What Is an Electrolyte?

What Is an Electrolyte?The answer to the question of what is an electrolyte is not that easy to find. It is common knowledge that there are several substances that make up a water system. Those substances vary depending on the type of water system, which is usually different from person to person. To get an understanding of the basic answer of what is an electrolyte in chemistry is to understand the work of the many different compounds that constitute the water systems that we use every day.Water is such a common substance that we tend to think of it as one thing. The things that make up water are molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. An electrolyte is a compound that has a positive and negative charge. A chemical with a positive charge is called an ion and the opposite is called a zero or an empty ion. A liquid that has a zero or empty ion is called a gas.Water molecules that are positive have an excess of an electro-negative charge. In other words they are positively charged, while wat er molecules that are negative have a lack of a positive charge. A water molecule that is not positive has a zero or empty ion. In other words, a negative water molecule is not electrically charged and it cannot form an ion with a positive ion.As a result of the number of protons and electrons that make up an electrolyte, a water molecule has a neutral or the no-charge state. The atoms in a liquid have the same number of protons and electrons. However, each atom has a slightly different size and shape. Because of these differences, these atoms will need to be arranged in a different way to create an electrolyte.Because there are so many compounds that comprise an electrolyte, it can be very difficult to define what an electrolyte is. For example, Iwas in the chemistry lab and we were doing experiments with water and the electrolytes of different types. Some were easy to study and understand. The most common one is sodium chloride. This is a typical electrolyte because it is used in many things that you and I are familiar with.The biggest reason that sodium chloride is considered a useful electrolyte is because it is an inexpensive solution to create a working water system. However, the reason that sodium chloride is so popular is because it is very effective at removing certain organic molecules. It can remove organic chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as well as trichloroethylene (TCE). It can also reduce chlorine by eighty percent.Sodium chloride is an effective electrolyte because it is neutral to both sodium and chlorine. This makes it great for children's health care facilities. When you and I think of sodium chloride, we often think of table salt. This is not table salt. It is salt made by mixing sodium chloride with other chemicals and baking them together until they form a solid and then adding more baking soda to make it a more sticky solution.Other things that are classified as an electrolyte are aluminum hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. These are found in commercial cleaners as well as in various dishes and tableware. When heated and vaporized into a liquid, aluminum hydroxide is also classified as an electrolyte. The reason that it is used in these areas is because it is cheap. It can be used as a dishwasher and in a clothes dryer, which help to preserve the color of aluminum.

