3 Ways to Play with Soft Pastels
Niki Hilsabeck, Artist from Fallbrook, California
Watch this class and thousands more
Watch this class and thousands more
Lessons in This Class
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1.
Introduction
1:01
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2.
Lesson 1: Dry Pastel Exercise
13:49
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3.
Lesson 2, Part 1: Water-Brushed Pastel (Underpainting and Blending)
14:22
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4.
Lesson 2, Part 2: Water-Brushed Pastel ( Final layer of Dry Pastel)
6:36
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5.
Lesson 3, Part 1: Pastel on Mixed Media (Acrylic)
12:18
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6.
Lesson 3, Part 2: Soft Pastel on Oil Pastel
11:18
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7.
Lesson 3, Part 3: Pastel on Collage
8:38
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Students
1
Project
About This Class
Are you curious about different ways to use soft pastels? Pastel is a versatile medium, and this class is a great opportunity to experiment! In each lesson, I'll demonstrate a different way to explore using your soft pastels:
- Dry pastel on paper (1 painting)
- Water-brushed pastel on watercolor paper (1 painting)
- Combining pastel with other media such as paint and collage (3 mediums, 3 paintings)
Paint along as I demonstrate different ways to use soft pastels! By the end of this quick introductory class, you'll have variety of options to try out your pastels at home. I'll take you through one subject (a bird) in dry pastel, water-brushed pastel, and pastel on mixed media (acrylic, oil pastel, and collage). Please see the project description to download a basic bird template if you'd like to use one to paint along.
Materials List
All lessons:
Printed template (optional-- see project description to download attachment)
Soft pastels (Ultramarine blue, light blue, Violet, lavender, warm gray light, Payne's gray or dark gray, lemon yellow, white, red ochre or orange)
Painting board and masking tape
Lesson 1:
1 sheet Drawing paper or pastel paper (I'll be using Canson Mi-Teintes pastel paper)
Lesson 2:
1-2 sheets watercolor or mixed media paper (5 x 7, 9 x 12 are good sizes)
Water and paintbrush (suitable for watercolor)
Paper towels recommended
Lesson 3 (If you want to paint along with demo):
Mixed media paper
Acrylic paint (ultramarine blue, cadmium red)
Water, brushes, paper towels
Oil pastels (same colors as soft pastels)
Pre-made bird underpainting (from template used in lesson 1 and 2) to use soft pastels on-- 1 acrylic, 1 oil pastel sketch, one torn paper collage-- follow same process as first 2 lessons to create underpainting (just change the medium to fit each part of the lesson).
Teacher's Note: Please do not hesitate to message me if you need any help throughout the class! I am used to classroom teaching and will be happy to assist you at any step of the class.
Meet Your Teacher
I'm an artist from Fallbrook, California. I have spent many years teaching, painting, and writing. I especially love to teach children!
Layered wet and dry pastel on gessoed watercolor paper
Why I love pastels:
Soft pastels are so versatile! I can use them dry, brush them with water, layer them over acrylic, or apply them to a collage. They are so easy to pack up and take wherever I go! They are bright and powerful, and great for quick painting sessions. Most of all, I love the feel of pressing the color directly to a surface-- the tactile experience of painting and smearing with sticks... See full profile
Hands-on Class Project
See attachment for template--
Once you've tried the in-class exercises, choose your own subject and explore it using any of the demonstrated methods. Post your results to share the different effects of each technique! You are also welcome to share the samples we created during the class.
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