How to paint skies in pastel

How to paint demonstration, using Unison Pastels. A landscape painting showing you how to paint skies and demonstrating techniques for creating moods and atmosphere

[@EpicPainter]

Your work is amazing. I admire artists that have a true command of their craft.

[@MDEBonzes]

I am still amazed when I watch your videos-you convey the most emotion of any pastelist I've ever seen. I will continue to thank you for allowing us to watch the process. It is purely inspirational. In gratitude, Marlene from GA, USA

[@lesdarlow]

thanks so much

[@linuxgirl.]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been looking at your work and I think you are a master. Your instruction is priceless. Simply breathtaking.

[@stormcorrosion176]

Incredible painting sir! Artist for many years now, and I am ready "expand upon" the self-taught knowledge I have as illuatrator. Am using this tutorial to teach myself a few new things! Thanks!

[@bettysmith84]

I learn something new every time I watch your videos! Thanks so much!!!

[@LQOTW]

Holy Hannah, Mr. Darlow, this instructional video was terrific! Like many commenters, I am new to pastel use and my mind is blown by your very effective techniques. Thanks very much for sharing it with us. Cheers!

[@jekaterinanemeth3052]

У Вас эти цветные и однократно нежные сияющие в облоках где нибудь туманные и чуть яркие цвета играющие в небесах это такая Изумительная и Ослепительная Красота природы. Вы тот творческий человек которому это просто Фантастически получается!!! Если я смотрю Вашы картины я ощущаю глубокий внутерний Восторг смотря, и следуя Вас! Эти Чувства неописуемое невозможно передать их и описать! Благодарю Вас за видео! БРАВО!!! 🤩🤩🤩♥️♥️♥️💐🌺🌹🍀🎁

[@cindystennette6392]

So glad I stumbled across your video - thank you for posting it! Love your technique and instruction and the results are gorgeous. I am a big fan and will put your instruction into practice. I have never painted something like this in 20 minutes so wow...this will get exciting! :)

[@winslowdog5426]

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing. Beautiful work. Look forward to trying your technique to my work.

[@myingaet]

It helps so much when you add the audio because I gain an insight into the why of what you do.

[@evawik7044]

Wow! Wow! Wow! I love it! Beautiful!

[@antikertech157]

Your drawing is very relaxing, a place without the sounds of industry. I can feel peace when I look at it. It's wonderful! I guess that I shall do the transition from charcoal to pastel now.

[@BMCANULTY1]

Thank you for talking through the video. It helps so much.

[@karenparker4216]

Really enjoyed this...wonderful work, thank you for sharing.

[@glennypaxton7389]

Les, I'm new to pastels and tried on my second one to do a stormy sky...what a colossal mess! You make it look so easy! I am inspired to try the painting again and will use a colored background this time and watch you video right before I begin. Wish me luck!

[@lesdarlow]

It can depend on several things. The type of pastels and papers, Also how much pastel you put on...

[@debraweinmann-schmidt8464]

Thanks so much for a wonderfully detailed demonstration! I am going to try it,

[@mreinstein48]

I am speechless in front of such talent. That's it.

[@annaulu5396]

Amazing! I'm a new fan, you have great skills!

[@lindamlynch]

Thank you. The explanation was most helpful. Beautiful!

[@evawik7044]

I am just amazed to see you work, make me happy ❤️

[@andremendes7147]

I love your work! You have the best pastel works that I could find on youtube! But man, this noise its the fan of your pc?! so strong! LOL

[@JoCastilloArt]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing.

[@brownmommy13]

Thank you sir for a wonderful painting! You are an inspiration...

[@mihaelagimlin]

Your work is wonderful!

[@JFTL81]

I would totally be interested in an extended real-time video lesson on your process. With close ups and everything.

[@bentleysarts]

y nice work les love you inspire us all!

[@rebeccawong1]

Master at work 👍🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@scottishwifie14]

Beautiful painting thanks for sharing

[@deborahedwards6116]

Wish I could hear what you are saying. Love how you work with light!