8 Ways to Get Daily Language Practice on Your Coffee Break

8 Ways to Get Daily Language Practice on Your Coffee Break 8 Ways to Learn a Language on Your Coffee Break Finding the time to practice is one of the hardest things about learning a language.It should be one of the easiest, but with our increasingly busy lifestyles and the never-ending list of things to do, it’s often pushed to the sidelines in favor of something a little more, well, pressing.The reality is that you need to practice (ideally every day) in order to retain the information you’ve learned.Otherwise? Let’s just say it’ll take you a whole lot longer to master that languageâ€"an already seemingly endless task, am I right?I can hear you now, all “Do you know how busy my schedule is?” and “Seriously? You do realize I have a life to live, right?” But fear not, fellow learners, daily language practice needn’t be a choreâ€"and it certainly doesn’t have to take any time out of your day. “What, there’s a way to make a day longer than 24 hours?” you ask.Well, not exactly.Instead, you can slip in practice around the big tasks that take up the bulk of your dayâ€" you know, like eating, working, watching TV and shopping for human essentials like food and clothes.I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say that between these activities there’s a bit of a lull, a bit of downtime where you might find yourself twiddling your thumbs or scrolling through your Facebook feed.The most obvious time? On your coffee break, of course.If you’re anything like me, you drink a lot of coffee during the day. Now tell me this, how do you spend your time while you’re waiting for it to brew?I have an idea.Actually, I have eight ideas.These activities don’t take longer than 10 minutes and they provide a great way to slip in some daily language practice even on the busiest of days. Plus, taking the time to practice for 10 minutes here and there will work wonders for your progressâ€"trust me.It gives you time to step away and retain the information without being overwhelmed. And you’ll never have to twiddle your thumbs again! 8 Ways to Learn a Language on Your Coffee Break1. Play a gameLearning a language should be fun.Games are fun.Therefore… Yeah, you see where this is going. There are so many language learning games out there these days, from burrito builders (for Spanish learnersâ€"one of my personal favorites) to good old fashioned pairs. Take five minutes or so to complete a level or run through one round of questions or whatever.Remember to choose a game that you can actually practice and learn from. There’s no point in playing something that’s easy, just so you can winâ€"trust me, I’ve made this mistake.As well as playing games, you can also have a quick run through of a language learning app. Many of these are laid out into levels and sections and presented in bite-sized chunks, usually taking the same amount of time as it takes a kettle to boil. Convenient.One great option is FluentU. FluentU  takes real-world videos like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks, and turns them into fun language le arning lessons. The FluentU App is  perfect for coffee break practice thanks to its real-world context and personalization of content. Top tip: You can even change your non-language learning games into language learning games simply by changing the language setting. That means all your favorite games on your phone or your computer now double up as a tool for learningâ€"how great is that?2. Read a newspaperYou can learn many things from reading a newspaper, from serious situations taking place around the world to less serious things like who was the best-dressed at the Oscars.You can also learn and practice a language by reading a newspaper.Obviously it’s near on impossible to buy a newspaper in your target language if you’re not in a native-speaking country, but that’s where the beauty of the internet comes in. Simply search for “Newspapers + your target language” in the mighty oracle that is Google and your world will immediately be blown wide open.If you dont want to spe nd time searching, here are some great guides weve put together with tons of resources for using the news to learn these target languages:ChineseEnglishFrenchGermanJapaneseSpanishReading the news in your target language means you can learn about serious situations around the world, who wore what best at the Oscars, and brush up on your language learning.You can choose which section of the newspaper to get stuck into, so it’ll hopefully be something you’re interested in, plus it’s mildly nostalgic to read the news with a coffee, right? Top tip: Newspapers tend to use really simple language, but remember to write down any words and phrases you’re not sure about so you can check them out later.3. Listen to a podcastPodcasts are a great way to get used to the sound of your target language, to pick up on intonation, and to begin to improve your listening comprehension.They’re also a great way to fill the small pockets of time that occur in your daily schedule. Getting the bus s omewhere? Need to walk somewhere? Waiting for your coffee to brew? Whack on a podcast.They’re easy to dip in and out of and there’s such a vast selection out there, you’re bound to find one on a topic you’re interested in or a topic you need to practice.Not sure which podcasts are worth