many other.

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