[@mandymarsh7407]

All I can say is beautiful

[@johnsonedward6872]

WOW, It doesn't get any better than that!!! I'm 71 years old, and have done only 1 successful (to "my" satisfaction), Pastel Painting and it was a "surrealistic painting". I really "want" to paint in "clouds over water in Pastels, and I have all the supplies for about any medium, but can't seem to motivate myself- probably because I'm worried about failure.? Ed Johnson in Florida

[@lesdarlow]

ya gotta try man,, paint every day , you have all the best clouds over there

[@patxigregor7395]

super prestation avec une maitrise parfaite des outils j'adore

[@heidyedmistonbarros7528]

Beautiful 💚

[@rosamargaritagurrusquietaa3451]

Me encantó. Gracias

[@maryayris6295]

Hello Les. Great demo as usual, but only just come up on my you tube. Just sit back goggle eyed watching you! All the best, Mary from Cyprus.

[@lesdarlow]

HI Mary, its about a year old that.. Crickey

[@alankingwell]

Brilliant Les,,,Great music too ;0)

[@alicemgegers3744]

I am new in pastels, your technique is great and your paint gorgeous, I never could imagine would be possible to make such techl painting with pastels, I wonderfuld like to know which paper you use. Thank you and congratulations.

[@lesdarlow]

Canson Mi Teintes Alice Marques... World leaders in Fine art paper manufacture/.

[@ayanoaishi9596]

♥Wow, Talent♥

[@brendamurphy7192]

Loved your paintings. Please could you let me know when you have a Dvd out. I shall be patiently waiting! Unfortunately, I live in Cornwall - too far for me to attend one of your Workshops. Brenda M.

[@brendamurphy7192]

Brenda Murphy - I tried to send you an email with my email address at [e-mail] but it just keeps coming back. Something is wrong.

[@daniellemagne6283]

Quel talent 👏🏻🙋‍♀️

[@iryna5071]

beautiful)))

[@inspirationy3012]

Wonderful painting and demonstration!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Its really helpful and inspiring! i just have two questions: u said u r using Canson paper. Is it the regular one or mi-tientes touch (with sanded texture)? Cause it looks like u r applying many layers of pastel and your paper holds it perfectly, which is hard to do with regular canson. And also what color of paper is that? its not black i guess. Is it some sort of grey?? Thank you so much again !!

[@christenclemins2506]

Gorgeous. And I love your blending. I didn't catch what kind of paper you are using?

[@claresmith4721]

Thank you so much for sharing, you are very generous :-)

[@debrajhalder1621]

very beautiful

[@TatianaToutheou]

You very good feeling colors - super

[@ketakig2876]

I liked your artworks they are awesome! How do you preserve them? I tried using various fixatives but somehow I did't like the end result after using it. Using fixative changes colour values in painting plus sometime my painting looses finer details. Please suggest me the solution.

[@lesdarlow]

don't fix

[@farnazsadat8351]

thank you for vonderful painting

[@lesdarlow]

Canson Mi-Teintes Indigo colour

[@danielledecavallla]

Superb

[@foreropa]

great video, thank you for sharing. Its a shame its a bit out of focus or the resolution is not the best, I don´t know, but great anyway, and the work, wonderful!!

[@kevinmorales8094]

Are you using unison pastels on this painting? Becuase I saw something in the opening video a different Brand... also what soft pastel do you most use for painting that u most do??

[@maldoori238]

I love the painting it is fabulous. Please can you play it at normal speed ? Please?

[@hyacinthdibley]

Hello. I have a quick question: Are these pastels dry or oil pastels? You seem to blend them in with one another so effortlessly. Thanks so much. :)

[@lesdarlow]

dry pastel/ don't overblend, it kills colour and you end up with a muddy mess

[@eddiebear34]

Do you reckon I could get a similar outcome using pastel pencils? Pitt pastels, Faber castel....

[@Stargazer932]

Hi Les, this is fantastic! I just got a box of sennelier extra soft pastels because I've as told they were good. I tried doing this picture and ended up just making a right mess as there's so much pigment in my fingers. how do you do this without cleaning your fingers constantly? which pastels do you use? is this picture possible with my set? feel like I wasted money

[@lesdarlow]

Thanks, you've not wasted your money, they are very soft and need some thought when using them you can I achieve, but harder pastels I find easier, I use Unison, Rembrandt and a few other harder ones. I would be tempted to fix lighter layers as I went along with sennelier. to prevent muddiness

[@carloscamposdominguez1328]

excelente

[@skwidvishus1188]

Do you prefer working on dark paper or light paper? OR does it depend on what you're painting? And why? Much respect.

[@lesdarlow]

Dark paper.. I use the colour of the paper as a underpainting.. a base colour some of show through in parts

[@YESiiLLzMUSIC]

Les Darlow Hi Les, What are your tips on starting with mid yellow paper painting skies instead of dark paper? (ran out of all my dark blue sand paper and dont want to waste these) thanks!

[@lesdarlow]

you just have to use that colour within your painting, need to be the main presence colour.. part of your painting//

[@digiphot2]

Hi Les: How do you do with blustery surf and waves crashing against the rocks? In other words....Water misbehaving badly, under the cloudy skies, with reflections too! How about pastel pencil demonstration interspersed with the soft pastels, in the same piece? Just curious!!

[@nerueru5756]

Wonderful video. I envy artists that can use their fingers for blending TT_TT It would help me a lot.

[@azong98]

谢谢。Vielen Dank aus Deutschland.

[@SaundraH1485]

what type of canvas do I use soft pastels on? total beginner

[@lesdarlow]

Canson cotton papers are amazing// and micro abrasive surfaces.. Anything that has a tooth for the pastel to adhere to.

[@OakplaysCGaming965]

Les Darlow, I have some paper that I was using for oil painting. It's 240gsm and says it's made from cotton fibre. It's certainly has some tooth and roughness to it, so I have a question, would it be good for Pastels?

[@alexjb99]

What kind of pastel are you using?

[@15x3equalsgrace4]

Hi, what can you put on a pastel drawing to stop it from smudging

[@SaundraH1485]

Wax paper, like use in kitchen

[@ler5299]

Wow. All I can say is, wow. Amazing! I'd be doing well to blend colors without getting mud. =/

[@lesdarlow]

don't overblend, that all

[@YellowandBlue01]

what paper do you use ?

[@skwidvishus1188]

Respectfully, Have you any videos in HD?

[@lesdarlow]

Around 3 -4 week one should be out.,. Lots of work involved in one... Been at it for over 4 months so far. If you have subscribed to me on You Tube, then when i do post about it you should get an email .. Thanks

[@digiphot2]

I can't seem to find a download picture area on your site...Do you have an email site?

[@LiteOfArt]

What kind of paper are you using ?

[@lesdarlow5681]

canson mi teintes

[@digiphot2]

Are you strictly a sky kinda guy? Have you ever delved into abstract or impressionism painting styles? If so, could you do a couple out of the sky realm impressionistic pieces for you tube? Or explain your color pallet and color schemes that you make your sky pieces from? Seems like you are an analogous with one natural kind of painter. I am studying all facets of painting with pastels and seem to be bending towards impressionism and the CMY/RGB color wheel, and a lot of raw and hot color schemes...but you can't see it yet with my second painting. I will attempt to show you a pre directed painting and the over painted final or almost finished piece. It is of the North Head Light House at the mouth of the Columbia river, here in Washington, State on the Left Coast!

[@MrC-yh8yx]

Love the way you keep looking up at the original photograph. LOL Copy copy copy.

[@stergiazotali2282]

Nice work but it would have been more helpful, if the camera was focusing on the board while you're working.

[@sylvianblue]

20 minutes?!!!

[@digiphot2]

Les: I have a clue now! Practice and emulating your style should help! Right? Thanks!

[@lesdarlow]

Thanks Brenda. You never know. Whats your email and I will contact you in a couple of weeks when its ready .

[@maryayris6295]

Tempis fugis

[@lesdarlow]

Hi Brenda, i am receiving other emails via my account, ???

[@lesdarlow]

+Les Darlow dry pastel, thanks

[@jamiecanfield1624]

Beautiful painting but I can barely hear your description over the annoying and unnecessary background music!

[@vishveshtadsare3160]

Boy, how are you doing without mask?

[@thepochade5992]

If your intention is to share your technique then what is the purpose of embedding a distracting thumbnail video of yourself talking !? A voice over would have sufficed.

[@geot4647]

Why not add some giant wind turbines to "improve" upon that landscape? After all, they're "beautiful" according to their tunnel-visioned proponents.