your time? No worries! Weve already gone through and found the best for you in these target languages:ChineseEnglish learner | Native EnglishFrench learner | Native FrenchGerman learnerJapanese learnerSpanish learner Top tip: Lots of language learning podcasts have a transcript and tasks to go alongside them. Notes in Spanish, for example, provides worksheets for every episode. This is the perfect way to delve a little deeper into the practice and create a multisensory learning experience.4. Write a blurb about your dayFinding the time to write anything during the day, let alone in your target language, is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. But if you think about it as if you’re wri ting a to-do list (something I’m sure you write in abundance) then it’ll seem like a much easier task.While you’re waiting in line in a shop, waiting for something to print, orâ€"you’ve guessed itâ€"listening to the kettle boil, grab a post-it note, or open up a notes app on your phone if you have one, and jot down a few words about your day.Simple sentences are fine, just like if you were writing a to-do list or, if you have more time and a lot to write, feel free to crank out a full-page essay on what you’ve had for lunch or how late your bus was that morning.This limbers up your writing skills in your target language and encourages you to think about simple things and actions in the foreign language. Plus, you can always look back over it the next day to practice further and remind yourself what you did. Top tip: Consider writing your to-do lists in your target language, too, so you’re forced to look over it at various points throughout the day.5. Run through some fla shcardsWhenever you learn a new word, make sure you write it down on a flashcard along with a description that you’ll understand and remember.Make it as quirky as you want.Use colors and images if you need to.While you’re waiting for your coffee to brew or your lunch to heat up in the microwave, run through a few of these flashcards and test your memory. Top tip: Keep flashcards grouped in batches that focus on a particular topic. You’ll be able to create connections through similar words and phrases and are more likely to remember where and when you practiced what topic using the theory of set and setting.6. Flick through a dictionaryFlicking through a dictionary is so underrated. Think of all those words!The thing to remember here is to not fill your head with obscure words that you’re never going to use. Instead, flick through to words you learned in last night’s lesson or turn to phrases you’ve been wondering about for ages.It’s easy to get sucked into dictionary b rowsing, so perhaps write down a list of words you’d like to practice and learn the meaning of beforehand so you have some focus. Top tip: After you’ve nailed a word and its meaning, create a couple of sentences using it to retain the informationâ€"maybe even write it down on a flashcard.7. Start a language practice group by the water coolerStarting an impromptu class by the coffee-machine or water cooler isn’t easy if there’s no one in your office who is learning the same language as you.But, if there are, make good use of them!Plan to meet at a certain point throughout the day for 10 minutes and commit yourselves to only speaking in your target language during that time.You can take this one step further, too, and test each other with flashcards, challenge each other to two-player language learning games, or discuss a podcast you’d all planned to listen to the night before.Daily language practice is so much easier when you have other people to motivate you and you’ll b e able to share ideas and bounce questions off of each other. Top tip: Set a task for each meeting so that there’s some kind of focus and you’re not tempted to simply chat about the hottie who works in the office next door.8. Watch commercials in your target languageEveryone hates commercials.But despite their numerous bad qualities, they are a great way to pick up a language because they offer lots of repetition and keywords.All you have to do is search for commercials or ads in your target language in YouTube and you’ll be inundated with pages and pages of them.If youd like to learn with commercials more efficiently, then you should check out FluentU. FluentU not only makes it easy to understand and enjoy any video, but it turns the video into a language learning lesson. Theres no better way to learn how a word is used than by seeing examples of it in multiple videos.The best thing about ads is that they’re short and to the point, so you can watch a few in 10 minutes, or w atch one over and over again until you’ve mastered its meaning. Top Tip: If youre trying to learn a certain set of vocabulary, choose commercials that match it. For example, if youre looking to learn words relating to cars, select car commercials, or if youre wanting to understand more words related to cleaning, choose cleaning adsâ€"simple!  How about it? Think you have a spare 10 minutes free every day? Not anymore you don’t! I challenge you to choose at least three of these activities and incorporate them into your coffee break (or while you’re waiting for the bus, or while you’re waiting in line at a store) in the coming week.I bet you’ll be surprised at how well short, sharp bursts of daily language practice work for you!

