Children's pastel drawings for beginners step by step. Step by step drawing with pastels - the most interesting thing on blogs

Pastel is line and color at the same time. It has a soft and velvety texture and a subtle shine of silky material. It allows for speed of writing, instant transmission of ideas and emotions, ease of correction, and complete spontaneity of work.

Pastel as an artistic material is colored blocks of compressed pigment. Available in the form of crayons or pencils.

There are three types: dry, wax and oil. All these different types of pastels cannot be used in one piece.

"Pros" of pastels:

Ease of operation. Basically, all you need is paper and crayons. There are no specific technologies or rules for working with this material. You can easily apply color, blend and remove.
Light fastness. Unlike other materials, pastel does not fade in the sun, does not fade or change color over time.
Color nuances. Pastel gives soft transitions from color to color; it is easy to depict portraits with subtle color nuances.
Velvety. A layer of pastel gives a beautiful velvety surface.

"Minuses":

Or rather, there is one minus - loose pastel crumbles or smudges. It must either be drawn on a rough surface, or immediately framed under glass. Fixing the surface of the pastel with varnish leads to a color change.

Masterpieces of artists made in pastels (J. Lyotard, E. Degas, Z. Serebryakova)

Pastel for beginners: material technology

Aids

Most artists do not use any auxiliary means in pastel: this is one of its advantages. True, sometimes, especially in complex, multi-layered works, some of the so-called mediums are simply necessary.

Water, turpentine

In multi-session sketches to create a kind of underpainting, artists spray a certain volume of water, turpentine or other thinner onto the initial layers of pastel, which evens them out, generalizes them and makes it possible for further work, refinements, and avoidance of natural color losses in this case.

Fixatives

In long-term works, to fix the pastel particles before applying subsequent layers, artists spray a thin layer of fixative onto the sheet. They also coat the finished piece with a fixative to prevent the pastels from fraying and peeling during framing and transportation.

But there are masters who are fundamentally opposed to fixatives, since the latter “mute” the color values of the painting. The consumer is given a choice of two types of fixatives in aerosol cans - matte and glossy.

If you decide to use them, try to do it very carefully. Excessive fixative will irreparably ruin the work.

Pastels for beginners: about again for pastels

Although pastels can be painted on any surface, they usually work on paper, cardboard, and sometimes on canvas. In addition to strength, the base for pastels requires a certain texture.

Special paper for pastels.

For pastels, paper with a coarse-grained texture is selected, which promotes better adhesion of its layers. In addition to white, there are many colored papers - ivory, tan, gray, blue, green, purple and so on. The color of the paper is as important as the shade of the underpainting in other painting techniques. Remember that this choice is quite large and it is necessary to gradually try out as many varieties of base as possible.

Watercolor paper.

Any watercolor paper will work for pastels, but cold pressed paper is best. If underpainting with watercolor or acrylic paint is needed, this base is the best choice, since not all paper reacts equally well to water-based soils - water causes deformation of their surface.

Charcoal pencil paper.

Some types (as well as inexpensive types of pastel paper) are quite friable, which makes them an unreliable material. Charcoal pencil paper usually lacks significant texture, which weakens its ability to hold pastel particles. Used for short-term sketches.

"Sandpaper.

This paper is coated with small particles of abrasive material (like regular sandpaper), due to which it holds a significant amount of pastel. Although it contains acids, it is very popular among artists.

Making sandpaper

1. 1. Use high-quality, acid-free paper (including watercolor paper), or cardstock.
  2. Lightly wet the back side. This is necessary to prevent deformation when you apply the aqueous composition to the front side of the sheet.
  3. Now, using a flute, generously moisten the front side of the paper (or cardboard) with the previously prepared composition:
    – 4 parts acrylic gel.
    
    – 2 parts of a composition to create a granular structure (flint, marble dust or pumice).
    
