Pastels are a cross between paint and chalk. The colors are pure pigment ground up and blended with powders or oils that bind them together. Pastels can come in different shapes and sizes, from short, dry chalk-like sticks, to oily sticks, to pastel pencils. Each type of pastel is best suited for different types of markings which you can use to create the most detailed painting of a subject of choice. Follow these instructions and you will be prepared to practice pastel drawing any time, any place. Have fun, be creative and learn paint flowers with pastels.
Instructions
1. Find your subject. The ability to find a flower that will keep you focused through the process is important. As you practice your pastel drawing techniques, you should have a subject that has an emotion attached. Artists of all types find that they are able to inject more feelings into painting when they find the passion behind the work. Painting flowers with pastels can create an image which rivals reality in beauty and depth when the artist injects the feelings that they have toward the subject of the painting. Discover where your passion lies, and find a flower that you want to recreate in a drawing which will hold the beauty long after nature is finished.
2. Find a place that you can view the flower over the period of time that you take to complete your pastel paint of flowers. Many artists choose to bring a flower subject back to a studio to complete the process. Once in side the studio, they arrange their subjects in such a way as it represents how the final painting will appear. Some artists take their material to the flowers. They find the perfect subject in nature and bring themselves to that place and they proceed to complete the painting in nature. Anywhere that you feel comfortable or where the opportunity is given is good. Being creative can happen anywhere, and some of the most accurate representations of reality occurred where the reality resided.
3. Begin the painting. Look to the subject to give you the information you will need to complete the flower painting in Pastels. You should make a rough sketch of the flower so that you can place the subject where it is best suited for viewing on the canvas of choice. Most will center the flower and make it the focus of all attention. Others will include the flower among an assortment of secondary visions and environment. Choose your layout, and sketch in the objects of attention in your pastel painting.
4. Consider the colors that you will be using to create the flower in pastel paints. Remember that when working with light and color, it takes levels of color to create a depth that mimics reality. Dark colors are highlighted by lighter colors. Because pastels blend together so easily, it is important to separate the shady colors from the light colors which will highlight the subject and give your pastel flowers an ability to look life-like. Start with the deepest colors you see and create your placements and locations that match the color you choose. Work forward, placing lighter colors on top of darker colors to create the 3D effects that the use of the right color layers provide. Once you have finished filling in your rough sketch with base colors, it’s time to move on to highlights and fine lines which give your painting the “real” feel.
5. Place the fine lines of separation between petals and background, petal veins, and other fine lines with your pastel pencil. Once finished, you will see that you have created from your talent, a beautiful pastel flower painting you're sure to be proud of.
