BIGGEST MISTAKES for PASTEL BEGINNERS! // & How To Avoid Them!

[@user-bk1qm2jt3m]

It’s like magic when you blend it it suddenly go from one painting to another. I’ve never really drawn with pastels before this video was really helpful!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you so much 😀

[@barbarabrittain198]

0⁰

[@dannyolortegui3776]

​@@KirstyRebeccaFineArtWhat about Marker paper? It seems toothy enough

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@dannyolortegui3776 which marker paper? All of the marker papers I've seen are the complete opposite and are the smoothest, least toothy papers I've ever come across so the markers look smooth and blend well

[@juliasmith5627]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to me with advice!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you, I appreciate it! 😊

[@Cascada200]

Thank you so much! Very informative. I’m primarily a colored pencil user, but very interested in playing with pastel pencils for animals

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I'm glad it was helpful! 😊

[@lindamelanson5063]

I'm just starting to learn how to paint in pastels and your videos are really helpful.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad they are helpful! 😊

[@janelowe3933]

Really helpful video, thank you. 😊

[@stinar37]

Excellent video! I am new to the medium and greatly appreciate your sharing lessons learned the hard way, so we don’t make the same mistakes. 🙏🙏

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are so welcome!

[@lenacraib1549]

I really can't thank you enough for sharing such valuable tips, you help us from your experience from many mistakes that cost money and time. ❤

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Happy to help!:)

[@msouzamp1]

Dera Kirsty, i am from Brazil. I’m very pleased with your tutorial. I did my first pastel pencil art copying exactly your art in this vídeo. I feel soooooo good and proud. This is helping ti treat my depression. Thank you so much. I hope God blesses even more your talent

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

That makes me so happy to hear! I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@SallyCook-tt7rm]

I learned that I need her pastel pan set and the poster board paper. Also I like the fable Castell pencils the stabios and the conte air pencils. So the twenty color pan set and at least a starter set of each pencil set off her site will get you going.

[@nativepiano]

Thank you very much for these warnings, I'll definitely keep them in mind 😊

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're so welcome! 😊

[@jocummins8064]

So much information in a short succinct video. Excellent. Love your Patreon channel.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad you enjoy it! 😊

[@lollyy3505]

So many great tips! Thank you!!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are so welcome!

[@helenarichard]

I love pastelmat but i can give you a tip. If you use etching paper, you can blend super well. There is zero grain in the paper so everything looks photo realistic and you dont get dust. The only downside is low grip

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Good to know!

[@helenarichard]

​@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt If your pastel is well pigmented and you can work clean, it can give amazing effect and it works so fast cause it blends like a dream. Like drawing on a cloud.

[@d1ummer]

Thank you so much for really useful tips I am going to put into practice. Much obliged!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're so welcome!

[@peggyscott4791]

Thank you - you have been very helpful for this begins in pastels and I love your work

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou, glad you found it helpful :)

[@ZeeZoneZunshine]

Could you share which projector you use? I am trying to buy one but some artists say that some projectors don't focus on a small area like a A4 paper. Do you have any recommendations for which projector to use?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I have the Pico Genie 4.0 (there is a 2.0 and a 3.0 version which I know other artists have and they also work well) It's definitely not cheap, but in comparison to other art projectors, it's very reasonably priced! I have a code if you want 10 pounds off your chosen projector as well (KRFINEART) - it's an affiliate link personalprojector.co.uk/products/pico-genie-impact-2-0-ultra-portable-smart-projector?ref=KRFINEART I do plan on making a video in the future about how to use it properly because it can be a bit confusing, but in the meantime if you search that projector on KZbin, there are a few good videos that can help you 😊

[@ZeeZoneZunshine]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt Oh I was hoping for sth cheaper cause you mentioned in the video that you got it for 50 bucks or so. But thanks for the recommendation and for replying!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@ZeeZoneZunshine oh, the projector I used in this video is useless - It doesn't have a brand name on it because it was a gift (it's supposed to be a portable thing to use for camping) It is so pixelated and dark that you cannot see any details whatsoever so I'm literally only using it for the placement of the subject and freehanding in all of the details - so I definitely wouldn't recommend it

[@ZeeZoneZunshine]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt Okay thanks, good to know! I guess I'll have to save up some more money to buy a slightly more expensive one.

