CHALK PASTELS?! Let's Try Them!

[@BlackBeanCMS]

Do you guys have any tips or tricks when using these Soft/Chalk Pastels?!

[@autumnrain1892]

I've got you, babe. I'm at work. I will fill you in when I get off❤❤

[@BlackBeanCMS]

@@autumnrain1892 Thank you!! 😊😊

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

Clairfontaine (sp) Pastel Mat or Strathmore Sand Grain paper and makeup sponges and applicators to blend

[@Barb.u]

Use a make up brush to get rid of excess dust, it works for me 😁

[@Carla-jd1ub]

Yess!! I began loving pastels as a medium when I started using Pastel Pencils. With the pencils you are able to draw details and you don’t have the mess of handling them, but you’ve still got the wonderful texture and vibrancy of pastels! For bigger areas and more loose sketching I still use my set of pastel blocks I also have way more colours as blocks and blending is a bit easier because of the surface area. I can recommend the Pastel Pencils by Stabilo (not sure how available they are outside of Germany) and by Faber Castell (a bit scratchier, but those are the ones I got started with). Hope that helps!

[@nadineozeir1598]

i love that you’re always pushing yourself out of your comfort zone with your art, inspiring me to be more adventurous ☺️

[@BlackBeanCMS]

YAS! Thank you for noticing! I am trying my best to experiment and it can be so much fun especially when it goes well. I hope you're staying creative friend!

[@purplehood8418]

Every time you gave up I was like “Noooo that was so good!!!” Every iteration was so pretty. I’ve fallen in love with oil pastels lately and I loved chalk pastels in college. They are definitely different. With the chalk, one little swipe could ruin it all where as oil is more forgiving there. I loved all of these!

[@kitkat8669]

ik right??? i liked every sketch he's done! I get it though, when i get a vision for my painting i'll try to stick to it, otherwise i'll hate it. it's not like the sketches that he erased weren't good, they just didn't fit his vision

[@BMB6482]

Me too! I cried a little inside every time a drawing was crumbled.

[@The-Secret-Dragon]

The right paper is REALLY important when painting with soft pastels. Ingress papers like the Strathmore paper you used are pretty awful and don't hold onto the pigment so become super dusty and smudgy. I strongly recommend you try a sanded paper, clairfontaine pastelmat is the best, but uart and fisher400 are other good options. They allow you to layer, and the pastel doesn't require fixative

[@pendlera2959]

Thank you for making those suggestions! Dunno if he will see them, but others like me can still use them.

[@letym2271]

Back then sanded papers didn't exist and artists used paper, then gesso and the like. Claiming they're awful might be a bit of an extreme imo😅 for sure sanded paper makes it easier and the colors come out more vibrant, however you can layer on unsanded paper using just a bit of fixative everytime you want to layer or prep your canvas with gesso and pumice powder, then sand it to give it that grit. 😊 Source: been learning from well known pastelists resources :)

[@The-Secret-Dragon]

@@letym2271 they didn't exist in the past, yes, which is why Edgar Degas' pastel paintings are super fragile, badly degrading and are very difficult to conserve because he only had access to awful ingress papers. We are lucky to make the most of modern innovation and be assured in the knowlege that pastel art made with modern paper supports will last far longer than Degas' without art conservationist intervention. :)

[@michaelklein5242]

The issue with the right paper initially frustrated me. Even paper designated as "pastel paper" wasn't very good, too toothy (and admittedly, a somewhat low budget brand). But I tried that, watercolor paper and just high quality hot pressed paper and for me, the latter worked best so far. I've not tried sand paper yet because I'm only recently trying out the chalk (watercolor is my usual medium) and don't want to spend much money on it, but I probably should if it's at least more workable.

[@MrAlano]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT REALISM?!?! You are amazing and even the drawings that you did not finish were incredible. You are a great artist and your style is amazing whenever you feel bad remember you have a lot of people that support you.