    – 1 part water (volume may vary).
  4. Let it dry. If you are not happy with the results, repeat steps 2 and 3. If the paper does become warped, place the paper face down on a clean, flat surface and wet the concave areas. Then press the edges of the paper and let it dry. If the sheet does not straighten, repeat the entire process using less water.

There is another way - use the recipe given in the insert, replacing the acrylic gel with an acrylic primer. Using a palette knife or sponge, apply the mixture onto the paper. The result is a superb textured surface that can react with pastels in a new, unexpected way.

Graphic paper

You should familiarize yourself with other types of paper. There are many varieties available in art salons. The best way to determine whether the proposed option is suitable is to feel the texture by touch. Paper weight varies between 120 – 360 grams/sq. meter.

Fabrics

Pastels can be used on fabrics, such as canvas. Many artists stretch fabric onto a regular stretcher. Some people stretch the fabric onto stiff cardboard using acrylic gel as an adhesive.

You can write directly on the fabric or cover it with a layer of acrylic primer. If you want to do an oil underpainting, a primer is required, since oil paint can damage (“burn”) the fabric.

Pastels for Beginners: Tools and Accessories

With the possible exception of a vacuum cleaner, pastel tools are simple and inexpensive.

Drawing board, adhesive tape and buttons

Pastel paper should be firmly secured to a solid surface, such as a drawing board, to which the paper is attached with adhesive tape or thumbtacks. Sometimes they use soft cardboard (like Homosote), which fits the buttons well.

Brushes

Brushes can also be useful when working with pastels. For example, an elastic bristle brush can easily remove an unnecessary fragment of a sketch (if it is not fixed). A watercolor brush is suitable for mixing paints and creating a smooth transition from one color to another. If necessary, use a brush to moisten areas of the paper.

To remove paint and correct mistakes in pastels, pieces of soft fabric are used: it can be suede, pieces of velvet, but cotton rags are perfect for this; they should always be at hand.

Sandpaper

Attach a piece of sandpaper next to your work to sharpen a crayon or pencil from time to time (it’s better to put it in a glass so that the sawdust falls to the bottom). If you use pastel pencils, you will need a sharpener. You can take a knife or razor, but a sharpener is more convenient; Just be careful not to break the fragile core of the pastel.

Shading, eraser

A shading stick is a tightly rolled paper cylinder, pointed at both ends, necessary to create a smooth transition from one color to another. To remove pastels, artists use an eraser, lightly pressing and tapping it on the surface of the paper (rubbing with an eraser, as when correcting mistakes in a pencil, is not advisable!).

Vacuum cleaner, masks

Do your best to prevent pastel dust from entering your respiratory tract and lungs. Artists who constantly work with pastels usually install special filter hood systems in their studio.

At the very least, you can use a vacuum cleaner by placing the hose at the bottom of the sketchbook; to do this, take a very long hose, placing the vacuum cleaner in another room so as not to hear the sound of the running motor. Authors who work with pastels only from time to time will be quite happy with a portable hand-held vacuum cleaner.

Sometimes they use a mask, which can be purchased in pharmacies and art salons. It is a paper filter secured to the head with an elastic band. Masks are very effective, although they take some getting used to.

Sketchbook

Almost any sketchbook will do, provided that it is possible to tilt the work towards you - in this case, pastel particles will fall off onto the floor or into the tray. You can strengthen the paper in a horizontal position, but do not forget to vacuum up pastel dust from time to time, which can contaminate the colors of the sketch.

Transport box

To work plein air, you will need a special box with many compartments for storing pastels. Artbin pastel boxes can hold anywhere from two dozen to over 100 pastel crayons. In addition, they are quite lightweight, have locks and a handle. If you purchase boxes with compartments for pastel crayons, pay attention to the size of the compartments.

Some types of pastel crayons, such as Schmincke, are thicker than others. Make sure that the box has a good lock, otherwise the pastel may simply fall apart. Although the huge selection of pastels is tempting, I recommend starting with a small selection of basic crayons colors.