[@andymorrall]

Great tutorial, thanks. For Tip 4, I used the same colours for the initial sketch and going over it to press down the lines, which meant I forgot bits because they looked the same. Now I use a different colour the second time, so I can make sure I got everything.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

No problem, glad you found it useful! I forgot to mention to use a different colour than your sketch! And to tape down the reference in a way that you can lift it and see if all your lines are there before you remove it completely 😊

[@Tililiish]

Layering is the key! Beautiful example here. I am always do astonished that people put only two payers of pencil pastels and they are done. Some paintings miss the depth you achieved here. Sorry for my French-English if I made mistakes. Oh and you talk so much haha I love your work. You gained a new follower here. 😊

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Your English is great! Yes, I believe layering gives more depth and makes it look more realistic 😊 Also, I talk a lot in KZbin tutorials so people don't get bored haha

[@NIEBIESKIERĘKAWICZKI]

🥰 I like the way you talk and explain pieces of information about drawing. Thank you so much for sharing this priceless knowledge with us :) 🥰

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Norfolk250]

Thank you for this. I am so new to pastels that I haven't even tried the set of 90 pencils (DERWENT) I was gifted this afternoon. I've had very little experience with the primary school type, and generally draw with black ink with a 005 nib, so, I came to KZbin to find advice on how to attempt my first tries at it. I have an appreciation for the information you gave, and will use almost every bit of it! Seriously!! Joe Guelph, Ontario

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are very welcome, I'm glad it's helpful! Have fun with your new pastels 😊

[@BDFRHT]

Absolutely stunning ! Thanks for sharing

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@KittyWhiskers99]

Thanks for this video. I just bought some pastel pencils and grey paper as I've never used them before but really like the look of it. I found this video most helpful and your art is amazing!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@juancalzada2294]

Wow, 😱 felicidades mi artista favorita 💐😉

[@feralfreebirds]

Thanks for all the tips, im determined to master pastels for some of my art, and havent been getting very good results, so found you on here just, i'll keep drawing and practising :)

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome! I hope my tutorials can be helpful for you 😊

[@feralfreebirds]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt *X*

[@terrydelord761]

OMG! This is amazing! I'm looking to learn how to start this, and boy oh boy you give fantastic advice to follow. I'll probably watch be watching all of these over again and again. Thank you, your work is famulus!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome, I'm glad the tutorials are helpful 😊

[@prawnstar470]

I've never had transfer paper, so I've always done my sketch on separate paper, then coated the back of it with pastel. Then I lightly place it on my final paper, tape it down, and then go over the original line really hard with a dark pencil. It transfers the lines pretty well! I've also used fine point alcohol markers because they dry down to the original texture fairly well but I have found that they can be prone to shining through :)

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I tell people to do that quite often, it works well 😊

[@bricraig100]

Thank you so much for these tips! I’ve been drawing my whole life but only in lead so I’m starting pastel drawings with my grandfathers pencils ☺️

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome! I'm glad it helped :)

[@jonmorgan-parker4209]

Priceless advice...thank you soooo much!x

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are so welcome!

[@donnascully4165]

I am so glad I found your videos. Wow! Great info! Thank you!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SaraMakesArt]

I really love the shine you got on the eye here. The tip to blend between layers was very helpful. I wouldn't have thought to do that. How do charcoal and pastel work together?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou 😊 I haven't tried it but I think it would be fine! Although I wouldn't think there would be a reason to use both together because you could use black pastel which will give you a similar result to charcoal (you can lay a light layer of pastel and blend it for lighter shades and add more layers for darker shades) 😊

[@Krookavan]

Some good tips there, thanks 👍🏻

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome! 😊

[@rauchschwalbelp7693]

I saw on a different tutorial that you could add really fine details with coloured pencils to pastel drawings. 😍

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Yes, you can definitely do that! Some people use the Pastelmat paper (which I have used in this tutorial) with pastel and coloured pencil but I find it doesn't work very well on this paper, in my opnion! I prefer using the pastels with coloured pencil on Luxarchival sanded paper because it allows more layers so the coloured pencil "sticks" a bit bette! I actually have a tutorial explaining all of my thoughts here; kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4K9eXp9isuFd9U

[@alanhossack4674]

Just starting out on this journey. Have been using coloured pencil up til now but will certainly try pastel and of course join your community to get even more help. Thank you so much.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Wonderful!

