Pastel Lessons

PASTEL COURSES

Pastel Landscape Mastery

Learn the foundations and principles for painting landscapes with pastels. A variety of techniques are explored through different landscape paintings.

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3 Hours15 Lessons14 Ebooks

Animals with Pastels

Explore pastels through the subject of animals. Learn how to draw four different animals with soft pastels, pastel pencils, and oil pastels in this course that includes videos and step by step ebooks.

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4 Hours19 Lessons4 Ebooks

The Oil Pastel Course

Learn how to use oil pastels while exploring the subjects of landscape, still life, and portraiture in this comprehensive course.

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4.5 Hours22 Lessons7 Ebooks

TECHNIQUES

Soft Pastels vs. Oil Pastels

Learn the differences between soft pastels and oil pastels.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 6

Learn how to draw and have some fun. Subjects in this season include facial features, animals, a tractor, and an avocado.

10 Pastel Drawing Tips

10 of my very best tips for drawing and painting with soft pastels.

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Drawing Materials and Surfaces

Learn the tools of the trade in pastel landscape drawing in this members only video series.

MEMBERS

The Oil Pastel Course - Introduction and Materials

An introduction to the medium of oil pastels.

MEMBERS

The Oil Pastel Course - Application Techniques

Application techniques for oil pastels.

MEMBERS

The Oil Pastel Course - The Basics of Color

Color theory simplified.

MEMBERS

Pastel Drawing Techniques - 3 Approaches

Learn three different approaches to drawing with pastels including the techniques of blending, scumbling, and feathering.

Warm vs. Cool Grays

Learn the difference between warm and cool grays, how to mix them, and when to use them in your art.

How to Sharpen any Pencil

Learn techniques for sharpening any type of pencil.

PEOPLE

The Oil Pastel Course - Colorful Portrait

Learn how to create a colorful portrait with oil pastels in this lesson series.

MEMBERS

Pastel Portrait Series - Over 5 Hours

Learn how to draw a portrait with pastels and pastel pencils in this complete lesson series.

MEMBERS

How to Paint a Realistic Eye with Pastels

Learn how to paint a realistic eye using Rembrandt pastels.

LANDSCAPE

Field of Flowers with Pastels

Create a colorful field of poppies with soft pastels.

Oil Pastel Drawing - Sunflowers

Use oil pastels to create a loose drawing of sunflowers.

Colorful Landscape Drawing

Create a colorful landscape painting with pastels.

Pastel Drawing - Boat on the Water

Create a drawing of a boat on the water with pastels.

Pastel Landscape with Clouds

Create a drawing of a landscape that features clouds with pastels.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 9

Timed drawings based on creative prompts.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 7

Drawings include animals, landscape, portraiture, still life, vehicles and architecture.

Marsh Landscape Painting with Pastels

Create a dramatic landscape painting with pastels and pastel pencils in this 6-part lesson series.

MEMBERS

Fall Landscape Drawing with Oil Pastels

Create a colorful Autumn landscape drawing with oil pastels in this 7-part lesson series.

MEMBERS

Wooded Landscape Painting with Pastels

Create a wooded landscape painting with pastels and pastel pencils in this 7-part lesson series.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Painting - Ocean Waves

Learn how to draw a seascape of ocean waves with pastels.

The Oil Pastel Course - Impasto Sky

Build up heavy applications of oil pastels to create a textured surface.

MEMBERS

The Oil Pastel Course - Black-eyed Susans

Use oil pastels on black paper to create color contrast and pop.

MEMBERS

Plein Air Painting with Pastels - Outdoor Adventure

Learn the process of creating a plein air painting of an ocean inlet with pastels.

Pastel Landscape Painting - Desert

Learn how to paint a desert scene with pastels and pastel pencils.

Oil Pastel Landscape - Expressive Brushstrokes

Use oil pastels to create a painterly landscape image.

Impressionist Oil Pastel Landscape

Use oil pastels to create a loose, Impressionist landscape.

Simple Pastel Landscape Lesson

Create a simple, but colorful landscape with pastels.

Woodland Landscape With Oil Pastels - 4 Hours

Learn how to paint an Impressionist landscape with oil pastels.

MEMBERS

How to Paint a Tree with Pastels

Learn how to paint a tree with pastels.

Sketch a Boat on the Water - 30 Minute Drawing Exercise

The goal is to draw the entire image from start to finish in just 30 minutes using PanPastels and colored pencils.

