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Tips for Painting with Pastels

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Ellen King

As you work in pastel, you are confronted with a slew of questions. How will the color of your surface affect the completed painting? What kind of underpainting suits your style and subject? How can you keep things light and fun? If you wish to learn how to paint with pastels or hone your pastel skills.



1. Surface color is important


Many surfaces are available in several colors, and the color you select has a significant impact on the finished painting. You may use a hue that will be seen throughout, producing harmony and balance, or you can use a contrasting color to bring excitement and energy.


2. Mix stiff and soft pastels


Purchase two pastel sets: one with somewhat hard pastels and one with considerably softer sticks. Working soft pastels over hard pastels is a tried-and-true approach for getting started.


3. Rework when your surface permits


Sanded surfaces have the benefit of being able to be erased and reworked to some extent. However, be in mind that very delicate pastels can quickly fill the grain of the teeth.


4. Don't forget to bring an eraser


Depending on the teeth or texture of your paper, you may get a variety of effects with a basic white plastic eraser. They rapidly get black with usage, so it's a good idea to briskly brush them against a hard surface now and then to restore a part that's bright and clean.


5. Working wet has unexpected results


Making wet underpainting and allowing colors and values to migrate is one approach to loosen up and let go of some control. Pigments have a mind of their own when wet, giving unexpected unintended effects.


6. Thumbnails are ideal for experimenting


Each thumbnail isn't valuable on its own, which promotes experimentation.


7. Make use of a viewfinder


With a viewfinder that splits the image plane into quadrants, you may gently reproduce those quadrants on your thumbnail and early painting sketch, making sketching out the pieces in your scene easier.


8. Plan today and unwind afterward


First, make a plan. A good design helps you to relax and enjoy the process by using strong values, a nice composition, and powerful underpainting.


9. Keep an eye out for overwork


The fallacy that "the harder, longer, and more accurately I labor, the better this painting will seem" leads to overworked works.


10. Use photographs sparingly


Make use of your photographs to help you recall the beauty of a place and the colors you witnessed. You'll recall what you meant to emphasize, but you won't feel compelled to mention every tiny detail.


You can also buy some beautiful pastel paintings from the Faces of India. Ellen King's mixed media work is vibrant, fiery, and brimming with energy; it is sometimes subtle, but it is always alive. One of them is the Faces of India pastel paintings.

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Ellen King
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