[@joycewickman3249]

Your work is beautiful. Thanks for your great instruction !

[@Morticia147]

I love PastelMatt Paper it's so versatile, I like it for Watercolor Pencils and Colored Pencils as well. You also can tone your white Paper to the color you like, either with a thin wash of Acrylics or Watercolor. Therfore it would be enough to buy withe paper and tone it as needed.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Same here! I use it for graphite, charcoal, watercolour pencil and coloured pencil 😊 I haven't tried toning the paper before but I have seen other people do it with gouache so maybe I'll try one day!

[@mspocahontas46]

Great information!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@doreenlorenzo2501]

Your work is exquisite!Just beautiful!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you so much!

[@FIZZGIG-RARF]

I got so into the video that i literally blew on my phone to try to get rid of the black dust that built up around the iris! 😂😂😂 this is just amazing! Very good thorough tutorial 👌 😊

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊 Haha I'm trying to avoid blowing pastel dust, so I know how hard it is to stop doing that (it's automatic but also not a great habit to have 😅)

[@freyaforestmusic]

Excellent thanks so much

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it helped

[@AliAkbar-oh5dy]

This was very informative thanks so much, def going to invest on pastel mat because im used to canson and daler rowney toned paper. #keepinspiring #keepcreating

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful! 😊

[@AliAkbar-oh5dy]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt it sure was i just subbed to your content thanks mate. ❤

[@nidhibtsarmyandblink7435]

its mind blowing awesome🙏

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊

[@SallyCook-tt7rm]

I'm going to try a Derwent pastel set. Because I've never tried a soft core pastel pencils.

[@nicolem376]

I would give this more than one thumbs up if I could. Very helpful! TY

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lenacraib3545]

Thank you so so much for your help. ❤️

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are so welcome!

[@lindseymerts2551]

I really want to start with pastels but I'm a little bit scared of ruining the whole thing. So thank you for this video! Now I know what for kind of mistakes I dont want to make 😊

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad you found it helpful! Pastels are really great once you get to know them 😊 I have a lot of pastel videos on my channel that may help you out as well!

[@ptaylor4923]

Lindsey, a long time ago... Looong time ago, at least 58 years, Larry Heller, in Colorado Springs, said to me, "Don't ever be afraid to try changing something, or ruining something. You'll always learn something and can always do it over." 😉

[@clearwater7000]

Thank you soo much!💓

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome 😊

[@liminalgriffin8419]

Amazing video, thank you! I’m so glad I found it BEFORE I went off buying supplies to begin my new pastels adventure. Look forward to watching more of your videos - immensely grateful, thanks again!!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are so welcome!

[@klaselart]

Do you ever offer in person classes?

[@rchines1975]

Kirsty, thank you soooo much for this great informative video. I love your work!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are so welcome!

[@MT-bc6xf]

Thank you. Super helpful.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome 😊

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Helpful, as usual. If the pastel stops sticking to the paper, when rubbed, is that the signal that it can't hold that layer? Is the signal when you have a lot of dust to blow off? I'm finding it hard to tell where I've reached that point where I've run out of layers for my paper or whether it's just the pastels behaving normally. If I spray workable fixative on it, can I add a couple more layers to paper?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I'm glad it was helpful! I wouldn't suggest rubbing your artwork to see if there's too much pastel there (you could potentially damage or drawing this way) You can usually tell if you've got too much pastel on your paper when your pastel pencil won't stick on top anymore - it almost scrapes off the previous layer rather than adding pastel on top (I hope that makes sense) You can try using a workable fixative but keep in mind a lot of fixatives tend to cause more problems than they solve. If you're going to try a fixative I would suggest using the Spectrafix (it's the only brand I have found that doesn't alter the colours of your artwork too much but it also doesn't completely fix the pastel down either so it may not help you dramatically) I don't really use fixative for my pastel works because I don't want to risk ruining my artwork -so I have gotten used to how much pastel I need to lay down in each layer over time - it just takes a little bit of practice to work out how much pastel you can lay down without filling up the tooth of the paper I hope that helps 😊

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt Thank you for that info.