After doing a few sketches, you will have an instinct for the missing color shades of the pastel (and stamp).

So, let's summarize.

The most complete list of materials for drawing with pastels!

Soft pastel – set of 25 – 30 crayons.
Hard pastel – set of 24 crayons.
Pastel pencils – set of 12 pieces.
Paper: 45 x 60 cm sanded, 30 * 45 cm colored pastel paper in the set.
A drawing board large enough to accommodate the largest sheet of paper.
Adhesive tape.
Cloth, paper towels.
Brushes – a pair of bristle or elastic synthetic brushes for removing pastels.
Stew sticks, tortillons.
Eraser eraser.
Sandpaper.
Sharpener.
Mask-bandage. Vacuum cleaner.

Materials at your discretion:

Soft pastels - one or two crayons of each brand - to compare manufacturers' products.
A can of matte fixative in an aerosol.
Soft brushes – for moistening pastels.
Sketchbook (for work outside the workshop)
Latex gloves.

However, before you go to the art store, remember that to begin with, you can get by with just one set of pastels, paper and... the desire to draw :)

I will be grateful to you behind questions and responses to the article. Leave your suggestions for the topics of future pastel master classes in the comments!

More interesting and useful information about drawing
from the artist Marina Trushnikova
You will find it in the electronic magazine “Life in Art”.

Receive magazine issues to your e-mail!

Drawing with oil pastels is quite an interesting activity that combines the characteristics of working with wax pencils and dry pastels. Although the final result can be very beautiful, using and mixing oil pastels on a sheet is a little more difficult than regular dry pastels. However, with the right materials, knowledge of proper painting techniques, and some effort, you can learn to create your own masterpieces using oil pastels.

