Pastel Drawing & Painting Tips & Techniques
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Beginners Guide To Pastels - Drawing Lessons, Techniques & Other Great Resources
Pastels are an exciting medium to work with. They are a very refreshing and enjoyable approach to creating art and quite versatile. They can be used as both a dry and wet medium providing the artist with a variety of exciting approaches to creating art. If you have any suggestions or comments, please leave them in the feedback box further down this page. Thanks!
You may also want to check out my other online resources for artists:
Creative Spotlite - Free Art & Crafts Lessons & Resources For Beginners - This is my first site created over 6 years ago. It is a growing collection of free arts and crafts demonstrations and lessons on a variety of different topics including painting, drawing, crafts and photography.
The Art Instruction Blog - Free Art Instruction and Resources for Beginners - This is my blog on art instruction. It has become quite popular and is filled with lots of great resources for artists including step by step demos, artist interviews, videos, projects and more!
What Will you Find on my Pastel Painting & Drawing Lens?
- Free Art Ebook
- Types of Pastels...
- Pastel Drawing & Painting Supplies
- Great Book on Pastel Drawing & Painting From Amazon
- Blick Lessons : Mini Monets %u2013 Pastel Drawing Technique Using Shrink Wrap
- "Pastels for Life" - Pastels Demonstration By Pauline Adair
- More Squidoo Art Instruction Lenses
- Videos on Pastel Painting & Drawing
- Pastel Portrait Drawing Demonstration by George Max
- Pastel Blog Posts from Google
- Pastel Painting Demonstration by Dan Gray
- Skin Tone Drawing Demonstration
- Step By Step Pastel Portrait Drawing Demonstration
Free Art Ebook
Inside the Artist's Studio
Types of Pastels...
SOFT PASTELS
Soft pastels are probably the most popular of the various pastel mediums. Artists love the soft texture and the ability to paint on the colors which allows more freedom and usage of various techniques. Soft pastels can cover large areas and are well suited for blending. By varying the pressure, soft pastels can be applied in very light layers or impastos.
Because soft pastels are so delicate they can break easily so proper storage is important. Do not toss your soft pastels in a loose box or drawer. They must be stored in a cushioned box or tray for protection.
With excessive use, your pastels will become dirty by picking up other colors. This will eventually make it difficult to recognize your colors. You should get used to keeping your pastels clean by wiping them with a tissue every now and again.
PASTEL CRAYONS
Pastel crayons are of medium hardness. They are a cross between soft pastels and hard pastels. They give you the ability to work with painting techniques associated with soft pastels, as well as give you the ability to create sharp lines. They are available in a variety of colors and are quite popular for outdoor drawing because of their durability.
PASTEL PENCILS
Pastel pencils are similar to pastel crayons only they are encased in wood. They are perfect for doing detailed line work and can also be used for blending.
WATER SOLUBLE PASTELS
These wonderful pencils are noticeably different in consistency having a sort of waxy feel to them. They can be used as either a wet or dry medium. A wide range of effects can be achieved with these pencils because of the ability to use water. You can cover wide areas of your paper by creating lines and then transforming them into colorful washes.
OIL PASTELS
Oil pastels are also noticeably different in consistency as the pigment is bound using oil rather than gum. From your very first stroke you will instantly notice the rich deep tone that these pastels produce. Oil pastels are fragile and very sensitive to temperature. Try your very best to keep the wrapper on your oil pastels as you work or your hands will get quite dirty. Just like oil paints, you can use turpentine with your oil pastels if desired.
Soft pastels are probably the most popular of the various pastel mediums. Artists love the soft texture and the ability to paint on the colors which allows more freedom and usage of various techniques. Soft pastels can cover large areas and are well suited for blending. By varying the pressure, soft pastels can be applied in very light layers or impastos.
Because soft pastels are so delicate they can break easily so proper storage is important. Do not toss your soft pastels in a loose box or drawer. They must be stored in a cushioned box or tray for protection.
With excessive use, your pastels will become dirty by picking up other colors. This will eventually make it difficult to recognize your colors. You should get used to keeping your pastels clean by wiping them with a tissue every now and again.
PASTEL CRAYONS
Pastel crayons are of medium hardness. They are a cross between soft pastels and hard pastels. They give you the ability to work with painting techniques associated with soft pastels, as well as give you the ability to create sharp lines. They are available in a variety of colors and are quite popular for outdoor drawing because of their durability.
PASTEL PENCILS
Pastel pencils are similar to pastel crayons only they are encased in wood. They are perfect for doing detailed line work and can also be used for blending.
