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pastel Definition

pas·tel (pas tel)

noun

    1. ground coloring matter mixed with gum and formed into a crayon
    2. such a crayon
  1. a picture drawn with such crayons
  2. drawing with pastels as an art form or medium
  3. a soft, pale shade of any color

Etymology: Fr < It pastello < VL *pastellum, dim. of LL pasta, paste

adjective

  1. soft and pale: said of colors
  2. of pastel
  3. drawn with pastels

pastel Related Forms

pas·tel·ist noun or pas·tel·listpas telist, pastel ist

pastel Synonyms

pastel

n.

  1. A sketch

    portrait, depiction, design; see drawing 1, picture 3, representation, sketch 1.

  2. A pale color

    tint, tinge, hue, tone, delicate color; see also color 1.

pastel Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • velour: Mitzi Lovely Mitzi's painting is painted in soft pastels on velour.
  • paper: Have your pet beautifully rendered in pastels on fine art paper.

Adjective modifier

  • soft: They are not crayons, oil pastels or soft pastels.
  • colored: Colored pastel surfaces can be made by tinting the ground with a few drops of paint.
  • contemporary: For a more contemporary design pastel pink or peach can be used to match your wedding colors.
  • delicate: Some of the joys of ascorbic acid are that it produces a range of color from delicate pastels to vivid colors of striking intensity.
  • pale: The color scheme is pale pastel interspersed with shots of color.

Converse of object

  • use: They used pastels over the top of the prints to add more detail.
  • include: New auction records included a pastel by Paula Rego, which sold for £ 117,600 against an estimate of £ 50,000 to £ 70,000.
  • make: More successful was the hunt for an appropriate postcard from which to make the pastel that is seen behind Jeremy in the picture.

Modifying Another Word

pretty: With it's steep wooded valleys, and pretty pastel houses clinging to the hillsides, Dartmouth boasts the prettiest town in England.

Modifies a noun

  • shade: The mount was often a pastel shade, with pattern.
  • pencil: Often I use a small range of pastel pencils carefully to work the eyes up.
  • hue: Vintage Wine is a lovely and very stunning multi colored tomato variety with a peculiar pastel hue.
  • portrait: You can imagine how much he hated sitting for this pastel portrait.
  • drawing: The students did pastel drawings of the shells with artistic intent.
  • color: The pastel colors look fabulous in a garden setting.

Noun used with modifier

  • chalk: I also work on portrait drawings in pencil, charcoal or chalk pastel.
  • oil: Oil pastel can be painted directly onto the painting surface in thin washes.
  • cream: The decor is a mixture of plum and cream pastel colors with the original tiled ceiling a notable feature.