[@gioandnanna]

I agree!!!

[@art4life.]

His energy is everything!!❤ ✨️ and that's the fanciest chalk pastels I have ever seen

[@BlackBeanCMS]

Thank you!!! 😭❤ AND RIGHT! THESE ARE FANCY FANCY!

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

Sennelier is the softest pastel you can buy other than Schmincke. You really should do your underpainting with a harder pastel, like the Prisma NuPastel like you were talking about. Because Sennelier is soooo soft itt will fill up the tooth if the paper fast. And btw, that is a bougie gift that cost some $$$$$$$!

[@TheLoveweaver]

Right? What a gift!!

[@ΔεαΚ]

your*

[@margaretf667]

I heard Nupastel is going to be discontinued! I cant get them affordable where I live anyway, so I use Rembrandt.

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

@@margaretf667 Yeah, I forgot about the whole discontinue thing.

[@davidsantiago-bonilla3442]

What about the jack richeson soft pastels? I feel them very very soft.

[@_foxpuppet]

Not being the artist, I find all of your attempts to be lovely in their own way, but I can see the difference once you loosen up and get more of a handle on how you want to use this medium. The final portrait is so damn gorgeous, even without a summer glow, lol. And I'd love to see a reattempt on the portrait of your niece if you ever felt like it!

[@cailinfili]

Even though you were using a medium you aren't super familiar/comfortable with you absolutely blew me away with the end result! You are amazingly talented!!

[@hihi-kv8kv]

"I'm not even good at realism" *does amazing realism* Your highschool realism was also really incredible, at least to me, since I can't do realism. Anyway, I'm always so excited for your videos! Great video!

[@ErriShayAradesChay]

8:27 “I’m not even good at realism” *proceeds to show the most beautiful sketch I’ve ever seen*

[@TX10X10]

I spray a thin layer of fixative and then go back in for more detail, with each layer of fixative it darkens the background, so you can really make the top layers pop. might be helpful :) I loved your drawings, I think they came out great.

[@chadlantz303]

Some of them are softer and some are harder because of they use the real pigments and some pigments are naturally harder than others. Also the small square of sand paper was a sample of Sennelier’s Pastel Card. Many soft pastel artist like to use a sanded surface to paint on. It hold the pastel better but it is a bit harder to blend. You did remarkably well considering this was your real first attempt!

[@Kyomiibrown]

They are NOT chalk and if you use pastelmat and light layers there will be much less dust. Your final portrait is awesome!

[@monsterpuer391]

watching you lay colours down really wakes up the dormant part of my art brain that's been craving attention. i'm dying to make art For Fun, and soon i will. thank you for your honest art process, it's really difficult sometimes and it's good to see how other artists express their joy, grief, confusion, frustration, excitement, curiosity, etc.

[@emmettvictor]

Seeing an artist pick up a new medium and absolutely crush it is SO impressive. Like how?? So good, so talented!!! 🔥

[@kattenihatten]

I Find it kind of comforting! It means that everything I learn will have relevance even if I switch mediums in the future. Drawing and painting skills transfer to other genres and mediums.

[@christicovington]

The paper is a sample of their soft pastel paper, and the reason why some of the pastels are harder than others has to do with the pigments. Some are also supposed to be more opaque than others. I would recommend trying a sanded paper or a pastel paper like pastelmat. Love you and your videos. ❤ I wish I had a friend like you to hang out with. You're a sweetheart.

[@llGracell]

four attempts and you end up with that portrait? WOW!!! You can Master those pastel so easily! The softness of the portrait so nice!

[@PoisonousVector]

I love how you show us your struggles, it's nice to see that even someone as skilled and talented as you gets frustrated with his art, lol. Sometimes you watch these artist effortlessly create wonderful artworks and you're like how??

[@cityseabird]

I think the self portrait was beautiful, but I'm a lay person. I just am always so struck by your implication of light in your drawings, how you conjure a soft, creamy light and accurate highlights on faces. It's... honestly it's sumptuous. The cheekbone on your self portrait. I cannot get over it. The blending is perfection.