Steps

Preparing the necessary materials

Choose paper for pastels or watercolors, cardboard or canvas. All of the above types of base are rough enough for pastels to stick well to them. For aerial drawings like sketches, choose 90 gsm paper. If you are going to draw something more saturated, take paper with a density of 160 g/m². Please note that the paper should be matte; pastels will not adhere well to glossy paper. Also, always choose a paper that is the right size for you so that there is not too much or too little free space in the drawing.
- Do not use paper containing acids, as they will cause the pastel to discolor and crack.
- Use paper that matches your design to create a harmonious color combination. For example, for a natural landscape with a lot of green tones, use light green paper.
- To experiment with creating different moods and atmospheres in your drawings, try using paper that is a contrasting color to the pastel tones you are using. For example, if you are painting a blue lake with a black night sky, use purple paper to create a melancholy effect.
Purchase a set of oil pastels from a trusted manufacturer in the color scheme you need. Unlike other types of pastels, there are not many manufacturers producing oil pastels. And only a few brands offer professional, artist-quality pastels. For beginners, we can recommend oil pastel sets from Van Gogh. This company positions itself as a manufacturer of art materials for study, but the quality of its products allows them to successfully compete with manufacturers of professional-quality pastels. If you decide to purchase professional oil pastels, opt for one of the cheaper sets of professional artist quality pastels, or assemble the palette you need by purchasing crayons individually.
- Think about what kind of images you will be drawing and choose pastel colors that match your ideas. Buy pastels individually and assemble a suitable palette.
- Oil pastels can be purchased through online stores, specialty art supply stores, craft and office supply stores.
Choose both hard and soft oil pastels for more variety. Harder pastels are good for drawing out the finer details of a sketch and the first layers of a drawing, while soft pastels are good for painting over dense, rich layers of hard pastel. For example, professional artist quality oil pastels, in descending order of hardness from hardest to softest, can be represented by the following list: Cray-Pas Specialist, Cretacolor Aqua Stic, Erengi Art Aspirer, Caran d'Ache Neopastel and Holbein, and Sennelier Oil Pastels.
- As you gain experience, try to pay attention to which brands of pastel you are most comfortable working with.
Buy accessories such as brushes, erasers, and shading pens. Brushes and sponges are ideal for rubbing oil pastels. To correct defects in the drawing, it is better to purchase a nag, which is an eraser made of plastic rubber. It can also be helpful to purchase different types of paper shading pens, including pointed and blunt ones, to blend and smudge pastel tones.
- Pastel scrapers can easily be replaced with toothpicks (wooden or plastic) or a nail curette.
Basic techniques for working with oil pastels
1. Select an object to draw and decide how large you want it to be in your drawing. Start with something easy, like a dog, a house, a lake, or a simple apple. But if you are ready for difficulties, you can choose a more complex drawing object, for example a person or a landscape.
  - When choosing a subject to paint, consider the pastel tones you have available so you have all the colors you'll need for the job. If you're running low on flowers, see if you can't improvise a little with what you have.
  - Start with images that contain only 1-3 colors. Even with so many colors, you can experiment to create different shades, so there will be plenty of work.
2. Create a general outline on a separate sheet of paper to help you plan out your drawing. On a separate sheet of paper (identical to the one you will use in your pastel work), draw something small and simple with pastels. Work with light pressure on the chalk. Don't draw too many details, concentrate on the general sketch and the feeling of working with this paper. Keep working until you are happy with your sketch.
  - Outline the specific colors you are going to use for individual areas of the design. For example, mark the ground with dark green strokes and the puddles with dark blue.
3. Lightly sketch the design on a basic piece of paper using hard colored pastels. Choose lighter colors for your sketch and draw the outlines of the objects you are drawing with light pressure using the crayons. If you make a mistake, erase the mistakes and try again. Don't worry about the small details for now, leave them for later.
  - Avoid using black pastels to sketch to avoid distorting and contaminating other colors.
  - Draw vertical and horizontal lines of symmetry in your sketch to break up larger objects and shapes. This will help you distribute and blend the colors of the design properly.
  - For greater sketch accuracy, use hard pastel.
4. Work from background to foreground. When working with pastels, it is better to draw objects sequentially from the background to the closest object in the foreground. With this approach, you will always draw the outline of the subject on top of the background, which will give you greater drawing accuracy. After filling in the background and foreground with the main strokes, move on to shading the tones with your fingers, a special tool or a paper napkin.
  - Design the background with a thick layer of pastel, working with moderate pressure on the crayons. But if you plan to draw something over the background, draw it with less pressure on the crayons.
  - Use hard pastels for the background and bottom layer of the drawing. For the foreground and additional layers, use softer pastels.
5. Draw the general outlines of the main objects using their base color. An important part of painting with pastels is creating base layers. For example, if you are drawing a pear, draw its outline in a medium tone of green. Then start painting it with the same tone. When creating the base layer of the object, press down fairly firmly on the chalk.
  - Save the extreme tones (in this case light green and dark green) for later.
  - Blend the base color of the subject into its outlines to make the sketch lines invisible.
6. Introduce additional tones into the drawing as a second layer. Start adding more details and colors to the object. If you're painting a pear and have already painted it with a base green color, you can move on to using a dark green on one side of the pear and a light green on the other side. Work with the second layer using less pressure on the crayons.
