A Cheap Way to Add Texture to a Pastel Painting

Do you like the impasto texture of oils and wish you could get the same effect with pastels? In this video I share a simple and inexpensive way to achieve texture in a pastel painting. I paint a foggy wetlands landscape and show you how the addition of texture adds interest to the painting.
SUPPLY LIST
1. Uart Pastel paper
2. Terry Ludwig soft pastels
3. Nupastels hard pastels
4.Blair Very Low Odor Workable Fixative Spray
5. Liquitex Clear Gesso
6. Inexpensive hardware store paint brush
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[@1Thedairy]

Karen has always been very generous with her teaching but at a time like this it’s has been invaluable. She is a wonderful teacher as well.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you very much! I appreciate you watching!

[@williamhawthorn8904]

I think you should use the term earth or soil instead o "DIRT" and check out the terms of a flowers parts like Stamin's, pistols, but I watch all you work and wish I had money to give you for such great lessons.

[@mreinstein48]

You are definitively the best pastel teacher on YT!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@carolynfuller6237]

You are such a good teacher because you explain exactly what you are doing and why you are doing it. I learn something from every one of your videos. Thank you.

[@pastelsgirl]

I don’t comment in general, just lurking in the background, but Karen: I enormously appreciate your generosity and willingness to share your talent and your experience with us all. I love your demos. Thank you!! With love from California 🥰

[@KarenMargulis]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate you watching and commenting!!

[@dianaholvik2554]

Well, same thing, but from Canada. Thank you, Karen

[@robertweinblatt2018]

When I hear that scratchy sound it makes me want to paint! I love that sound🤣🙌🏻

[@KarenMargulis]

I agree!!

[@pattitan]

I love this.......especially with the clear gesso......the texture gives it an impressionistic look!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@violetmartha916]

Thank you Karen for letting us into your studio. I just LOVE the colours you use. You paint these beautiful scenes and they make me want to go there....I can feel the atmosphere and hear the sounds. Thank you for giving so generously of your knowledge and techniques. You are my absolute favourite pastel artist. 🌲💜🌳💜🌳💜🌲

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind comment!!

[@shelleybrandon2825]

Cannot thank you enough for the generosity of your public videos! I look forward to these like a medicine for inspiration and improvement in my own ever evolving style! During these times, my favorite space is the studio space and I am so grateful to you and other artists willing to keep creativity flowing! Thank you, again, Karen!

[@KarenMargulis]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching!!

[@marianoona6117]

I am a fan of yours and love almost all your paintings

[@donnag1437]

Karen, I had forgotten about this technique. A friend and fellow APL member brought it to light again. Thank you for another fantastic video.

[@oldlady1946]

Lovely. Texturing sure did create texture.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!

[@MusicAce1000]

My clear gesso just arrived. I've been searching for demos for a week. Thanks so much for this.

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad it was helpful! Have fun with the clear gesso. I love using it!

[@janiverster6162]

Karen, I want to thank you for rekindling my forgotten love for making art during this lockdown period. My business, which had me running around non-stop for the past few years has come to an abrupt end, and your videos are helping to keep the fear and uncertainty at bay right now. I eagerly await each one, and then rush to my box of pastels, trying to recreate the magic you have made. I love your art, and aspire to one day create such beautiful things with so much apparent ease. Much love from Cape Town.

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome Jani! It is my pleasure to share!

[@jessicagrill9180]

It is so helpful the way you explain your process and why you make the choices you do. As a new artist I learn a lot from watching your videos. Thank You!

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@rosarebada4777]

Thanks for talking all the way through - your rationale is so instructive! Beautiful execution. I admire the amount of detail that is required to produce such a laid back scene. Blessings and take care. Glad you are in such a productive mode during these times - it's contagious/for the good of others!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you Rosa! I appreciate you taking time to comment!

[@gullwingstorm857]

I think I love this one more than any of your other beautiful paintings.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@jilld8787]

Excellent demo!🎉. ❤

[@giancarlociotti2761]

Very inspiring and beautiful painting. The tip on gesso is so interesting! Thank you Karen

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@Neptunecloud]

These little tips and techniques are very helpful to someone starting out in pastels. Thank you!

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@cynthiakourisdittoe4991]

Just love to watch you paint! You make it look so simple but it’s not! Thank you for sharing your ideas and your techniques with all of us. I appreciate you so much.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much 😊

[@nicolejulien4545]

So pretty; I love the colors; Great painting;

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much 😊

[@vickie6228]

This was lovely. While I knew about the clear gesso, it never occurred to me to apply it directionally only in the areas I wanted the most texture. How helpful! Thank you.

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@susanobyrnes1524]

Thank you for another wonderful painting

[@dianaholvik2554]

I really appreciate your tips, especially this one about the Clear gesso. I have been an artist off and on for many decades, though for the past fifty it was more off. Now, getting back in and want to make my main medium soft pastels. But I can't afford the pricey papers, even UArt is pricey for me. So I'm going to try the clear Gesso on some other pastel papers, ie, non-sanded ones (Susan Jenkins also recommends the clear gesso, and I think she stated she was using it on pastel paper. I really like how you used the textures of your brush in the painting. Thanks for so many tips here. Oh, and many thanks, also to the guy behind the camera, which I tink, is your husband (?). Anyway, thanks to both/all of you.

[@carolbrezonik5092]

I haven't painted in pastel for a couple of years so I am delighted to have found your videos. I'm getting excited about painting again and I'm learning so much as you gently walk us through your beautiful paintings.

[@KarenMargulis]

Wonderful! Thanks for watching!

[@sueaberle935]

Beautiful painting

[@normahmud7560]

It look so good, so simple and effortless. So gonna try this.

[@bobgenet598]

Beautiful, Love the colours and Wonderful tutorials and the way you explain everything Thankyou

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much 😊

[@HOJIN0910]

It is a beautiful painting with a soft color.☺️👍🏻

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@dianec4356]

Thank you for your time and effort of guiding us to such a beautiful landscape pastel. Love it so much, your tips your stroke your tone just make this very interesting, I enjoy it so much. We need desperately people like you make our days to fight this desperate stay home stay safe time. Thanks a lot, appreciate lots.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@helenpennington7586]

Love all your pictures with water.

[@patriciadixon4260]

I’m a Pastel beginner and I absolutely loved this video. You’re excellent at describing what you are doing and I’m going to have a good go a it. I don’t have any gesso yet but I’d still like to give it a go. Thank you so much for your inspiration. Pat from England

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thank you so much for watching!

[@jdschneider5858]

Just my cup of tea! I love the way you use the pastel and suggest shapes and that violet made my day! Thank you!!

[@julierutherford3150]

Lovely demo, Karen. I’m just beginning to explore techniques with pastels, and I’m really enjoying your style.

[@KarenMargulis]

Wonderful! Have fun with pastels! Thanks for watching!

[@lindakriegel5552]

Beautiful Karen!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks Linda!! Hope all is well!

[@kstutz230]

This was fascinating and I definitely learned something new!

[@KarenMargulis]

Excellent! Thanks for watching!

[@mjcard]

That was great. Thank you so much for this demonstration and information.

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Nasauniverse001]

Wonderful.

[@patriciamacpherson6113]

Beautiful

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@wuznotbornyesterda]

I really appreciate this demo. I love the way the grasses came out with the gesso under it. I wouldn't have thought of it. I do believe you should have stopped just a minute sooner though for your trees to me seemed like they came closer rather than looking foggy. Actually they became textured as if they had a light snow on them. Love your work and you are a good teacher.🧡

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching!

[@Rjbcrone]

Bravo. I love this one❤️

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!

[@denisegrossman3840]

Just gorgeous, Karen! I am so glad I tuned in to this video. It really helped me with creating mist and building up texture with just gesso. I was thinking about adding marbel dust also. Will refer to your other videos for texturizing paper. Happy Labor Day!! Thank you so much!💕

[@lonnymcsherley773]

Very nice. Thank you for your sharing...

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching!

[@nangustafson8110]

Thank you! I’m just starting out with soft pastels and I’ve learned a ton from this demo. 💖

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@joannwalsh3107]

wonderful demo--wish I could paint like you do and visualize what is needed in the painting

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you for your kind comment!

[@mrc123053]

Wonderful

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@doreenharrison2968]

Beautiful neutrals. I'm still learning when not to give up on covering the brighter block-ins.

[@patticaudle7225]

I love your videos. You are so easy to follow, and you explain so well. I am going to join your patreon group.

[@KarenMargulis]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@jdschneider5858]

I watched your video again and got so much more out of it! I'm a bit more experienced now and your use of the gesso for texture is an inspiration! Thank you!!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching again!

[@angelalabauve9131]

Awesome instruction!!! Life is stressful for me these days, and your videos are a source of release into a different world!! I “get” the box of mixed pastels! It’s a box of creativity. I felt it as soon as you showed it in the video. Thanks so much Karen for sharing with us.

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@johanneplouffe3937]

J'adore tout ce que vous faites et j'apprends beaucoup juste à regarder vos démonstrations que vous nous partager si généreusement. Merci!

[@KarenMargulis]

Merci beaucoup!!

[@huguettelarose3515]

You never fail to delight me with your magical sense of colours and shapes. Thank you for sharing your wonderful art. With love from Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@s.k.3483]

I really appreciate your sharing instruction and making us privy to the artist's thought process.This is one of my favorite videos that you have done. I really appreciate your sharing of the finishing marks which you don't usually do because I struggle with them Thank you I have learned so much from you. You are an inspiration to us.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@stefygueli1064]

stupendo !

[@marialuisacontarin6615]

You're magic!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!

[@lindasteere1873]

Thanks for the wealth of information that you share with us. I try to remember all of your tips when I am practicing with pastels. At your suggestion, I'm trying to paint at least once a day to improve my skills. At this point I have only done 4 pastels. They are enjoyable.

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! I am happy to share!

[@Sykirobme]

Nice! I recently tried using some Liquitex texture gel I have laying around as a pastel ground...a little too coarse for me! Hadn't thought of using gesso in this way, great tip!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@abhijitganguly5339]

GOOD

[@rosarebada4777]

PS Kudos on the excellent camera work!!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!! I will let Michael Know! he will appreciate your comment!

You're making my life better with this videos. I'm depressed and lockdown makes it worse.

[@KarenMargulis]

It is my pleasure! Creating them helps me as well. I'm glad you are enjoying them!

[@DannyGarrett]

I use this everytime on watercolor paper instead of buying pastelmat. Gives a lot more layers

[@flooklh]

Thank you for this stunning demonstration. I'm definitely going to try the gesso thing on my Canson paper. I do not have access to pastelmat sanded papers etc. I have a friend who makes art products for his business so going to ask his help.

[@deniseshaw3871]

Fantastic art work ..I love your tutorials..would love you to do a live one !!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you, I am planning on it!

[@deniseshaw3871]

@@KarenMargulis yayyyy x

[@robertweinblatt2018]

The lid always breaks, usually the first time you try to pop it open!! This gesso is my go to and sometimes I will paint the directional lines of the piece I'm working on with the gesso to get a feeling of movement and direction !! When I begin applying the pastel to the surface my painting comes to life because of those directional texture lines that lie on the surface! Just wanted to share🙏🏻😍💥🙌🏻

[@KarenMargulis]

Good to know! Thanks for watching and I love reading your comments!

[@nouranattia1402]

Thank you for this very informative video and the great walk through till reaching the final end result, this amazes me each and every time I see one of your videos! I have a question, would coloured Gesso work as well as clear?

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad you enjoyed it! Only clear gesso has the grit needed to give tooth to the surface.

[@muskofax]

Thanks, I am just starting to try pastels and your videos have been a real inspiration. I am having trouble with running out of "grab" on my paper before I am finished, but this technique will be interesting to try. QUESTION I viewed you "How to Clean and Organize Your Pastels" (I had some given to me) and you said you were going to do a video on remaking pastel chips into sticks. I haven't found it. If you haven't done this yet, it would be great to see.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!! I haven't done it yet but it is on my list for an upcoming project which I will video!

[@susancapin5975]

Your landscape glistens! Your work is magical! What is the type of board you use? Also, I have. been using a set of Grumbacher pastels given to me many years ago in addition to a set of Unison landscape pastels. At some point, I will purchase a set of Terry Ludwig pastels. The colors are really wonderful?

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!! I am using Uart sanded paper for this demo. Uart is my favorite paper and I used it both mounted and unmounted. Thanks for watching!!

[@christinebrown9310]

Hi Karen, as a result of your marsh demo, I did one for myself. Very pleased with it. I would love to be able to suggest a few small ducks on the water but not sure how to do this. Is this something that you have done before? Your demos have inspired and taught me to use pastels more confidently, thank you.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching! I don't think I have added sucks but I have added egrets! I don't have a KZbin demo of this though. I will add it to my list!

[@abhijitganguly5339]

RESPECTED MADAM, IT SEAMS TO ME THAT YOU LIKE MARSHLAND! IF YOUR HEALTH PERMITS,YOU MAY VISIT A MANGROVE JUNGLE,IT IS VERY INTERESTING,BUT BEFORE YOU GO,TAKE LOTS OF MOSQUITO REPELLANTS AND QUININE MIXTURE! BUT THE NATURAL BEAUTY IS WORTHY TO BEAR WITH ALL THE PAINS,THANK YOU!

[@cohencohen54]

Dear Karen. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talents with the world. I have one question: do you always use fixative after the work is completed? If you use clear gesso or alcohol, would you still use fixative after the work is finished?

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching! I never use a final fixative no matter what my process is. I find that the sanded papers hold the pastel and fixative is not necessary since I will be framing the painting under glass/

[@jenniferdavis6115]

Can you add fixative to smooth paper for texture?

[@alexsandrarokas7117]

I finally subscribed. What kind of paper did you use? You mentioned you use the Terry Ludwick neutral pastels; is that what you said? I have Sennelier pastels and they were expensive, so I'm not too keen with buying more expensive pastels. ' Looks like I have to.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for subscribing! I use Terry Ludwig pastels but I do also have some Sennelier pastels and review them over on my Patreon Page. They are excellent pastels so you should be fine with them!!

[@jeannettecomer8739]

I am a beginner pastel painter. Do you always stand up and paint on some kind of easel? What kind of easel are you using? Love all your videos. Thank you for your instruction.

[@KarenMargulis]

Yes I do. I use a word H frame easel from Blick. Thanks for watching my videos! I have a beginner online workshop coming soon!

[@michellet204]

Lovely tutorial. What is the tool you used to blend??

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you! I like to use pieces of pipe insulation foam.

[@robertweinblatt2018]

Tell Blair you'd like a free case of their fix😂🤣😜🙌🏻

[@KarenMargulis]

Haha!! I did a test of a few others recently and I still like the very low odor Blair!

[@135talmont]

Your fun tip took me to my supply cabinet where I found Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels, which has a definite grit to it and it can be diluted in up to 40% water. I didn’t know how to use it, so is this one method? Or would this be too much on an already sanded paper?

[@KarenMargulis]

Wonderful! You would use the ground the same way and I use it even on sanded paper because the texture it creates is much different from the evenness of the sanded paper.

[@ruthbowe9295]

🙏👍🏻😍

[@robertweinblatt2018]

I live for the disarray and just grab values and pay no attention to color sometimes!

[@KarenMargulis]

Good way to put it!!

[@manonlainet6575]

Bonjour Karen, merci pour ta générosité par tes vidéos et ton partage. Je suis très novice , très intuitive mais je n'aie aucune connaissance en couleur alors j'ai une question: pourquoi commencer ton ciel avec du rose? Tes vidéos m'apprennent beaucoup depuis2 ans et pour la première fois j'ose m'exprimer et Google translate fera le reste. Bonne journée à vous et j'aime ce que vous faites, bonne continuation à vous grande Dame

[@manonlainet6575]

Désolée, je ne veux pas vous faire perdre du temps..vous l'expliquer vraiment bien dans la vidéo, désolée

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you very much for watching the video and for your comment! I appreciate it!

[@josephineherrera8508]

Karen, I noticed that you have a couple of sturdy easels. I have been looking to buy a good strong easel for painting pastels. Any recommendations?

[@KarenMargulis]

I like these easels. I got them online through Blick and they are Blick brand. Under $75 if I remember correctly.

[@josephineherrera8508]

Are they stand alone or table top?

[@KarenMargulis]

@@josephineherrera8508 They are stand alone but don't take up a lot of room

[@l.b.habitue4902]

how do you sign your work?

[@KarenMargulis]

I use the sharp edge of a hard pastel and I use my initials. (not recommended)