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Pastel Make beautiful art with pastels–we’ll get you started.

Getting Started: Pastels

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Draw Me In

If traditional pastels seem intimidating, pastel pencils are a great way to test the waters. They offer control and precision— something you’re used to with a drawing utensil. But they have the deep, vibrant pigment that pastels are famous for.

Lush Layers

We used four hues (from red to yellow) for these petals, gently smoothing the color transitions with a blending stump. And we used two shades of brown to draw circles and half-circles that, once blended, mimicked a textured flower center.

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#1: Outline

The sharpened tip of the pastel pencil produces a deep, intense pigment. You’ll use that part of the pencil to sketch the outline of your subject and to do darker shading. The more pressure you apply, the deeper your color will be.

#4: Last Looks

As you add the final details, think carefully about shading and color values. Layer colors sparingly, and blend carefully.

#2: Shade

Bring your subject to life by defining darkest to lightest areas of color. To cover large areas of your drawing, try working with the side of the pastel pencil. Use even pressure to apply the pigment, and blend with your blending stump as needed.

#3: Background

Choose a color for the background— we switched to a traditional oil pastel for this step. When the entire area is covered, you can try blending in additional colors to add depth, interest and texture. 3

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#5: Big Finish

When you have your masterpiece exactly how you want it, be sure to treat it with a spray fixative to prevent smudging.

Sipping Pretty

Here’s the rundown on this basic oil pastel piece: The outline came first, followed by the shading— with traditional pastels you’ll almost always apply the dark colors first. Then add the lighter colors, blending one hue into the next as necessary.

Picture This

Think pastels are for seasoned artists only? It’s time to roll up your sleeves, grab some paper (rough-textured, of course) and banish that thought! You can start with pencils, and when you have those down, start experimenting with chalk and oil.

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Sign Here

Stately still lifes and landscapes are lovely, but sometimes pastels need to party. We prepped this chalkboard tray with two coats of acrylic paint and two coats of chalkboard paint. When the paint was dry, the piece was primed for a pastel design.

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Swim For It

For an easy-does-it foray into pastel art, try a basic silhouette piece like this one. We used a sparse assortment of colors for this look, and we added freestyle swirls to keep the background from looking overly subdued.

White On

When it comes to pastels, there’s a limit to the amount of color you can pack on the page— the toothy texture of pastel paper can only grip so much pigment. So instead of layering colors, apply them in sections, and then blend one hue into the next.

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Abstract Aspect

If pastels make you think of stately museum stock, give this look a whirl. It starts with a groovy abstract design, and the color takes it all the way to Cool Town. We used oil pastels—but we traded traditional hues for metallics and fluorescents.

Pear Up

On a mission to pastel your way to the frame-worthy still life? Go for a subject you have on hand—like fruit! Then find the best light in the house, and set up shop. Start with a simple line drawing, and then apply the color from darkest to lightest. 7

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Stick Together

Don’t get hung up on perfection, art lovers. Pastels can be a beginner’s best friend! Soft pastels (like the ones used here) are especially forgiving. And here’s a nifty bonus: There’s no drying time! So you could go from concept to done-deal in a day.

Three of Diamonds

Look closely, this modern art masterpiece has a little secret. After we completed the drawing, we placed an embossing folder underneath the paper. Then we went over the entire sheet with a white pastel. The result is absolutely depth-inducing.

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Fine Feathers

Fine art doesn’t mean complicated art. And here’s the proof: freehanded feathers. A plain white pastel pencil is the star of this float show, and on slate gray paper, it positively pops. It’s a wall-worthy design in hours—not days. ©2015 Hobby Lobby® • www.hobbylobby.com •

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DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO COMPLETE PROJECTS ALONE. ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED.