Don't Overlook the Foreground! Pastel Painting Demo with Foreground Tips

Often when we paint a landscape we treat the foreground as an afterthought. I love painting interesting foregrounds that draw the viewer into the painting. In this video I share some of the reasons for not overlooking the importance of a strong and balanced foreground. I also address the importance of having smooth transitions and creating depth. I show you how I accomplish these things in this demo painting.
This demo was created in 2021 for my Patreon group. You can be a Patreon Insider and help support these lessons by pledging your support on Patreon. I offer over 4 years of exclusive demos and lessons for just $4 a month! www.patreon.com/karenmargulis
SUPPLY LIST
1. Uart 400 sanded paper
2. Terry Ludwig pastels Floral Landscape set
3. Nupastel hard pastels assortment
4. Sennelier 120 Paris half stick set
5. Blair very low odor workable fixative
Subscribe to my channel and Patreon Page for more pastel and painting video demos and tips!
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[@mikeromero3077]

Another excellent demo, and as usual the camera man is doing an excellent job. Its like looking over your shoulder while you paint. great videos, keep them comnig.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much! I will let him know!

[@nh5083]

Karen you do such a wonderful job of explaining and demonstrating things we need to know to make a more believable painting. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. You're a gem in the pastel world!💗

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for your feedback and kind words!! I appreciate you watching!

[@rosemarymelgar6382]

I love watching your tutorials. Im considering joining your patron group. I've just purchased Earthberry pastels and I mentioned that I found out about them from your great demonstration of the pastels. I live in Spain and look forward to using them. I'm learning a lot as a beginner. Thank you so much for all you are teaching me.

[@DDartlover8888]

Many good tips, as usual. I will remember the butterfly!

[@jilld8787]

Wonderful demo. Many thanks. Great info. 🎉

[@kei_art_life]

The expression of the grass that has more presence than the grass in the photo is beautiful. 🌿🌿🌿✨ Mutual harmony should be emphasized🐥. Good quality pastel landscape paintings💮. you did a good job👍

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you! I appreciate your kind feedback!

[@1DaTJo]

An excellent lesson and a beautiful painting. Thank you Karen. You make it look so easy until I try to do it myself! I hope that with persistence I will one day be an adept like you, Karen 💖

[@KarenMargulis]

You can do it! keep painting!

[@1DaTJo]

@@KarenMargulis thank you for your encouragement Karen. Blessings from Australia 💖

[@monev4456]

So beautiful!!🌻

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you! 😊

[@christinaanthony7531]

Great video, thank you!

[@patriciamacpherson6113]

I didn’t think you could pull it off. Lol Good job.

[@joaniemiller4362]

Very nice painting and instruction

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😊

[@johannarenee522]

Karen I love your willingness to experiment. Really inspiring for me. Beautiful painting. Thank you for showing us these tips

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@user-ng3op4mp7o]

Спасибо!!! Как всегда, замечательно!!! 👍👍👍

[@artist_ElenaTyurina]

Thanks for sharing your experiment! I have now also begun my experiments with alcohol in pastel painting!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching!!

[@loberuth]

Just marvellous, both as a painting and a teaching! I thought each stage of your painting was already a beautiful and artistic picture. I love how you developed the painting. Also I greatly enjoy listening to you! Thans a lot!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀 I appreciate your feedback!

[@rzrr41]

Love it gracias

[@judyt4087]

Thank you Karen, I love your demos and this is no exception 😍

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you very much!

[@antoinettegeraci4133]

Thank you. You make it look so easy! Love your tips

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching!

[@kareng3655]

Great painting! Great teaching, as always. Thanks Karen!

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@petrajimenez7323]

Wonderful painting ! Great teaching ! Thank you .

[@KarenMargulis]

Many thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@lyneqc7805]

Lovely lesson, thank you for sharing

[@KarenMargulis]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!!

[@viviandibrell849]

Wow! So beautiful and well explained. You are inspiring!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@prayalways-]

you make me want to paint again 😍

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much for watching! I hope you do!

[@kathyswearingen1509]

Thank you beautiful and I always learn. I'm trying!

