Soft Pastel Play My great aunt, Carrie Clark, was an eclectic artist who painted china and worked with soft pastels. I have her china, her paintings, her tracings, and her set of soft pastels. Pastels are a medium that I have yet to try, so I gave them a try. Holding those pastel sticks was a profound tactile experience; her hands held those very same sticks that mine now were holding. Wow. Lots yet to learn with this medium, a totally different experience. There is something very primal about it. No tools, no brush, just applying directly with my hand and smudging with my fingers. Very chalky fingers. Kind of like child’s play, really. Yet a very challenging technique. I do like the expressionistic result. Much, much more practice needed!  Aunt Carrie and her art deserve a separate post. Will write that now.