[@aideshellstrom9155]

YOUR ART IS IMPRESSIVE. How to protect the paint or what varnish do you use?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊 I don't use any fixative on my pastel artwork because most of them cause more problems than they solve! They can darken or yellow the artwork, or cause splatters/droplets and most don't actually "fix" the pastel anyway If you use the same supplies I am using, and frame/store your work correctly, there isn't much dust fall-off compared to normal pastel sticks and if you use museum glass when framing, it will protect the artwork well, so you don't need fixative 😊

[@aideshellstrom9155]

When I placed the fixate on a drawing I damaged it, the dust was ruined and many drops remained. I am new to this branch and I wanted to start practicing with the material I have to see the results. It's very cute, I like it a lot and I've bought the fixates but they don't work. Thank you very much for answering me. I keep imitating you. Thanks for showing your videos. 🙃

[@donnahedrick7578]

Thank You so very much!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome!

[@lefthandstory1280]

Great sharing friend,beautiful❤️❤️...

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@titus4166]

Couple of tips: if you use the Faber Castell sharpener, it sharpens the pastel pencils to perfection. I use carbothello and Faber Castell pastel pencils in the sharpener only. It’s magic! 2nd tip option for “tracing” or transferring image: I use the De Vinci Eye AR App on my iPad or iPhone, it’s wonderful! And don’t have to bother with tracing papers or with coloring the back of your image to transfer it to the paper. You can zoom in for detail and all that, it’s awesome. Hope these tips help.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Which Faber Castell sharpener is that? I actually tried the app and couldn't get my brain to work it out haha but you're the second person in a week that has mentioned it, so I must give it another try! 😊

[@titus4166]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt www.fabercastell.com/products/grip-trio-pencil-sharpener-silver-283898?variant=30328600985655&currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAiAxKv_BRBdEiwAyd40N4Z1VTpfXT9VIyr0ln0EGZCmFSJs2aEIL2oFADRyI3PhM0ktIdxPiRoCTKEQAvD_BwE

[@titus4166]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt and yeah DVE app can be a challenge at first. Just like anything, have to train the brain. I’d start with something simple, like a flower. Something with easy lines to help the brain get use to the tech.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

​@@titus4166 I actually have 3 of those because I found that they worked fantastically, for a short period of time, then the blades got blunt within a few months I also run woodless graphite pencils through them and make sure I brush off the blades etc but I had the same problem as every other sharpener, unfortunately! I have honestly yet to find one that is "perfect" for pastel pencils, which is why I just use a knife instead now I do a lot of drawings, so it may be the amount that I use the sharpeners, so if it works for you for a longer period of time, then that's great! I still use those sharpeners for graphite and other kinds of pencils though 😊

[@mariafitzgerald2895]

Hi Kirsty, looking at your 20 colour pan pastel set, what pencils should I buy and what range of colours should I buy with this set to match of pan pastels ? I assume I would need pencils as well.thanks in advance !

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Hi Maria, I would purchase the largest set of pastel pencils you can afford so you have a good variety 😊 My favourite brands are Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils or Stabilo Carbothello (they are very similar but have different colours between the two brands)

[@jcepri]

Great video. There seem to be so few artists on YT who use oil pastels. I have to wonder why. Kirsty, have you tried the oil pastels? If so, why do you choose soft pastels? Thanks.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊 I haven't tried them, but I believe soft pastels are easier to control (especially the Pan Pastels and pastel pencils) which means I can add quite a lot of thin layers which is how I prefer to work

[@reneewant6408]

This has been super helpful. I want to start trying pastels I have the sticks but never knew how to use them. I might invest in pencils. They seem to have more stability.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful! The pencils definitely give you a bit more control (and they're a lot less messy!)