[@jinkless]

i love your channel and you’re the reason i started art. you slay every art material and you’re hilarious. don’t let anyone bring you down!

[@afroborilafemme]

I’m glad you took the time to do something familiar. I find in my own art, it’s too much pressure to be trying a new medium AND a high pressure piece of art. Personally, I loved the pieces you were making of your niece, but we’re all more critical of our own work.

[@Kaylan0713]

I’VE MISSED YOU!!!💕 I binge watch all the time because i need your uplifting humor and personality in my daily routine😂😂 so thank you

[@Texbun2]

For all your suffering, you did a GREAT JOB! You can tell you were learning something even though the first two drawings did not work. And yes, your self portrait looks like you!

[@rileeb848]

I just got into soft pastels, and it is my new favorite!!! So easy to fix mistakes and I personally LOVE the dust and the mess. It makes me feel like a real artist. I've so been wanting to see you do a soft pastel painting. This was so awesome! You are such an amazing artist

[@Dahlily]

I'm getting some for Christmas, so excited! Actually getting sennelier 😍

[@egyptianzdancer]

That is one seductive self portrait!!! Love it!!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️I love how blended and painterly it looks!

[@AtelierArts]

A Friday upload🤩! Let's gooo! I've had art block for a while so this is sooo helpful to see ya personality on screen again 💛💛💛

[@BlackBeanCMS]

YAS!! Thank you for coming back! Sending you creative vibes!

[@Skunkforge]

I have always hated using oil pastels and soft pastels. Your skill at using these mediums has me in awe. I am addicted to your art and this channel! 💖

[@lindalangeheine5787]

Happiness is a new video from YOU! When you swiped over the first portraits, they looked so mysterious. Loved that! Especially powerful is your use of color in the skin. What an inspiration you are! And so fun. Thank you!

[@oxalessi]

I loved how the faces looked kind of glowing when you smudged them!💫 I would love to see you do this for an other project

[@shakiraroby4293]

Omg I missed you so much. Welcome back Mr.Blackbean.

[@BlackBeanCMS]

I missed y'all!!! So happy to be making videos again! ❤☺

[@sallybanner]

a great likeness of you! love to watch you work

[@kd9692]

How could you scrunch this up and throw them away! Your talent! Beautiful!!

[@junosmith7668]

You're an amazing artist. I love how you can use color on a drawing like this that's, like your said, "realistic" and make it cohesive and beautiful. I love how you use color overall. Keep it up!

[@alittleunconventional.3333]

I just love your self portrait

[@martakrasuska2483]

You help me so much in battling my art block and just watching you paint/draw helps my creative process immensly , i love Your sense of humour and I really wish I had more people like You around me irl. 😢

[@spinynrmn7121]

Thank you for showing us your struggles as well as your success. It's really an important reminder that sometimes it's ok to start again and that each attempt will teach you something worthwhile. Your final drawing is really beautiful. I love the colors and the combinations you use. Your art is always colorful and creative but this piece goes above and beyond- it really glows.

[@LBFG77]

Oh my gosh, I loved it! I love your portrait, your little bald man and every scrunched up drawing of your niece. Perfectly imperfect, so creative, and colorful!! Five gold stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kd9692]

I'm dying over here watching you work! So so perfect

[@bethhill3468]

The first was incredible at so many points! When you rub it away then pick the shadow and light out again 😍

[@joannfuhrer3114]

I love watching you. Thanks for sharing your gift.

[@katelynlajune9907]

I am so envious of your artistic ability ! I can’t even explain just how passionate I feel about doing so many artsy things but then my mind is blank and I get discouraged. I did the doll repainting for a while then I put it back . I want to try water marbling , and paint pouring , and paint carving and vinyl carving , and poly clay earrings and jewelry, and pottery , and I really want to work with resin !! Not to mention all the basics like painting and using pastels . I used to draw when I was young but that’s long gone .