WATER SOLUBLE PASTELS
These wonderful pencils are noticeably different in consistency having a sort of waxy feel to them. They can be used as either a wet or dry medium. A wide range of effects can be achieved with these pencils because of the ability to use water. You can cover wide areas of your paper by creating lines and then transforming them into colorful washes.
OIL PASTELS
Oil pastels are also noticeably different in consistency as the pigment is bound using oil rather than gum. From your very first stroke you will instantly notice the rich deep tone that these pastels produce. Oil pastels are fragile and very sensitive to temperature. Try your very best to keep the wrapper on your oil pastels as you work or your hands will get quite dirty. Just like oil paints, you can use turpentine with your oil pastels if desired.
Pastel Drawing & Painting Supplies
No matter what medium an artist is working with, when it comes time to purchasing supplies, beginners can become very confused. Today's art supply stores are packed with a variety of brands, tools and materials , enough to make anyone's head spin.
There is no reason why choosing supplies should be a stressful experience. Why makes things more difficult than they have to be? A simple beginners kit and some good paper will suffice.
There is no reason why choosing supplies should be a stressful experience. Why makes things more difficult than they have to be? A simple beginners kit and some good paper will suffice.
Oil Pastels
CRAYOLA Water Soluble Oil Pastels
Portfolio Series oil pastels have a traditional creamy texture. The bright primary and secondary colors blend into a broader, more advanced palette.
Crayola Water Soluble Oil Pastels set of 24
Soft Pastels
Prismacolor NuPastel Sets
NuPastels are perfect for delicate shadows and hard edged detailing. The smooth sides make them clean and easy to handle. They can be blended just like ordinary pastels. These assortment sets of NuPastel sticks are packed in a flat box with lift out trays. Each color is arranged in artist's sequence ready for easy selection.
Prismacolor NuPastel Sets
Great Book on Pastel Drawing & Painting From Amazon
Painting with Pastels: Easy Techniques to Master the Medium by Maggie Price
"Versatility, immediacy, luminosity, brilliance, more...0 points
Pastel Workbook: A Complete Course in 10 Lessons by Jackie Simmonds
Step-by-step demonstrations and practical exercises more...0 points
Pastel School (Learn as You Go) by Hazel Harrison
More than 40 step-by-step sequences show how to ma more...0 points
On Location - Plein Air Painting In Pastel by Richard McDaniel
In this helpful guide, one of the giants of landsc more...0 points
All About Techniques in Pastel by Parramon's Editorial Team
The newest addition to Barron's All About Techniqu more...0 points
The Pastel Book by Bill Creevy
Absolutely the most thorough guide to pastel mater more...0 points
The Encyclopedia of Pastel Techniques: A Unique A-Z Directory of Pastel-Painting Techniques Plus Guidance on How Best to Use Them by Judy Martin
Pastel artists of all skill levels will find inval more...0 points
The Pastelist's Year: Painting the Four Seasons in Pastel by Elizabeth Mowry
In this manual pastelist Elizabeth Mowry demonstra more...0 points
The Pastel Kit: Materials, Techniques, and Projects by Curtis Tappenden
Colorful, blendable, and fun to handle, pastels ar more...0 points
The Pastels Artist's Handbook (Artist's Handbook Series)
Pastels are favored by artists who want the versat more...0 points
Pastel Workbook: A Complete Course in Ten Lessons by Jackie Simmonds
Following the best-selling Workbook format, each l more...0 points
Express Yourself With Pastel by Carole Katchen
Carole Katchen, well-known artist, workshop instructor more...0 points
Learning to Paint in Pastel (Barron's Art Guides: Learning to Paint) by Parramon Editorial Team
Step-by-step illustrations show students and hobby more...0 points
Exploring Pastel with Barry Watkin by Barry Watkin
This informative, visually exciting text-illustrat more...0 points
Blick Lessons : Mini Monets %u2013 Pastel Drawing Technique Using Shrink Wrap
This is a great lesson from Blick Art Materials called "Mini Monets". The instructor in the pastel drawing video below, teaches us how to create mini impressionist paintings using a material that you normally would not use with fine art work. This technique involves pastels, shrink wrap and baking. I told you it was unconventional, but the results are very interesting.
The artist begins with a reference image. Using masking tape, she secures the shrink wrap over the reference image. Using her pastels, she then draws over the reference image onto the shrink wrap using an optical blending technique. She then bakes the shrink wrap, which will then obviously shrink the image to create the desired effect that you can learn more about by watching the video below.