[@reneewant6408]

Kirsty Rebecca Fine Art I’m going to go to eckersleys tomorrow. I’m in Sydney. Do you have a good art store that I can get them from.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@reneewant6408 I'm honestly not familiar with Sydney stores (I'm in Adelaide) but I actually get a lot of my supplies online at either www.theartshop.com.au or www.jacksonsart.com (the second is UK based but they have more variety of products at quite a reasonable price, even if you pay for shipping!)

[@reneewant6408]

Kirsty Rebecca Fine Art ok thanks will check both out as well as all my locals and go from there. Now as a ‘newbie’ I’ll try my best. I’ll tag you and join your patreon too. 😃

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@reneewant6408 you're welcome 😊 I'd love to see what you create, and it will be lovely to have you on Patreon!

[@unmontondecosas1425]

It's amazing, I like

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊

[@something5878]

Thank you for giving us such great useful tips! I just bought the Stabilo pastel pencils and I’m wondering on what paper I should use. Is there a great substitute or alternative to PastelMat? Again, I found your video really helpful! Thank you!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I honestly do recommend Pastelmat (it's a very unique surface - there's nothing else like it) The paper makes a huge difference with pastels because you won't be able to achieve the same results on other papers, unfortunately! If you are on a budget, I would still choose Pastelmat and maybe get a smaller set of pastels (you can blend them to make other colours) until you can afford to add more pastels to your set over time Although Pastelmat is a little more expensive than other papers, it's 100% worth it in my opinion 😊 If you compare it to the cost of purchasing a decent canvas for oil/acrylic for example, it is actually quite reasonable for the results you get with it

[@ces_arevalo]

AMAZING VIDEO! ❤️Worth to watch! I thought I was just gonna do skips when I first viewed it, but nah, I ended up watching it full, TWICE ❤️Such an inspiration! Thanks for this video!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juliasmith5627]

With the cost of the clairefontaine pastelmat, I'm wondering if I should start with a set of Polychromos or Prismacolor. But I love the idea of using panpastels (impatience with backgrounds) and pastel pencils (I'd get the Faber Castell Pitt ones). They all have their pros and cons. What do you think is the most affordable in terms of supplies needed for the best result? I live in NZ and tend to use Amazon Australia. I guess my main issue is the clairefontaine pastelmat is too expensive for me to practice on. Are their alternatives that won't result in frustration?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Honestly, with pastels, I only recommend Clairefontaine Pastelmat - there really is no other paper like it! I know it's more expensive but it's cheaper than good quality canvases if you compare it to acrylic/oil painting - that's how I like to justify it haha I'd recommend buying a smaller set of pencils/pan pastels if you're trying to save some money, and spend the money on good quality paper instead - that's the most important supply when it comes to pastel For coloured pencil, you can use a few different papers that are cheaper - I use Pastelmat sometimes, but I also use Canson Mi Teintes, and Arches hot pressed watercolour paper - it's a bit more flexible than pastel I'm not sure if www.softpastels.com.au ship to NZ but that's usually where I get my Pastelmat - it's more affordable to buy larger sheets and cut them down to size 😊

[@denisapetras1]

Thanks! I had wrong paper and wrong pensils. How can I use that paper which is more grainy?? I have it already at home.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome 😊 Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking! If you already have Pastelmat at home, then you can follow the techniques in some of my other videos 😊

[@kathygore6615]

great tips - I also regret buying both Rembrandt and Art Spectrum soft pastels

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Yeah, I still use them sometimes, but only in my very last layer if I need a strong highlight or vibrant colour! The set looks brand new still 😔 But this is why I'm making these videos, to try and inform people of different options before they waste their money!