How to Tell Students About Your Teaching and Tutoring Experience

How to Tell Students About Your Teaching and Tutoring ExperienceIt is important to describe your teaching and tutoring experience. Your students are the best judges of what you have done for them. When you describe your teaching and tutoring experience, you should be able to show a step by step plan that the students can follow.The first thing you want to do is write down how long you have been teaching and how much experience you have. In this way, you can give examples of the actual events that you experienced in the course of your job. You also need to know about the things that happened to help students learn from your experiences. This is one way to give students ideas about what they can expect when they attend your classes.Be sure to tell students about the tasks that they would expect from you if they were in your position. Also, it would be good to explain your advantages that you had over other teachers.After your descriptions, it is time to use pictures to give students pi ctures of the things that happened in their class. If you do not have some pictures with you, you can purchase a few photo albums from the library or buy photo albums from your local bookstore. Choose pictures that were very memorable and that will have the maximum impact on the students.Next, it is time to talk to the students about what they should expect from you. Give examples of the tasks that they should do. You can also discuss about the responsibilities that they should handle.Finally, explain to them what benefits they will get from attending your classes. This will allow them to look forward to going to your classes. Just make sure to explain that they will not have to pay anything to be in your classes.These examples are just a few ways to give students some helpful examples. Remember that you want to build confidence and that your students will take the information you are giving them and be able to apply it to improve their lives. By using these techniques, you will be able to give your students' ideas about what they should expect when they attend your classes.

