Soft pastel is one of the most exciting and versatile painting mediums I know. It has a long history of varying popularity. Professional and hobby artists enjoy soft pastel for its unique looks and application methods. But some may find painting with soft pastel difficult and here I am going to describe all the techniques , so that you can enjoy the art. A few guidelines will help alleviate most problems.

Painting with pastel need not be difficult but just like with any art medium, practice will make perfect. In this course you are going to learn how to use soft pastels, basics , how to do shading which is very important in any art. Also we are going to learn gradation technique and will be doing around 5 projects.

Pastel can be used on its tip, for line drawing or hatching, and on its side, for wider painterly marks. You can work lightly (see below) or you can apply a little more pressure and create completely different marks. You can blend with your fingers or tissue, or you can hatch, you can layer or you can mix. There are a huge number of ways to paint with pastel.

This is the most widely used form of pastel. The sticks have a higher portion of pigment and less binder. The drawing can be readily smudged and blended, but it results in a higher proportion of dust. Finished drawings made with soft pastels require protecting, either framing under glass or spraying with a fixative to prevent smudging; hairspray also works, although fixatives may affect the color or texture of the drawing. White chalk may be used as a filler in producing pale and bright hues with greater luminosity.