[@abdouart8287]

Can i mix polychromos pencils with tjose pitt pastel pencils? Thank you for the video

[@jordanfox3012]

I've been using the wrong paper. I always seem to get that grainy effect. So i will be investing in some Claire Fontaine Pastelmat in the future. Thanks for the tips

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

It definitely makes a huge difference! 😊

[@alexandermagalhaes1026]

hello Rebecca how are you, I'm an artist here in Barsil and I would like to know if you could help me with some information? what paper did you use to make this drawing with the Pastel technique... what is the name of the pad or sheet? thanks in advance

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

The paper is Clairefontaine Pastelmat in the colour Dark Grey 😊 There are links to all of the supplies in the description

[@ave_rie]

I wish there were more alternatives to Pastelmat 😭 All I want is a sketchbook version of the Pastelmat pads. Which tone/color of Pastelmat pad would you recommend? I’m not quite sure if I should get one of their pads or buy several sheets of just one color.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I use any of the mid-tone colours (dark grey, brown, sienna etc) I generally cover my whole piece in pastel so it doesn't make too much of a difference which colour I use, but I do prefer the mid-tone because it's easier to add light and dark colours and see your values better 😊

[@ave_rie]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt thanks so much! 😊

[@attheranch4876]

Good advice.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cbta1585]

Well done, clear and enough detailed. I really appreciate your video, thank you from a Beginner :) - Mauro

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You are welcome! 😊

[@joesalvo3384]

Great video!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊

[@ronaldl9085]

Thank you!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome 😊

[@hollieridges220]

Very helpful

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it helped 😊

[@TanyaElbournArt]

great tips!!!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juul7737]

Great tips! Would you make a video to show us mixing lots of colors with the five you mentioned?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou 😊 I do actually have a video about that! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYW2ZIWcpNydfLM

[@aydinbekoglu]

Very good! But in my place, artists have a difficult life because for example, clairfontaine pastelmat is so expensive you can eat 2 people full dinner in a restaurant. Just one or two pages that is. I use watercolour paper, even that is expensive.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Yes it's definitely not cheap! In Australia, Pastelmat is also expensive but it's honestly the most important pastel supply! If people want to save money, I always suggest getting the Pastelmat but buy a smaller set of pastels instead 😊

[@mikesturgess2676]

I've just got a set of Derwent Pastel Pencils. I live in Derby and the Derwent runs through own town centre.

[@TobiasBe83]

Hi, Kirsty :) Useful video as ever! The outlining is a thing indeed. Usually I use a red pencil for my drawing and light it up with a kneaded eraser. As you said graphite is too strong, I experienced good results with the red-pencil-method but at the end its a matter of taste I think. I hope you are well. lg

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou 😊 Yeah that would work as well! Basically anything that doesn't look like a harsh outline would be good 😊 And you're right, it's a matter of opinion and what each individual artist likes 😊 I'm doing well, hope you're okay too!

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Can you get fine details on the original Art Spectrum colourfix paper? I think it's medium tooth as opposed to the later version called 'smooth'. HOw many layers are possible with Canson Mi Teint? Can you use the smooth side and still get a few layers or would I have to use the rougher side?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I haven't tried that paper specifically (the older version) You can try out other papers to see if they will work for you but I have never come across any other paper that works as well as Pastelmat does! The paper makes a huge difference with pastels because you won't be able to achieve the same results on other papers, unfortunately! If you are on a budget, I would still choose Pastelmat and maybe get a smaller set of pastels (you can blend them to make other colours) until you can afford to add more pastels to your set over time Although Pastelmat is a little more expensive than other papers, it's 100% worth it in my opinion 😊 If you compare it to the cost of purchasing a decent canvas for oil/acrylic for example, it is actually quite reasonable for the results you get with it When it comes to pastels, the only supply that I recommend you purchase is Pastelmat! All of the other supplies (brand of pastels, blenders, pastel pencils etc) can be swapped to cheaper alternatives if you wish, but definitely not the paper as you just won't be able to achieve the same results

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt Thanks for that info. I guess I'll have to try Pastelmat. Have you ever done a pastel on paper with some kind of Primer? I've noticed people on youtube using clear gesso on paper for pastels or the smooth Art Spectrum Primer on paper. I'd be interested to know if decent results are possible. I just wish Pastelmat was a bit cheaper. Thanks again for all the info. Happy 2023.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@anniedarkhorse6791 I tried Gesso once (by Art Spectrum) but it was completely different to Pastelmat and I hated it haha Honestly, I haven't found an alternative that even comes close to Pastelmat! I will continue to look, but until then, I won't recommend anything else because it really makes a huge difference 😊

[@mollyg3829]

Hey there! I am loving your videos. How do I know when the paper has reached its saturation point? I'm using traditional pastels. Thank you!!!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I'm glad you're enjoying it 😊 It's honestly just practice - you'll know when you have added too much pastel because you won't be able to add any more!