[@jimisi7424]

Please keep up the soft pastel work. Soft pastels are my life passion. They can be frustrating when you get hard and soft from the same box, but try the unison soft pastels. They are silly expensive but just silk in the palm of your hands. Pastel-mat paper is a must too. Check out my michael caine in the thumbnail. Atb, you work rocks!!

[@nikkirzic]

Thanks, for the FUN extremely informative video. You're extraordinarily talented. Thanks for sharing.

[@lisaeadesauthorandartist]

I loved all those drawings even the ones you threw out. Loved how easily they seemed to blend together.

[@nancye7520]

I loved watching you do this 23 times 😂 because I feel like I’m slacking after I try twice with something and I give up. I’m going to dig in more. You are SO talented.

[@Wordfishtrombone]

Ditching an idea and starting over is an essential artistic practice! I have a hard time doing it, but watching this again has given me courage

[@ilariacarloni8393]

What a treat when you post! I love your videos and you amazing personality!

[@carolannruby]

I learned soooooooo much in such a fun happy way! Your way! Thank you for sharing YOU and your artistry!😊

[@SOCyak]

This guy’s personality can brighten anyone’s day, I’ve been having a hard time lately and watching these videos give me a peace of mind ❤

[@creatornat]

First of all, kudos to you for trying the soft pastels more than once! I myself, dislike standard pastels *and* charcoals due to the *feeling on my fingers*. It's so chalky, and dusty, I simply cannot use them. But since you got such a nice set, I would have given them my best tries too! Thanks for coming back to see us BB.

[@asiawilk]

wow that turned out amazing! It's good to come out of our boxes as artists for sure

[@WillowRoseArlen]

Soft pastels are my least favorite supply too, but oh my goodness after seeing this now I want to try them again! For the record I thought your first two sketches looked great even if they didn't capture your niece's likeness... and the final self portrait omg! The colors, the blending, the hair! So so so good!

[@gioandnanna]

yOU ARE delightful! love to hear your commentary. Your adorable personality shines forth! And I love your art!

[@DorianSl]

I am greatly impressed by every and each work you ended up finishing and giving up on, alike. I like using soft pastels, but it's good to use them with proper ventilation, especially when youre not used to this colorful dust. A tiny advice from me? I love layering! Blocking with the most intense or essencial colors, sealing the art with varnish in spray, adding another and another layer with details and lights!

[@reeree6682]

Child of God!!! Your self portrait is freaking fantastic!!! I so admire your determination! YOU can do anything!!!

[@babidavi6910]

*Art and a smooth tone of voice are exactly what I've been missing in my life.* So glad this channel was recommended to me! 💓

[@Nosnohja68]

Loved loved loved the drawing! Thank you for sharing your explorations.

[@victoriasmith6825]

Opening boxes of beautiful colorful things for artists is to the likes of opening a box of fancy chocolates for the chocolate connoisseur... Exciting and deliciously satisfying.

[@JenMakeupArt]

Yay so excited for a video! I’ve been checking KZbin everyday! Amazing work. These look pretty tricky to work with. But came out beautiful!

[@TheLoveweaver]

Oh, my word!!! Your self-portrait?? Just , stunning! *Whew* Love it!!

[@jonathanallen4169]

I always love your work and you get me pumped to go do some drawing.. keep up with the fun

[@KarenKhen94]

Here is a soft pastel tip I go to my hardware shop buy smooth sand paper and practice on that till I got the hang of the medium. 90% of your struggles came from using the wrong paper. Once you understand how they work on a sanded paper use an archival paper such as pastel mat and then see how amazing soft pastel are. You still did an amazing job I love your self portrait ❤

[@donnamcdaid3510]

you masterized a new medium just like that! loved this video

[@TheLoveweaver]

I can't wait to see what you do wit these! *excitedly rubbing my hands together*

[@EternalYorkieMom]