Pastel Sketch - Autumn Tree

Paint a loose and colorful Autumn tree with pastels and use matte medium to create an underpainting.

Oil Pastel Landscape Lone Tree - 3 Hours

Learn how to draw/paint an Impressionistic landscape with oil pastels in this lesson series.

MEMBERS

Oil Pastel Landscape Series - 4 Hours

A series of recorded Live Lessons on painting a landscape with oil pastels.

MEMBERS

How to Draw a Winter Landscape with Pastels

Learn how to draw a winter landscape with pastels in this lesson.

Dramatic Sunset With Pastels

Paint a dramatic sunset scene with pastels.

Landscape Painting with Pastels

Learn how to paint a landscape with soft and hard pastels.

PanPastel Landscape Tutorial

Learn how to paint a landscape using PanPastels.

Combine PanPastels and Soft Pastels

Take advantage of the strengths of PanPastels and traditional soft pastels to create a landscape painting.

PanPastel Landscape Series - 3 Hours

A series of recorded Live Lessons on painting a landscape with PanPastels.

MEMBERS

The Secrets to Drawing - Soft Pastels

Learn how to draw a seascape with pastels in this course module from "The Secrets to Drawing".

MEMBERS

The Secrets to Drawing- Oil Pastels

Learn how to draw a landscape with oil pastels in this lesson that covers the basics of oil pastel painting.

MEMBERS

Paint Quickly With Pastels

Learn how to paint quickly with pastels.

How to Draw Water Ripples with Oil Pastels

How to Draw Water Ripples - 1 Hour

Learn how to use oil pastels to create the illusion of water ripples in this recorded Live Lesson.

MEMBERS

Find the Right Mark with Pastels - 1 Hour

How to find the right mark to create different textures with pastels.

MEMBERS

How to Draw Waves - Chalk Pastels

Learn how to draw ocean waves in this tutorial in the medium of chalk or soft pastels.

How to Draw Clouds - Chalk Pastels

Learn how to draw clouds in a pastel landscape in this tutorial.

An Exploration with PanPastels - 1 Hour

A look at a few techniques for applying the new medium of PanPastels - recorded from a live lesson.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Atmospheric Perspective

Learn how to create the illusion of space using atmospheric perspective in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - The Sky

Learn how to draw a brilliant sunlit sky in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Trees and Foliage

Learn how to draw trees in a pastel landscape in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Rocks in the Landscape

Learn how to add rocks to a pastel landscape drawing in this course module.

MEMBERS

How to draw architectural elements with pastels

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Architectural Elements

Learn how draw architectural elements in a pastel landscape drawing in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Water in The Landscape

Learn how draw water with pastels in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Silhouettes

Learn how silhouettes can be used to create focal points and enhance contrast in a landscape drawing.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Dry Wash

Learn how to add large qualities of pigment using the dry wash technique in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Wet Wash

Learn how water can be added to soft pastels to create unique effects in this course module.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Scumbling

Learn the technique known as "scumbling" in which opaque, but light applications of pastels are applied to the surface.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Feathering

Learn the technique known as “feathering” in which short strokes of pastel are layered to create depth in color tone and texture.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscape Mastery - Oil Pastels

Learn how to use oil pastels to create a landscape painting.

MEMBERS

Pastel Landscapes

Learn how to draw the landscape with chalk or soft pastels.

Oil Pastel Landscape - 1 Hour

Learn how to use oil pastels loosely to create an Impressionist landscape.

MEMBERS

ANIMALS

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 12

Learn how to draw 10 different subjects with a variety of media.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 11

10 timed drawing lessons using a variety of drawing media and surfaces.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 8

Drawings include animals, still life, vehicles and landscape.

Animals with Pastels - Cow

Learn how to draw a cow in a field with oil pastels in this course lesson series.

MEMBERS

Animals with Pastels - Parrot

Learn how to draw a Parrot (Macaw) with pastels in this course lesson series.

MEMBERS

Animals with Pastels - Dog

Learn how to draw a Golden Retriever with pastels in this course lesson series.

MEMBERS

Animals with Pastels - Cat

Learn how to draw a fluffy cat with pastels in this course lesson series.

MEMBERS

Timed Drawing Exercise - Bird with Pastels and Pastel Pencils

Watch and learn how to draw a bird with pastels and pastel pencils in this timed drawing exercise.

Cat with Oil Pastels - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to create a colorful drawing of a cat with oil pastels in this timed drawing exercise.

Butterfly with Pastels - 10.5 Hours

Learn how to draw a butterfly with pastels and pastel pencils in this eight-part live lesson series.