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thank for watching!

[@jeannerenaud2357]

Magnifique, Karen, merci💛💛💛

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you very much!

[@juliebolton2446]

Wonderful x

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you! 😊

[@barbarascott1774]

Thanks Karen, brilliant, you share so much if you haven’t but the dirt in as your base would you go over the colours you have so you have the lovely dark colours then continue, and thanks for drawing our eye around your beautiful work.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you for watching and for your feedback!

[@catinlapin619]

Beautiful art ~♡ thank you Karen

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you for watching!

[@catinlapin619]

@@KarenMargulis 🙏 you give the best tips! I love your teachings ☆~

[@DenaLackey]

Thanks!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you Dena!! Your support is much appreciated!!

[@rosaliefunk1629]

So beautiful. You make it look so easy. Did spraying the rubbing alcohol give the paper more tooth? I like running my not so good paintings under a faucet to rinse off the pastel. I dry them flat between newspaper. After they’re dry, it seems that they have enough tooth for a second, or occasionally a third painting. I use UArt 320.

[@KarenMargulis]

It does give back some tooth but not like the original grit. I have also washed them off but I like the muddy color from the alcohol over the pastel!

[@rosaliefunk1629]

Thank you Karen. I love that you answer the questions others ask. I appreciate you.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

I feel quite dusty with grit 500 and above while p400 grit sandpaper is ok in soft pastels.is it true?

[@mitrasalehreyhani3131]

As usual, awesome. I don't have hard pastels. All I have is a lot of soft ones. Is it a must to have hard pastels for pastel painting?

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching! You dont need hard pastels but if you tend to be heavy handed they are helpful!!

[@robertradocha6871]

💕💯🎨🎨🎨

[@marisinfarb6258]

Dear Karen, my husband is your biggest fan. He is physically disabled and pastel painting is his true passion and salvation... He is using Terry Ludwig soft pastels and Blair low odor workable fixative-- all the materials you recommend in your tutorial videos. That fixative specific fixative has been discontinued by the company, and we can not find it at any stores, not even online. My husband has tried every fixative to substitute it, but so far none of them produce the desired effect... Have you found an alternative that works as well as that Blair workable low odor fixative? What would you recommend? Thank you in advance 🙏💕 Maria

[@KarenMargulis]

Hi Maria, thank you for asking! And thank you so much to your husband for watching my videos. Unfortunately I have not found a replacement yet. I need to do more research and experiments but I will certainly do a video to share what I find. I still have a can so I need to work on it !!! Thanks again, Karen

[@marisinfarb6258]

@@KarenMargulis Thank you! Looking forward!

[@cherriecoghlan3756]

What is the best surface to use for this sort of picture?

[@KarenMargulis]

I prefer sanded pastel paper as it can take more layers and more abuse!! But I have painted similar scenes on regular unsanded paper as well!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Is it true that soft pastels best suit sanded papers and pastel pencils suit pastelmat?

[@KarenMargulis]

Good question but one I don't really know a definitive answer since I don't work with pastel pencils. I would imagine the Pastelmat would be easier on the pencils.

[@ernestvenn8291]

could you use clear gesso

[@KarenMargulis]

Yes, absolutely and I do that a lot especially when I want more grittiness!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Karen, is it true that realism isnt important in soft pastels but it becomes true with pastel pencils?

[@KarenMargulis]

I have seen amazing photo realistic works done with soft pastels so I would say it is up to the artist and how they like to work. Both tools get realism.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Karen ...is it true that soft pastels are better on UART sanded papers than pastelmat? While pastel pencils are better on pastelmat?

[@KarenMargulis]

Soft pastels work beautifully on all papers including non traditional papers . It depends on the artist and their way of mark making. I always encourage students to experiment with a range of materials to see what works best for them.

[@1DaTJo]

@sujanith I find my paintings turn out best on sanded paper - it’s my favourite. Yet many people prefer Pastelmat. As Karen advises, trying different surfaces is good. So far for me, Luxarchival sanded paper is the best.

[@artgirl6784]

I thought it was an apple at first.