[@vallgrl2]

Lots of good ideas here

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Glad you think so!

[@loati94]

I just bought a 10 rembrandt half stick pastels set for 10€ that has the basic colors to use in color theory and I will be replacing them with open stock as I use them and adding colors in base of my preferences. But I feel that I need a basic 12 o 24 set of pencil pastels because the sticks are very chubby for details

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Yes, the sticks are a great start, but I definitely think the pencils will help with the details 😊

[@Mary-fo9bc]

thank you so much for this!! your art is absolutely gorgeous. i have Strathmore medium surface toned gray paper, would that be a bad idea to use?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊 I wouldn't recommend it for pastels, but it could work for coloured pencil/charcoal

[@patzapparoli8827]

Thank you

[@greekveteran2715]

Please, Is Pastelmat better for oil coloured pencils like Faber Castell Polychromos? If not, which paper is ideal, for those pencils using them for landscape drawing? Thanks in advance

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I use a few different papers for coloured pencils including Pastelmat, Canson Mi Teintes pastel paper (not the tex/touch version), and hot-pressed watercolour paper by Fabriano or Arches They all work differently and produce different results so it's worth trying different papers to see which one you like best 😊

[@greekveteran2715]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt Thanks for the reply! it helps a lot!

[@helenarichard]

Sticks are demi pastels dont work for backgrounds for me. The pigment gets into every little hole. I love panpastel for this. Easy to blend too.

[@andreadavis8736]

You are amazing. Thank you.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you, you're welcome 😊

[@sharklover138]

Hi Kristy! You are so talented! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us! I have a novice question. I am experimenting for the first time with pastel pencils and I find that I am getting pastel dust/smearing/smudging beyond the outline of the animal I am trying to color. How do I remove that once it has smeared beyond where it is supposed to be? Just an eraser?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You're welcome 😊 It depends what paper you are using, but if you're using Pastelmat, a kneaded/putty eraser works quite well The bad thing about pastel is that it's hard to avoid smudging which is why I don't leave the paper white - I usually cover the whole piece with pastel for this reason! That way you can cover up any mistakes with more pastel 😊

[@vcreativityline6411]

Thank you so much for your helpful tips! I have only a question to ask... In my country we don't have the pastelmatt paper, instead of it, we have canson mi teintes and canson mi teintes touch. I've bought the second. Is it as good as pastelmatt or close to it?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Mi Teintes Touch is a sanded paper (it's very different to Pastelmat) You could still do a few layers but it doesn't take as many layers as Pastelmat and it's harder to get a smoother result as well! Pastelmat can be hard to get in Australia as well and I actually buy a lot of my supplies from Jackson's in the UK (they ship world-wide) - a lot of their products are cheaper than what I can get in Australia, even with shipping costs! It's worth checking out 😊 www.jacksonsart.com/en-au/clairefontaine-pastelmat-pastel-paper-gummed-pads-360gsm-au?___store=jacksonsart_au&acc=07a96b1f61097ccb54be14d6a47439b0

[@vcreativityline6411]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt thank you so much! I'll definitely check this out

[@samg9384]

Im a begginer and l've been using a normal paper and was always disappointed with my drawings , like I didn't know if it was wrong with the pastels or my drawing style , I think I get it now how important it is to choose a good pastel paper I guess, thanks for the video !!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

It really makes a huge difference, especially for pastels 😊

[@QuimFerreira]

Hello. Is it possible to use colored pencils together with pastel pencils?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

You can do it, but I prefer to keep the two mediums separate 😊

[@Drumbeat8]