The artist begins with a reference image. Using masking tape, she secures the shrink wrap over the reference image. Using her pastels, she then draws over the reference image onto the shrink wrap using an optical blending technique. She then bakes the shrink wrap, which will then obviously shrink the image to create the desired effect that you can learn more about by watching the video below.
curated content from YouTube
"Pastels for Life" - Pastels Demonstration By Pauline Adair
For this Soft Pastel Demonstration I am using a double sheet of Canson Mi Tientes pastel paper, in a warm grey colour. I prefer to work on the smooth side of this, but I know many pastelists who choose the textured side. The smooth side still has a good tooth which suits my application.
The model is Sophie…. a favourite of mine, and I am working from a photo as it will probably take me several days to complete this to my satisfaction.....
Follow this link to view the rest of this pastel drawing demonstration...
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Pastel Portrait Drawing Demonstration by George Max
For this pastel drawing I used the portrait of a little fellow from the highlands of Western Guatemala. His skin is burnt brown because of the cold climate there. He is wearing typical clothes and a decorated hat from the region; Todos Santos Cuchumatan. Although I printed the picture in my Canon iP1300 the colors came out bright so I used the picture in my screen for better reference to the colors, hues and shades.Please follow this link to view the rest of this pastel portrait drawing lesson...
Pastel Blog Posts from Google
- Campus Canvas | Moorea Hall '15
- One year I went on a pastel pencil rampage, and right after that my high school art teacher taught me how to glaze paint portraits like the old masters. Whether ink, pastel, graphite, tinted papers, nudes, glazes, oil paints or watercolor, ...
- Late winter pastel exhibit opens in downtown Pleasanton
- by Jeb Bing Just in time for a week of Valentine's Day celebrations in downtown Pleasanton, three artists who are signature members of West Coast pastel art societies are showing their "Love of Art in Pastel" paintings to the public at Studio Seven Art ...
- Pritchard to teach pastel class
- This workshop for advanced beginners through experienced pastellists will focus on developing dynamic pastel paintings, as well as creating a personal blueprint for future growth. Working primarily from landscape photographs, the instructor will show ...
- Letting her art do the talking
- Slowly moving a mouse to type on her computer, Dr. Faye Magneson writes that she especially enjoyed painting mountain scenes before she could no longer hold a pastel in her hand. Mountains. Quite a metaphor for this brave and beloved woman.
Pastel Painting Demonstration by Dan Gray
"September Sunflowers"
Check out this beautiful step by step pastel drawing demonstration by the very talented artist Dan Gray....Please follow this link to view this pastel drawing tutorial.
Enjoy!
Skin Tone Drawing Demonstration
With Pastel Pencils
Here is a two part pastel drawing video by artist Colin Bradley. In this video tutorial, Colin demonstrates his process for creating flesh tones in his portraits.
Its important to note that every artist has his or her own way of doing things. This process is by no means the only way to draw a portrait with pastels. This is just Colin's method.
Colin begins by adding a generous amount of white to his sketch. Using a circular motion with his finger, he blends the white pastel right into the paper.
He then begins to lay in his other colors in layers, blending along the way and creating his lights and darks. He continues this process, using nearly a dozen different colors, until the drawing is complete. The end result is a beautiful pastel portrait. Draw this portrait along with Colin and see what you can come up with. Enjoy!
Its important to note that every artist has his or her own way of doing things. This process is by no means the only way to draw a portrait with pastels. This is just Colin's method.
Colin begins by adding a generous amount of white to his sketch. Using a circular motion with his finger, he blends the white pastel right into the paper.
He then begins to lay in his other colors in layers, blending along the way and creating his lights and darks. He continues this process, using nearly a dozen different colors, until the drawing is complete. The end result is a beautiful pastel portrait. Draw this portrait along with Colin and see what you can come up with. Enjoy!
curated content from YouTube
Step By Step Pastel Portrait Drawing Demonstration
Here is a step by step portrait drawing demonstration done with pastels. This is a time lapsed video narrated by the artist. This was originally a 2 hour session. This particular pastel painting was done in the "Alla Prima" method which simply means that this painting was completed in one session as opposed to the artists normal way of working in glazes.
The artist begins by laying in a light simple sketch. At this stage, he is just getting the measurements and proportions correct. He then lays in a light flesh color on the entire face, giving him an overall ground to work from. He then lays in a dark red color for the shadow planes, followed by a midtone color that is in between the light and the dark%u2026.
The artist begins by laying in a light simple sketch. At this stage, he is just getting the measurements and proportions correct. He then lays in a light flesh color on the entire face, giving him an overall ground to work from. He then lays in a dark red color for the shadow planes, followed by a midtone color that is in between the light and the dark%u2026.
curated content from YouTube
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