  - Blend the colors with your finger, a blender, or a paper towel.
  - Use lines of symmetry to separate colors into zones and blend them at the point of contact.
7. Mix different colors together to create the effect of a smooth transition of tones in your drawing. When mixing colors, always start with the darker tone. Start by pressing firmly on the chalk and draw a line in the desired direction, gradually reducing the pressure. After applying the first color, take a second, lighter pastel color and next to the first line, similarly draw a second line in the direction from the lighter part of the first line to the darker one. Then use a blender or finger to gently blend the tones. This will remove the border separating them and create the effect of a smooth color transition.
  - Dip a cotton swab in baby oil and run it over the strokes of the design to blend the tones without using your fingers.
  - For greater accuracy and better control over your actions, use special shading. They are ideal for shading small areas.
  - When mixing tones, work in a circular motion to create varying shades of color.
8. Continue to paint over objects and apply subsequent layers of pastel. Use the basic technique of painting over objects with layers of pastel wherever you can find a use for it in your drawing. For example, for a puddle, apply a dark blue layer on top of a light blue layer. Then scrape off sections of the dark top layer, exposing the light layer, to create a unique water highlight effect.
  - Don't use too many colors at once, as this can make them dirty. Show restraint. If something already looks good, don't add anything else!
  - As you add layers, work with soft pastels to make it easier to blend and shade the tones.
  - When drawing small details, such as a pear stalk or leaves on a tree, use hard pastel.
9. Practice more, but don't get overwhelmed! You won't be able to create a perfect picture right away. Take your time and experiment with different shapes, images, colors and techniques. Remember that this is your first attempt and that everyone needs practice to get good at something.
  - Try drawing different types of scenes and objects to develop your skills.
  - Buy a variety of pastel colors and experiment with unique combinations.
10. Fix your drawing with a special fixing varnish for oil pastels. Be sure to spray a thin layer of varnish over your work in a well-ventilated area. When the fixative dries (after about 10 minutes), the drawing can be left as is or framed. Be sure to use a thick backing around the perimeter of the design so that your work is located at a distance of about 5 mm from the glass in the frame and cannot smear.
  - For maximum protection, mount your design to a piece of wood before framing it.
Advanced Drawing Techniques
1. Layer multiple pastel colors on top of each other to create dynamic images. Start by applying a base color to the paper using firm pressure with the crayon. Next, create a layer of the second color by working with the wide side of the crayon. For example, if you are painting a sun, apply a layer of yellow as a base. Then fill in about half of the yellow area with a layer of red pastel to create a unique orange-red tonal mix.
  - Experiment with different pressure on the crayons as you create layers. For example, for a sun image, apply a moderate yellow base coat with light pressure using the crayon. Then complement it with light layers of orange and red to create different shades.
2. Scrape off individual sections of varying and layered colors for unique effects. After creating two thick layers of different colors, use a pastel scraper, comb, or needle to scratch patterns into the top layer to reveal the layer underneath. This technique is most effective when the top layer of the design is darker than the bottom, such as gray or black.
  - Use this technique to complete your final drawing with lines of a specific color. For example, if you painted a pear and applied a dark green color as the last layer, you can scratch the lines to reveal a lighter green tone underneath.
  - Experiment with different tools, such as using a paperclip or a toothpick, to create different line variations.
  - Use 3-4 layers of pastel so you can achieve a variety of results by scratching the lines.
3. Cut out the stencil to create different designs for the outline of your images. On a separate sheet of paper, draw the outlines of a specific image, for example, a flower. Cut out the outlines of the image and attach the resulting stencil to a working sheet of pastel paper. Then paint along the inner edges of the stencil with your chosen color to create crisp outer lines of the image. As an alternative, you can apply a cut-out section of the stencil to pastel paper and paint the area around its outer contours to create an image with blurred outer contours and sharp inner contours.
  - When working with a stencil, blend the pastel with your fingers away from the stencil outline to achieve a smooth color transition.
4. For convenience, first draw the outlines of objects with a pencil or light pastel color. Once you've mastered the basic techniques of mixing and layering pastel tones, start painting some images. Draw something simple first and create a general sketch first. Try drawing simple objects like the sun, a tree or an apple. Try making your first sketches with a simple pencil. Once you've got the hang of it, move on to sketching directly with oil pastels. Remember that you should draw a sketch with pastels with light pressure on the crayon and use the very tip of the crayon, and not the wide side part.
  - Break complex objects into simple shapes such as circles, squares and triangles.
  - Do not use black pastel to sketch as it will ruin any colors placed on top of it.
What you will need
- Oil pastel
- Paper
- Pencil
- Feathering (optional)
- Bristle oil painting brush (optional)
- Clean your oil pastel crayons regularly with a little baby oil and a paper towel. This will protect your work from accidental strokes of the wrong color.
- After blending each color with your fingers, wash your hands or keep wet wipes handy to clean your hands. Or try shading the pastels not with your fingers, but with paper (in the form of purchased paper shading or rolled up paper yourself) to keep your hands clean.
- Get creative! Don't be afraid to break the "rules" of drawing to find yourself.
- Practice regularly, as painting with oil pastels is not easy!
- It's best to paint in a quiet place where there are no distractions and good lighting.