Bro even when it doesn’t work you still try to do something fun! That is so much more important than drawing realistically perfectly all the time

[@Sacrosanction]

I am captivated and enthralled by your style and use of colour. New fan here! :D

[@tinavera2476]

Gotta get you some make up sponges and sime eyeshadow sticks to blend. They are amazing. PanPastels are simply the best! Your portrait is gorgeous! Tfs

[@allove913]

Send me your throwaways!! Because my heart crushed every time you balled up your art! You’re vision is amazing. But I definitely get wanting your art to matching the image you intended

[@samellows1865]

Your self portrait is beautiful!

[@serenityjewel]

“I wouldn’t have a drawing if I woke up in the morning.” 😂 All the drawings you tried were awesome.

[@nix_river2.21]

you're cool and you know it. I don't know the language, so I don't understand what you are talking about in the videos, but I always watch them. Thank you.

[@InkyMD]

Damn you are a gifted artist. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@jaelapayne2035]

Every time you gave up on the first I would yell at the screen like a Texas dad watching football. A lot of “What are you doings!!!, THAT WAS GORGEOUS”

[@jaelapayne2035]

Plz. Make prints of the self portrait I wanna hang it up in my home like a proud mom 😭❤️

[@adorkyninja]

Another amazing piece of art.

[@abstractrealmz]

Happy to see this this morning. I’ve missed your humor and charm. Stay awesome! 💙

[@narayani1505]

Gosh I'm all about your beautiful self portrait 😍

[@burninghair]

I love soft pastels, have since I was a child. There's a strange affinity with the colorful, chalky powder left behind. Like the Indian holiday Holi, the Festival of Colors... Anyway- paper makes a MASSIVE difference with soft pastels. I used to love using suede board... omgEe that is divine. Creamy smooth.

[@burninghair]

p.s. Fine details can be added with pastel pencils.

[@tavieflu9349]

I love your chalk illustration of your niece.I gasp when you threw them away.

[@Garouwerks]

Beautiful drawing's you did with the chalk. And I understand all the con's you talked about. I know, from watching documentaries and also other youtube artists, that to use other mediums expands your work and thoughts. Disney used to have his artists work in many mediums to broaden and expand their minds and creativity. It is why both Dumbo and (the first) Fantasia have different styles of art in them. He wanted his artists to try different stuff, expand the cartoons! I think that you trying these chalks was fantastic. Good for and on you!

[@brittabeningfield3472]

I am so in love with your work! Cringed when you crumpled them up, but your self portrait was amazing! So, I've played and watched a bunch of tutorials, here's some stuff I think will make things easier for next time. Pastels are the purest pigment medium of all, very little binder in the good ones. That's why they act differently from each other. You can layer up by using a soft touch so you don't fill the paper's tooth, and you can block in an underpainting with a very thin layer, the use a brush with rubbing alcohol to move it around and cover the white paper. It dries fast, and allows for more layers. Rather than finger blending, try a brush... think of it like working with eyeshadow. Also Q- tips, tortillons, etc. keep it off your hands. Workable fixative will give you some more tooth once you can't layer any more, but it'll darken your work. Pastels are so vivid because they're like tiny crystals that the light bounces through, so when you squash them they lose some brilliance. If you want finer detail you can sharpen an edge of the stick with the sandpaper. Finally, Pastelmat is expensive, but it's like working on velvet and it holds lots of layers without needing a fixative. For practice I use liquitex clear gesso on cheap watercolor paper. It has some grit in it and will act like a sanded pastel paper. Sorry this is so long, hope you find something useful in my ramble. I really hope you'll work with it some more. I think you'll create some amazing pieces. And if you decide you hate them, you can pulverize the pastels to make pigment for your sculptures. Happy arting!