Hi Kirsty--Love your work, like some others, I'm starting out and want to delve into colour. Your tutorial is very informative--Don't suppose you hold lessons do you?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thank you 😊 I have online lessons on Patreon for as little as $4 per month You can find out more here; www.patreon.com/kirsty_rebecca_fine_art

[@EvanArtsy]

Wow that was an awesome eye!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou 😊

[@CC-ho5lw]

Such great content Kirsty. Thank you. Couple questions...you mention running a woodless pencil thru a sharpener to keep the blade sharp. What brands make woodless pencils? Also are NuPastels considered a hard or a soft pastel and can they be used as an initial under-layer for pencils -similar to how pan pastels are often used as an under-layer? Thank you‼️

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Any woodless graphite (even cheap ones from Amazon) will be fine! In Australia we have a cheap student quality brand called Mont Marte who make them There are two main types of pastels, "soft pastels" and "oil pastels" NuPastels are technically a "soft pastel" but they are definitely quite hard in comparison to other brands of pastel so I think they will work fine for an under-layer 😊

[@papillonbleu2782]

Superbe vidéo ! :)

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou 😊

[@HeatherBryant22]

Always beautiful work and congratulations on the sub count!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Thankyou! I've just hit 2000 subscribers 😲 blows my mind!

[@kayyarkham6614]

Are pastel pencils easier on your wrist then colored pencils?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

It depends how you're using coloured pencil I don't do any sort of burnishing with coloured pencil (I use solvent to blend) so I don't press hard to hurt my wrists So it's the same for me, but if you like to push hard/burnish with coloured pencil - then pastel pencils are definitely easier 😊

[@_e.nev_8560]

i just bought derwent, are you abe to make a video on a review for them? i want to know if i made the right choice..

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

I also have Derwent pastel pencils, they're great as well! I just like the Carbothello and Pitt Pastels because they feel a little creamier and have some nice colours, but you can achieve the same results with Derwent If you find that you are missing certain colours from your Derwent set, you can always just purchase individual colours from other sets to supplement them 😊

[@_e.nev_8560]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt thank you! im a bit skeptical of everything, im 14 years old and want to start commissioning, so spending 65 bucks was a bit hefty for me XD iv been drawing for years but i have no experience with pastel pencils. thats all aha. thank you!

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@_e.nev_8560 you're welcome, glad I could help! Have fun drawing 😊

[@DrowningB]

I am starting out with pastels and am completely new to this medium. I ordered a big set of 72 colors faber castell mini pastell sticks on sale for 18 euro. My question is what pencil should I get? The set of 60 from faber castell or the set of 60 from carthobello?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

That's such a good deal! Honestly, you would be happy with either of those! I use both equally! I'd probably choose whichever one is cheaper/easier to get replacement single pencils for in your country 😊

[@DrowningB]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt thank you for responding! Both are hard to get seperately here. The fabers seem to have more pretty blues and purples but ive read they are less vibrant in color. Fabers are slightly more expensive here

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@DrowningB yeah they're both great pencils! I think it depends on what subjects you do.. I do a lot of wildlife so the colours in the Faber castell set are a bit more natural, but I still use the carbothellos quite often 😊

[@DrowningB]

@@KirstyRebeccaFineArt i want to try wildlife but also cartoonish drawings like pokemon and animal crossing ^^ Which do you think would be best?

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

@@DrowningB I honestly only work in realism, so I'm not much help but I'd probably lean towards the Carbothellos because they have a few more bright colours

[@user-rm8np6dg6c]

When you say “not all pastel papers are created equal” you’re referring to the canson mi tientes pastel paper right? I will build up my layers and try to blend it in with a stub or my finger and it rubs the pigment off the paper.

[@KirstyRebeccaFineArt]

Not specifically that paper, but most papers labelled as pastel paper seem to have the same kind of texture/tooth (like Canson) where it looks grainy, doesn't take many layers, and the pastel just seems to sit on the surface which means it comes off/smudges very easily! I actually like the Canson Mi Teintes (not the Touch/Tex - just the regular pastel paper) on the smooth side for coloured pencil, but I hate it for pastel! 😊