Tutoring Resources For Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Tutoring Resources For Penn State College of Earth and Mineral SciencesUsing tutoring resources for Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences students is a viable option for schools that do not have enough in-house instructors to meet the need. Many individuals who prefer to learn on their own instead of enrolling in a classroom and relying on textbooks are turning to the tutoring resources as an alternative. They want to learn from a tutor that is committed to providing quality instruction, one that is well trained and experienced in giving lectures.Students who do not have a bachelor's degree but wish to pursue a higher education, a master's degree or even a doctoral degree, would find it extremely difficult to find an instructor that would be willing to teach them. This is where the tutoring resources come into play.They offer unique qualities that make them great candidates for teaching students. People who want to go on to graduate school will appreciate the ability to us e these resources in their lectures. Individuals who have not completed a college degree will find it easy to apply the learned concepts to their existing knowledge. Tutors that use resources for Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences offer this type of approach in lecture.Tutors that use Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences have the opportunity to view a number of lectures on DVD. This allows the student to see the topics they will be covered, what they will be discussed and how long they will be treated to them.Once a student completes a master's degree or PhD, they can choose to continue with the tutoring sessions to receive continuing education credits. These credits can come in the form of writing assignments and other courses.Whether a student has completed the required requirements or not, they will always have the opportunity to go back to Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences if they desire. They can find tutors that are both reliable and ex perienced in their approach to giving lectures.Tutoring resources for Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences to provide students with the opportunity to learn from a tutor that will provide quality instruction and help with their education. All they have to do is follow the guidelines of the resource and they will be able to use their knowledge and skill set to help others as well.

Transform Your Algebra Help - Getting the Boost From Your Algebra Help

Transform Your Algebra Help - Getting the Boost From Your Algebra HelpA good teacher will help you reach your full potential and transform formulas algebra help will do the same for you. In this article I am going to share some ways to get your algebra help.First you need to understand that algebra is a major skill and many students are taught algebra early on in life. Most of the times students are taught from the beginning algebra as part of their core curriculum because they think it will get them prepared for high school.Algebra is really a complex subject and has different levels and disciplines that you must be able to learn first. The teachers who prepare your work when you enter school usually make sure that your work has algebra at the back of it. Of course we all know that you must learn algebra to be able to understand math.The purpose of algebra transforming formulas help is to prepare you for any test that you may take in the future. In fact, if you start with algebra th en you will be able to grasp the concepts of complex numbers, linear equations, trigonometry, complex numbers, algebraic geometry, parallel algebra, precalculus, calculus, etc.After you have learned all these subjects algebra transform formulas algebra help will prepare you for the next level. They will do the same for your pre-calculus, geometry, trigonometry, and other courses like algebra of courses that are related to algebra.You can transform formulas algebra help even if you haven't done any mathematics before. Students learn a lot in high school because it is a full scale math course and students should be prepared for this and they will get an extra boost by doing this. In fact for many people it helps to improve their thinking about math as they will be more alert about what they are doing and what they are learning.All you need to do is to use algebra to transform formulas help before you study algebra and it will help you master algebra. This will allow you to get the max imum benefit from algebra and help you with your own performance.