MEMBERS

Pastel Pencils on Black Paper - Goldfish

Learn how to use pastel pencils on black paper.

Pastel Lesson - Quick Sketch of a Bird

Create a quick sketch of a bird using various forms of pastels.

Pastel Pencils - How to Draw a Bird

Create a drawing of a bird in this lesson on pastel pencils.

How to Draw a Rooster with Pastels

Learn how to draw a rooster in this lesson that combines pastels and pastel pencils.

How to Draw a Cat With Pastels

Learn how to draw a cat in this lesson that explores the use of pastel pencils and traditional soft pastels.

How to Draw a Horse With Pastels

Learn how to draw a horse with pastels by layering multiple applications of tones and colors.

How to Draw an Owl With Pastel Pencils

Learn how to draw an owl with pastel pencils in this video demonstration and step by step breakdown.

Dog Portrait with Oil Pastels - 2 Hours

Watch as oil pastels are used to create a convincing portrait of a dog in this two part series.

MEMBERS

STILL LIFE

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 10

Timed drawings in the style of artists from the past.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 5

Learn how to draw and have some fun. Subjects in this season include landscapes and still life.

How to Draw a Cupcake with Pastels and Pastel Pencils

Learn how to draw a cupcake in real-time using pastels and pastel pencils.

How to Draw Fabric Folds

Learn how to draw folds of fabric with pastel pencils.

The Oil Pastel Course - Basic Forms

Use sighting and measuring techniques to draw basic forms with a monochromatic color scheme.

MEMBERS

Cherries with Oil Pastels - Timed Drawing Exercise

Draw a couple of cherries with oil pastels in this drawing exercise.

Combining PanPastels and Colored Pencils - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to combine PanPastel with colored pencils in this drawing lesson and timed drawing exercise.

Bell Pepper with Pastels - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to draw a bell pepper with pastels in this timed drawing exercise and step by step lesson.

Still Life with Graphite and NuPastels - Timed Drawing Exercise

Watch two artists create extremely different drawings within a 45 minute time period.

How to Draw a Lemon - 30 Minute Drawing Exercise

Draw a lemon within a 30 minute time constraint.

How to Draw a Rose

Draw a rose with pastels and pastel pencils in this lesson.

Pastelmat paper review and demonstration

Pastelmat Paper Review and Lesson

Is Pastelmat paper right for you? Find out in this comprehensive review and drawing lesson.

Pastel Still Life Lesson

Keep your pastel drawings fresh by limiting your blending and using bold colors.

Simple Still Life Tutorial

Learn how to layer and blend pastels to develop a simple still life in this lesson.

Pastel Pencil Tutorial

Learn how to draw a still life with pastel pencils.

Pastel Pencils "Carrots"- 4 Hours

Learn how to use pastel pencils to create a still life of carrots.

MEMBERS

Pastel pencils still life lesson - Flowers

Pastel Pencils "Flowers" - 2 Hours

Learn how to use pastel pencils to create a still life of flowers.

MEMBERS

Pastel Still Life "Apples" - 1 Hour

Learn how to paint a quick pastel still life using Rembrandt pastels in this recorded live lesson.

MEMBERS

Oil Pastel Still Life - 1 Hour

Learn how to draw a still life with oil pastels in this two part video series.

MEMBERS

How to Use Oil Pastels - Pear Demo

Learn how to draw with oil pastels in this demonstration of a drawing of a pear.

Oil Pastel Lesson "Apple"

Learn the basics of oil pastels in this simple tutorial that features a drawing of an apple.

Oil Pastel Glass - 2 Hours

Take a look at drawing transparent glass with oil pastels.

MEMBERS

Abstract Drawing with Oil Pastels Lesson

Abstract Drawing with Oil Pastels - 1 Hour

Learn how to approach abstract drawing with oil pastels in this recorded live lesson.

MEMBERS

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Members get every course, live lesson, ebook, critique and lesson plan.

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More On Pastels...

Pastels come in a variety of forms including soft pastels, hard pastels, oil pastels, and pastel pencil. They can be used on a variety of surfaces including paper, canvas, masonite, and illustration board. Pastel drawings can resemble paintings when complete and sometimes are refereed to as "paintings", although the process is decidedly a drawing process. The medium is considered a traditional medium for creating art.

Pastels are applied to surfaces using many different techniques that can produce a wide variety of effects and results. Quality can vary greatly from brand to brand, and is usually reflected in the price.