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Oh, Here's one that I didn't burn... I know that most people will think it is a pretty corny painting but, who gives a damn?! I enjoyed doing it, and I like it! And, I have to admit, it was done mostly in Rembrandts... So why am I getting hot under the collar about Rembrandts? Because I have completely run out of my Schmingke SOFT pastels, I can't afford to order any more over the internet, at the moment - and I couldn't have done this... without them! ...Reason being that the above painting uses a lot of acrylic modeling paste, mixed with sand, in order to get the textures for the grass and the rocks. If you try to use anything other than a really soft pastel for this, when you try to cover up the sanded modeling paste, most of the pastel ends up as dust on the floor. And, if you are not careful, you can wear your fingers down to the bone!!

Rembrandts are a soft pastel? I don't think so!!!!! Depending on the color, they range from hard to rock hard. You can keep them! And where did this all come about from? I've just wasted a PHP250.00 sheet of 300gsm watercolor paper and God only knows how much fixative and poxy Rembrandts - on a painting that I have just burned. Sorry... I should have taken a picture first, in order to show you how bad it was? In all fairness to the makers of Rembrandt Pastels, I can't blame them for my failure. But, to be honest, I DON'T enjoy painting with them. They are too Damned HARD! They are, however, about the least hard of all the pastels that you can buy in the Philippines - which is the only reason that I use the things! But Soft, they Ain't! Post Scipt Edit - dated November 18, 2007: Having just re-read the above entry, I think it was actually a little unfair! I have say this, because I have, in fact, been using Rembrandts, (usually in conjunction with Schmingke and Unison pastels,) ever since I wrote that - over a year ago!!!!!!! OK. The Rembrandts are certainly NOT as soft as Schmingke. However, now that I have developed my technique a little, I find that quite useful in certain circumstances - like, for instance, when I specifically don't want to apply too much color. I also use them as blending sticks. (I never did get on with those rolled-paper stick things - whatever they call them?) One other area that I use Rembrandt a lot, is in the initial stages of a pastel on heavy watercolor painting. These are usually landscapes. Because the paper is invariably white or off-white, I tend to block in large swathes of background color with my Rembrandts - then turn these into very rough watercolor washes by going over them with a large "mop" type watercolor brush with plenty of clean water. That way, I create my own multi-color tinted paper before I start the painting. So, whilst what I wrote in the original post above was what I found to be true at the time of writing, I have now revised my opinion of Rembrandt pastels. I DO find them very useful and I sincerely apologize to the makers of Rembrandt pastels for my previous, hasty, and not very accurate comments!

There are just too many sick bastards in this world today. Anyway, I am really glad that the UK has one of the finest police forces in the world. I'd just like to say a megga thanks to the UK security forces - especially the police - for doing a great job, as usual!

You've got to be exceedingly brave to be a free-thinking, no punches barred journalist in the Philippines. I can't remember the exact figures but more than 100 journalists have been murdered in this country since Marcos' martial law days. Anyway, one great great columnist that you can read in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, every Monday to Thursday, is Conrado de Quiros. One brave man. His columns never cease to amaze me with their wisdom and insight into Philippine politics and the daily life of ordinary Filipinos. I buy the Philippine Daily Inquirer just to read his columns. So who's your favorite journalist or tv commenator? Post a reply to this topic and let us know about him / her.