How to Find a Geography Tutor

How to Find a Geography Tutor How to Find a Tutor for Geography Studies ChaptersDefining Geography TuitionHow to Find a Tutor to Study GeographyGeography Courses OnlineLet’s say you have a major exam on your horizon; maybe you will soon sit GCSEs or A-Levels, with Geography as one of your chosen subjects.Naturally, you would want to put forth your best effort in order to attain the highest possible results so you would seek out a private tutor to work with.That scenario applies if you are an undergraduate careening toward your end of semester exams, as well!The question is not so much finding a tutor to master geographic concepts with; tutors of that branch of humanities study abound!Your focus should really be on finding the right tutor for you: one who can work with your learning style; who is knowledgeable about the exam you will soon sit. You need someone who has a proven track record of tutoring success, as evidenced by previous students’ testimonials.Lastly but of prime consideration: you need someone you can afford.Your Superprof now takes mat ters in hand, directing you to sources where you may find tutors with the perfect blend of utility and affordability for any level of tutoring you may need.Geography, the mother of all sciences, is broadly divided into human geography and physical geography.Exams will test your knowledge on both of these facets, so any supplemental instruction you seek must be capable of addressing them.Another consideration for determining if your tutor is qualified to mentor you is his/her own level of achievement in geographical studies.Although there are no laws governing the tutoring industry, the firm rule of thumb is that your tutor should be at least one year more advanced in their studies than you are.So, if you, a GCSE student, have an older sibling who is at university, working on his/her geography degree, s/he is qualified to give you one to one tutoring.And you, in turn, could earn a bit of pocket money tutoring students who are less advanced than you!Cost always ends up as the last fac tor to consider in private tuition but really should be of prime consideration!Did you know that one in four students across the UK benefits from private tuition, making it a billion-pound a year industry?Some people will pay for the best whether it is warranted or not.For instance, concerned parents may hold out for a highly degreed, well-travelled geography tutor with an excellent reputation of helping their students improve their study skills... and pay accordingly.Does an A-Level candidate need a   £70 postdoctoral fellow to coach him prior to exams?While anyone is certainly entitled to hire any tutor they deem necessary, we recommend finding the best price for your home tutoring needs.To do so, you must factor in these variables:Level: tuition would logically cost more for higher level students than for those at the younger levelAge of the student: the younger the child, the shorter the attention span; KS1 students would benefit from shorter tutoring session, which means lower fees.Purpose: academic support tutoring and homework help are a long-term proposition; tutoring for exam preparation would be of shorter durationIntensity: general support could be provided once a week but if exams are right around the corner, you would probably need more than one session per week.Delivery: online tutoring tends to cost less than face to face tutoring. Also, if the tutor comes to your home, you may have a modest travelling fee added to your tutoring fee.Location: finding a tutor in a big city is easier, but such locations typically mean higher fees.What About Learning Disabilities?Autism, dyslexia, ADD... these conditions and others pose challenges to students and those who would teach them.According to statistics, the number of SEN students in UK primary and secondary schools totals over one million â€" 14% of the country's student body has special educational needs.Quite logically, caregivers of such students would want to provide their charges with every possible educational advantage, so engaging a tutor is not out of the question.The question is, though: is that tutor qualified to meet such a challenge? Does s/he has experience doing so?If you/your student is learning disabled, when considering a hiring a tutor, you should make his/her ability to work with your learner's specific disability a focus of your interview.Find out how to discern the cost of geography tutoring â€" for special needs students, by location and by their level of study!The point of a tutor search is matching the tutor's abilities with your needs... unlocking the right door, metaphorically speaking! Source: Pixabay Credit: QimonoHow to Find a Tutor to Study GeographyNow that those considerations have been outlined, the search is on!As mentioned before, tutoring in the UK is a booming business so finding tutoring to master geography concepts, one on one or in a small group, should not be difficult, right?Consider the wealth of methods a tutor has to advertise his/her s ervices.You may find fliers posted at your local Tesco, petrol station, library or community centre. You could also scan adverts in your local paper and on websites such as Gumtree or your local Freeads.The trouble with all of those outlets is that, most likely, you will have no feedback from previous students. There is little room in such notifications to list comments or even qualifications.Besides, how could you be sure the praise is from someone that person actually tutored?Select libraries and community centres around the country offer homework help run by qualified tutors.If your main concern is academic support, you may direct yourself there. Possibly, one of those tutors might be looking for one on one tutoring opportunities!The trouble there is that geography is not a part of UK schools’ core curriculum; generally, such free help is generally offered in subjects like English or math.You may hear of an available geography tutor by word of mouth: from talking to your neighb ours, other parents or your teacher.Of all the methods of finding a tutor mentioned so far, this one could prove to be the best because you are getting a personal endorsement from someone you know about that tutor’s skill in teaching.What if you want a more official presentation of geography courses?Tutoring services around the country have on staff qualified candidates who are ready to help students achieve academic success in all subjects, including geography.The advantages here are that the tutors have all been vetted â€" their credentials have been verified, and they have a stable of clients to prove their worth.There are downsides to this solution, though.For one, you will most likely be assigned a tutor rather than interviewing and hiring the one you believe suits your needs best.Another point is that you may be required to travel to the tutoring agency; some do not permit their employees to travel to clients’ homes.Finally, the cost of such an appointment would necessaril y be higher to cover the facility’s overhead.There are other options to explore...Speaking of exploring, discover all the reasons to study geography!The best part of working with an online tutor is that you can learn from anywhere! Source: Pixabay Credit: CunconGeography Courses OnlineThese days, more and more services are finding their way online and tutoring is one of them.This is the Information Age when virtually anything from friendship to free tutoring can be found online!Beware of free tutoring... assure yourself of its quality!Not only can you find qualified geography tutors online but you can receive instruction via webcam and, in most cases, pay less than if a tutor visited your home once a week!With online tutoring, nobody needs to be inconvenienced by the weather or traffic; simply boot up your computer at the appointed time and let the learning begin!All you need for online geography classes is a decent webcam and a quality headset so you can hear exactly what your tu tor is saying.Tutoring companies have made the leap to providing online services, though their costs may still be higher than other entities that have only an online presence.Of those, you have plenty to choose from, Superprof being an excellent case in point.Superprof lists more than 2,000 geography tutors; each one being fully qualified and well-versed in their subject material.You may narrow your search for the best tutor through the search page’s built-in filters so that only those tutors of the level, region, and price range you specify will show.With Superprof, your price range may be less of a concern seeing as the average rate for one hour of geography lessons is £11!Furthermore, many Superprof geography tutors offer their first hour of tutoring for free, just to see if you will be well-matched.Each Superprof profile page details specifics of that particular tutor: their level of education and teaching experience, whether they would tutor online or prefer home tuition â€" their home or yours...Best of all, you can see the glowing reviews left by that tutor’s former and current students!Be it for A-Levels, GCSE, at university or graduate level: private tutoring is a serious investment of time and money, on your part and that of your tutor.It is best to consider all aspects of engaging a geography tutor so that your student will succeed.Now discover the many career fields open to those with a geography degree!