[@rosaliefunk1629]

You’ve said it all. I am a pastellist. I love the medium. Good paper makes a big difference. U tube has some good instructors…Karen Margulis and Susan Jenkins (Monet Cafe) are both great with how to use soft pastel on different papers. Your talent is impressive. Learning new things keeps our art fresh.

[@AzStranger928]

I've been coming on daily to check for a new video. And u officially made my weekend! My daughter and I just love u so so so so much 🥰

[@vo1non]

I need to try pastels again. Thanks for the demo!

[@DustyMusician]

I finally got some time to watch this while I paint! It’s the best way to watch your vids

[@piafinch7537]

OMG I love your style. Even when you ‘struggle’, you are amazing. I am so inspired to give pastels another go 🤔☺️

[@ferni24]

I just found your channel today, i am in love with the way you view color and faces

[@kellswitch]

For a medium you don't know well or like, you did amazing! All the images had their beauty.

[@teehlfx5238]

Love watching you work and building those layers 🥰 (even If you don’t always love the outcome I appreciate seeing the process no matter where it ends up)

[@stephaniegrehan9084]

You got the hang of them at the end. the self portait looks like you and really nicccccccce

[@amyjohnson6816]

I've never seen anyone use soft pastels as you did! Your portrait is amazing!!! You definitely use color so well. Very talented!!! If you end up hating these pastels, I'd really love to have them! xx

[@suzanneboily5224]

Your so much fun to watch my favorite you good artist

[@pixelsbykris5494]

The final self-portrait is amazing. I absolutely adore the facial hair, especially. It's always a joy to see a new video from you. I'm really excited to see if you ever make a video where you draw without blending/layering. Blending/layering is really difficult with cheaper materials, which more people have access to than not. Also, it's obviously going to have a completely different look and feel, which I think your more abstract/surrealistic style could capitalize on.

[@liesbethartlife]

I love to see how you push yourself and just keep going learning the medium, not like others KZbinrs trying it once for a video and that’s it. That’s a beautiful set of pastels, and I really like the end portrait when it’s softer. I’m allergic to soft pastels or something inside them. I use charcoal everyday without problems but even cheap chalk gives me skin issues and migraines

[@mariemoulinec3569]

You should come in Paris there is currently an exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay around soft pastel which is fantastic

[@mariemoulinec3569]

And your drawing is fantastic

[@rhobinblair903]

Sometimes i get stuck on my emotions and forget that i can crumple up the feelings and start over and watching you with that first drawing just felt so reassuring 💗 i like your self talk. Keep shining king

[@mjpete27]

I was just giggling at your flumoxness of your response of these pastels! I have started to use pipe insulation to blend a trick passed on by Karen Margulis! Different pigments are softer than others! Others use Sofft tools! I use just the sticks and let the pastels shine bright, just as they are! I enjoyed seeing how you tackled this new to you medium! I thought your pictures were quite lovely even if they were not "representational" or a good likeness! They looked good from here! I use Glassine to preserve my pictures until I can frame them, this will preserve your pictures without spraying them. Glassine is like a type of paper looks a little like tracing paper but it holds soft pastels on the surface and will not smudge or lift them. Sprays and fixatives always darken your pastels ALWAYS!

[@Pandi2486]

okay for someone with limited experience with chalk pastels your final portrait came out freaking amazing!! i love how you have no fear of colors that make no sense until its all together and BAM some majestic af art is born! also, i've heard you can diy pastel paper with clear textured gesso!

[@Karla-yi5ld]

Ha ha ha 😂 you’re cracking me up. You’re so funny, and you’re so talented.

[@michaelklein5242]

You're great! I should live so long to develop a hint of your talent! Of course, that brand of chalk someone gifted you with costs $$$, so I'd be tempted to use them myself (despite chronic respiratory problems)! I don't like 'em that much either, but at least seeing what you did with them is highly encouraging. Thanks for doing these shows! I call them that because you go beyond just instructional videos--you make 'em informative and entertaining and folks love that! 🎨

[@timelessillusion9371]

That bright green was VIBRANT