Using pastels, colorful and vibrant paintings are created. In this article we will learn how to draw with pastels, why you need auxiliary tools and where to best use pastel pencils.

Benefits of pastel

Pastel is a pigment pressed from powder with the addition of a binder. The use of pastels is possible both at home and outdoors. It does not get dirty, does not crumble, dries quickly and does not require special equipment. Only canvas and pastel. Moreover, the color range is amazing, ranging from very light tones to bright and rich shades. Before you draw with pastels for beginners, you need to understand what it is. It's best to start with

what it is not:

It is often confused with chalk. This is a very serious mistake. Colored crayons, made from lime with dye, are very hard and faded.
The second most common mistake is oil pastels. The technique of its use differs from dry. You can learn how to draw with oil pastels from our other articles.

Variety of pastels

It is available in several forms: in paper packaging (round and square), in pencils. Each one is great for art. To create a sketch, it is best to use pastel pencils or charcoal. Pastel does not adhere very well to a regular graphite pencil.

So, portioned pastel in paper packaging

It comes in square and round shapes. There is no universal advice on which drawing form is best. Artists use both forms when working; they create different types of strokes.

An example of using round and square crayons (using square corners to create the effect of tangled fur).

Pastel pencils

Using pastel pencils you can draw very fine details. Their composition is no different from the pastel itself, only the appearance is like that of an ordinary pencil. Although they can be a stand-alone fine art tool, they work best when paired with regular crayons. These pencils are great for shading.

Using pastels as an example, we draw step by step for beginners the eyes of a cheetah. First we draw the base with crayons, then the eyes and fur with pencils.

Their disadvantages include fragility. You need to sharpen it very carefully. You can use a sharp sharpener or a small knife.

Pastel selection

There is a huge variety of both shades and manufacturers. Professionals advise, especially for beginners, to choose the following manufacturers:

Inscribe. Low price, large selection of colors and convenient packaging. But, these crayons are not suitable for drawing fine lines.
Sennelier. Excellent, professional crayons. The price is steep, but they are worth it. With their help you can create excellent paintings. Moreover, they are packaged by color (for example, for painting landscapes, sets of rainbow or metallic colors).

Whatever company you choose, you should avoid sets with a predominance of very bright colors. Oddly enough, but such a number of colors really ties the artist’s hands.

It is best to choose pastel pencils from the following companies:

Derwent.
Faber Castell Pitt.
Stabilo.

Choose sets of 24 colors. Although, for starters, take pencils individually. This way you can assess their need for work.

If you use pencils actively, the original packaging will quickly become damaged. The best option is to put them in a special pencil case (as in the photo above). It will help save them from destruction. You can use a regular school pencil case, but searching for the right shade can take a lot of time.

Auxiliary materials

Basically, a set of crayons and a canvas are enough for drawing. But, there are several auxiliary tools. Some may find them very useful, and they need to be considered in more detail:
Fixative. A special product for fixing flowers in a painting. The special product is very expensive. Regular hairspray does the job perfectly. But, do not forget that varnish and fixative make the colors of the work darker.
Maulstick. It consists of suede fabric and a stick and protects the design from smudging while working. And he needs to lean on his working hand.
Shading sticks. Replace fingers during operation. Very useful when depicting grass, fur or other small details.
Sandpaper. Replaces the eraser when drawing with pastels.
Stencil. It is used very rarely, but it is still worth having in your arsenal.

