Great American Art Works' has discovered new materials,
techniques, and equipment they use to create uniquely excellent
pastels. These handmade soft pastels are richly pigmented, and
have superb brilliance of tone. Color Swatch created using heavy
to light application and was applied on 100 lb (163 gsm) drawing
paper material. Calcium carbonate, the mineral constituent of
chalk, is a low tinting strength, inexpensive white pigment that
is often used is a buffer and filler. Because of its low tinting
strength, it is overwhelmed by other colors. It is used in gesso
and other coatings to give the surface more tooth, a desirable
characteristic for some painting techniques. Calcium carbonate
is lightfast. Like all carbonates, it reacts with strong acids
Calcium carbonate is completely non-toxic, and is used in many
food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. However, excessive
consumption is not recommended. Naturally occuring chalk
deposits have been mined since prehistoric times. Rocks and
minerals that contain