Do You Need to Add to Your Perspective at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Do You Need to Add to Your Perspective at Work - Introvert Whisperer Do You Need to Add to Your Perspective at Work? In art, perspective is a very important thing to focus on.   You could look at an object such as a car and you see all the things you’d expect to see.   However, if you looked at that car lying on the ground, some things on the car would disappear and other things appear larger.   What you’d see about the car if you looked at it from the 5th floor of a building would also be different.   That is perspective and how it changes. Each perspective is different and also true. I bring this up because, on our job, its important to look at issues from different perspectives.   By doing that it helps you in countless ways.   It can help you see how certain decisions were made all the way to why someone might do things the way they do.   In other words, you may “see things” a certain way but there are other factors that you know nothing about that are at play or to consider before becoming too stuck on your own perspective. Having a different perspective can be the difference between reacting negatively or positively to a person or situation.   It gives you broader thinking about any given situation and allows you to be more objective.   If you are making decisions, taking different perspectives as you move through the process will create a better outcome as it allows you to understand where possible issues might exist.   It allows you to mitigate those issues and to treat others with greater sensitivity and respect.   If you will, perspective gives you maturity about how you proceed through work and life. “Don’t believe everything you think.” Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

How to Teach Children Chinese

How to Teach Children Chinese Different Ways to Teach Children Mandarin Chinese ChaptersResources for Teaching Children ChineseWhich Is The Perfect Age for Learning Chinese?The Advantages of Learning Chinese as Soon as Possible“A different language is a different vision of life.” - Federico FelliniChildren need to enjoy learning a new language. It’s unlikely that a child will see the worth in learning Chinese for their future career. That said, an increasing number of teens are opting to do Chinese at GCSE, A Level, and degree.After all, Chinese (and Mandarin, in particular) is the most common language in the world and China happens to have the world's second-largest economy. Additionally, China has a rich culture and a fascinating history.So how can you teach children Chinese outside of school?Which are the best ways to encourage children to take up a foreign language like Chinese?In this article, we’ve got some advice on how to help your child discover Chinese in the UK!Teaching your children Chinese could open a lot of doors for them in the future. (S ource: naidokdin)Learning a foreign language such as Chinese will be a challenge for the future. Learning more about the language and culture of an economic power like China will open a lot of doors for them in the future.