Canvas for drawing

The canvas for drawing should be textured; pastels will not lie correctly and beautifully on smooth paper. The result depends very much not only on the texture, but also on the color of the canvas.

Sometimes it shows through a layer of paint and can set the main atmosphere.

Now let's look at several options for canvases that are ideal for work:

Pastel paper. Sold in sets and one sheet at a time. Comes in different colors and sizes.
Pastelmat. This canvas looks like a cork. Great for small jobs. When using it, no hairspray or fixative is needed.
Canvas. Ideal for working with pastels: hard, textured, comes in many sizes and colors.
Cardboard, craft and note paper. A large selection of colors (there is even a shiny one), excellent texture and size chart.
Sandpaper. It is easy and interesting to work with, but it is better to choose paper with a small grain size.

The best paper suppliers are:

Winsor
Derwent;
Clairefontaine.

You need to be careful when ordering paper online. Be sure to check the colors.

Supports

We have already learned the main points and instructions on how to draw with dry pastels. All that remains is to decide how you will draw. Some prefer to sit, some prefer to stand. It’s up to you to decide, but now we’ll tell you the main points of supports for the canvas

in any position:

Table. You can draw on the table. Before working, be sure to cover the table surface. Crumbs can stain it.
Easel. Ideal for standing work. The main thing is to firmly attach the canvas to the base.

Wall. It is also convenient to draw on the wall while standing, but you need to lay something down. It is better to attach the canvas to the wall with masking tape, at the very edges, so as not to spoil it. The downside is that no matter how carefully you paint, the wall still ends up dirty.

Transportation and storage

If you painted outside the home, for example, in nature, the question arises of how to properly bring the painting home. For this we need thick sliding paper. You can store them at home in the same way, simply transferring the work with this paper.

The most beautiful drawings deserve to be kept in a frame. This storage method has its own characteristics. Even after a painting is completed, dust may fall off over time.

Before applying glass, limit the picture to frames, leaving a small distance from the picture itself.

In this simple way you will protect the painting and maintain its neat appearance.

Let's sum it up

Drawing with pastels is a pleasant, exciting and interesting activity. After finishing the work, there is no need to wait for it to dry. She is immediately ready for exhibition. By following simple rules, you can preserve the painting in its original form for a long time.

Use all possible types of pastels for creativity, experiment with canvases, and you will get very bright and beautiful paintings.

Pastel takes its name from the Italian “a pastello”. This was the name for a drawing technique when a black pencil and red sanguine were used simultaneously. In some cases, other colors could be added. Pastel became an independent technique in the 18th century, when such masters of painting as Francois Boucher, Maurice Quentin de Latour, Delacroix and others began to use it. Then, interest in it gradually faded away, but was revived again in the middle of the 19th century. Today, pastel remains one of the most promising areas in painting. And many ladies at needlework courses choose this particular technique for training.

How to draw with pastels

Photo by Shutterstock

Pastel attracts artists because it can be used to quickly and easily achieve a fresh tone. In addition, it is quite fast in work - making a few broken strokes with pastel is as easy as shelling pears. If you learn how to use pastels correctly, you can create real masterpieces.

Types of pastels

Today there are three types of pastels: - dry; - oil; - waxy.

Oil pastels are made from a special pigment combined with linseed oil through pressing. The method of making dry pastels is practically no different from the first option. Only when creating such pencils oil is not used. The wax version of pencils is mixed with high quality wax, to which coloring pigments are added.

Typically, dry pastels are used to create full-fledged paintings. Oil painting, as a rule, is taken for educational purposes, but at the same time remains in demand for artistic purposes. Wax can also be used for teaching and for creating canvas. Each of these types has its own operating characteristics. And in order to draw correctly using the pastel technique, you need to take into account all the nuances. It is advisable to study step-by-step drawing tips. To do this, you can watch a video available on the Internet.

Dry pastel

Working with dry pastels is easy. After all, this particular version of chalk has great variability, i.e. you can use a wide variety of working techniques. The only thing you should keep in mind is that the pencils in this case are very crumbly. Therefore, you should not put too much pressure on them.

It is advisable to make a preliminary drawing for work with any chalk, which in tone will not differ too much from the tone of the paper on which you are going to create your masterpiece. The best option is to use gray chalk. If the paper is very light, you can draw an outline with charcoal. The hand at this moment must be very confident.

It is better not to use graphite pencils when drawing with pastels. Firstly, the chalk must be easily wiped off with a dry cloth. Secondly, pastels adhere very poorly to graphite.

Having prepared the base, you can proceed directly to drawing. To do this, you need to break off a piece of chalk of the desired color - approximately 2-3 cm long. Start applying the main tones. Change the crayons depending on the tone of your painting.

When you are done with the basic tones, proceed to the so-called refinement of details. At this moment, you need to work out the shape and fragments of the drawing, add volume where necessary. To make the drawing more contrast, use flat strokes. It is also recommended to work on the painting by applying pastel dots, lines, etc. Then rub the pastel thoroughly, this will make the transitions smooth, natural and almost imperceptible.

For shading, a special device is usually used - a shading. You can buy it in the store. Alternatively, you can use your own finger. Just remember to wipe it down when changing from color to color.

Experts recommend playing with color and not making it flat. For example, first apply a base of one color, and then add touches of another color on it (it is advisable to choose a contrasting option to make it look more interesting and advantageous).

People who begin to paint with dry pastels usually expect that their paintings will turn out bright and contrasting. Actually this is not true. This is due to the fact that when making such crayons, ordinary white chalk is taken as a basis.

After finishing drawing, the pastel must be fixed. Moreover, it is worth considering that you cannot paint over the dry version. Such a picture can only be fixed by placing it in a frame under glass.

Sometimes there is advice to fix dry pastels with hairspray. But you should not blindly trust this method, since the varnish pattern darkens

Oil pastel

Working with oil pastels has a number of differences from drawing with dry crayons. It is best to use light paper for oil pencil paintings. Remember that oil pastels shade much worse than dry ones, so you definitely need to take care of additional tools - thinner and a brush.

To draw a tulip, we use a simple pencil of medium hardness (HB), colored pastel (pencils) STABILO CarbOthello, drawing paper and tinted paper for drawing with pastels. The image of the flower is done in stages. We start by making a drawing diagram on drawing paper, drawing out the details of the flower. Then we transfer the drawing onto tinted paper and work on it with pastel pencils. You can continue drawing on the white paper you started drawing on.

On a piece of drawing paper, using a simple pencil, draw two ovals. One larger oval will be a flower, the second smaller one will be a bud.

From the ovals downwards we draw two inclined lines - tulip stems. We draw two lines from the stems from bottom to top, where we will have leaves.

In the ovals in the center we draw intersecting lines of the petals, add triangles - these are the pointed edges of the petals. Add thickness to the stems.

Adding thickness to the leaves. Draw the contours of the flower petals and tulip bud with smooth lines.

In the leaves we add inward fold lines. We transfer the drawing onto tinted paper. Why do we shade the back side of the paper sheet with the pattern. We apply it with the shaded side to a sheet of tinted paper and, tracing the outline of the drawing, transfer the image onto the tinted sheet. Using light strokes, we cover the leaves with light green pastel pencils and the scarlet bud and flower of the tulip.

Use a special shading or just a finger to shade the shaded part. Add a layer of shading with pastel pencils in more saturated shades - bright green and hot pink. We intensify the saturation of the color tone downwards, leaving the upper part lighter. Lightly blend.

Using a white pastel pencil, draw the top edge of the petals. Slightly shade the outline of the flowers. Using a bright green pastel pencil, draw the outline of the leaves. We highlight the stems with bright yellow color. The drawing is ready. We fix it with fixative or hairspray.