How to Use Pastels

How to Use Pastels Learn How to Paint with Pastels ChaptersWhat Do You Need to Paint with Pastels?Techniques for Using PastelsStart Using PastelsGet Lessons on How to Use Pastels“Art is beauty, the perpetual invention of detail, the choice of words, the exquisite care of execution.” - Théophile GautierMore and more people are getting into art so why not learn how to paint?With oils, watercolours, acrylics, etc., there are plenty of ways to paint. In this article, we’re going to show you how you can paint with pastel paints.Before you go out and buy an expensive set of Schmincke pastels and a whole heap of art supplies, you should read this article on getting started with pastels and tips for pastel artists. FernandoPainting Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaPainting Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidPainting Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPainting Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors StefaniaP ainting Teacher 5.00 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SakinaPainting Teacher 5.00 (1) £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenPainting Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Off2themoonholliePainting Teacher £8/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat Do You Need to Paint with Pastels?Pastel painting isn’t the most commonly used technique. When we think of painting, we often think of oils, acrylics, or watercolours.However, pastels are considered to be their own type of paint. However, you'll also hear it called pastel drawing since you don't necessarily need to use brushes.Pastels are sticks of pigments that can be bound in different ways. They can be thought of as painting technique as you can use them to add colour to a piece. However, since there are so many different types of pastels, you should learn what they are.Draw better with these painting courses.Pastels are similar in shape to crayons but without a point. ( Source: stux)Dry PastelsThere are two main types of dry pastels.Firstly, there are soft pastels. These are like chalks and use very little binder. These have a powdered texture and very dense colours. Artists like them because of the bright colours you can get from them for adding accents.You can also find hard dry pastels in art supply shops. Unlike the soft pastels, hard pastels have more binders, making them quite tough. They’re generally used for details and are often square shaped. The edges are usually used to make fine strokes.Oil and Wax PastelsJust like the dry pastels, we have another two types of pastels.An oil pastel is often cylindrical like soft pastels. They’re a mix of pigment and oil and will probably remind you of the crayons you used as a child.These are often used directly applied to paint to highlight certain colours with a wet brush. A brush can also be soaked in white spirit or turpentine and used.Wax pastels are similar to oil pastels except the oil is re placed with wax, obviously. Unlike the previous type, they’re not made for being mixed with water. These pastels are often used with watercolours as they can be used to cover areas that you don’t want the watercolours to run into.Before you buy your pastels, make sure to try them out in the shop or in an art class. Different pastels have very different qualities and uses.Once you’ve worked out which ones you should be using, try to get a full set with a range of different colours.Pastels won’t mix like poster paints or acrylics. You need a good range of colours to add nuance.Don’t forget to buy special paper for using your pastels as well as an art pad to protect your work when it’s finished. Pastels will stain anything they touch. You should make sure you place some scrap paper between each piece so that they don’t stain one another.They can be used for creating artwork with the same kind of vibrant colours and tones that an acrylic painter could use without needing t o buy a canvas, easel, or a load of expensive drawing and painting materials.Techniques for Using PastelsThere’s no single technique for using pastels but rather several ones. It completely depends on what you want to do. While pastel art may make you think of soft colours, there are so many types of different pastel techniques and types of pastels.The most important thing to know is that you can’t mix pastels on a palette. The colours from pastels can be put directly onto the paper.  The best thing is to do is have a range of colours in your set.You should always have lots of colours. (Source: SKECCIO)There are different ways to use pastels on paper:Use the side of the pastel to apply a flat colour onto the paper. This will cover a large area of the page and can be used as a background.Use the edge or the point of the pastel (if you’ve sharpened it) to make precise strokes.Use the end of the pastel for adding solid colour.Once you’ve added the colour, there are several ways to use it.Blending TechniqueThe blending technique is when you gently spread the powder or dust from the pastel with your finger, hands, or a special pastel. This technique is used to create a solid colour simply by rubbing. However, don’t overdo this technique or you’ll end up with quite a mess.Working on PointA lot of artists prefer to build up colours without blending them. This can help you create more detailed and realistic pieces.Diluting PastelsAs we explained earlier, pastels can also be mixed with water. The powder from dry pastels can be added to water and used with a paintbrush.This can also work with oil pastels. Add the pastel directly to a wet brush.Learn also how you can paint with watercolours while using pastels for emphasis!Start Using PastelsAs with most painting techniques, the first step when using pastels is to start with the background.It’s very easy to go outside of the lines when using pastels. The powder spreads out and you’ll need to go back over it. By starting with the background, it’s easier to redo your lines.Once you’ve created the background, you need to add colour to the other parts, going from the darkest colours to the darkest. Doing it the other way round can be quite difficult.When blending, don't overdo it! (Source: stux)Don’t Overuse BlendingOnce your colours have been put down, you can blend the colours as we described earlier. However, don’t use this technique on every part of your piece. Overusing this technique will make you look like a beginner and result in a lot of smudging.You can use this technique on parts of the background, like a sky, for example. Make sure you add some details, though. If you want to draw with pastels, you should also think about layering by applying colours over the top of one another.If you're used to watercolours, you need to be careful since if you want to draw with pastels, you should work from dark to light with pastels, not the other way round!Copying Famous Works or PicturesBefore you start doing your own pieces, you should try studying the greats like Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt, Braque, Dali, Van Gogh, Manet, Courbet, etc., by copying their works.This is great for improving both your eye and hand. You’ll get used to recreating what you can see. It’s also a good opportunity for getting used to how pastels work.You can also use photos or images found on the web as source material.Practise RegularlyTo improve your technique, you should regularly practise using pastels. Practise makes perfect, even for artists. By practising you’ll learn how to effectively use the blending technique and how pastels react to the paper.Try out different surfaces, too. Beginners should experiment with different textures and add layers of colour to their pieces.  You can learn a lot by quickly sketching a composition onto pastel paper.You can also get private art tutorials or teach yourself thanks to online video tutorials.You may also want to learn oil painting techniques!Get Lessons on How to Use PastelsEveryone learns differently. With private classes, weekly workshops, art schools, a method that might be right for one may not be right for another.You need to learn which method works for you, your personality, and your schedule. It’s pointless forcing yourself to paint if you don’t want to.  Art is both a passion and a pastime, even though some people do make it their job.Pastels can be really useful when used with other mediums. (Source: stux)If you want to take art classes or learn how to use pastels, you could visit art schools, art associations, workshops, or private painting tutors.You could find a course focusing on using pastels, an intensive workshop or course on drawing and artistic painting techniques (pencil, pastel, Indian ink, gouache, charcoal, sanguine, acrylics, watercolours, mixed media, etc.).These classes are also useful for learning more about creating a still life, life drawings, landscape painting, or working on a rough sketch or a portrait, for example.You can also learn from the other students in your class, share tips and advice, and become a better artist as a result.You’ll soon be an expert on brushes, coloured pencils, watercolours, pastel pencils, acrylic and oil paint, and painting with all kinds of art materials. Just don't forget that applying fixative to your finished pieces will protect them!Now discover more painting techniques you might try...