Landscape Painting Demo - Designing With Shapes

In this video lesson we will explore the beautiful Plitvice Lakes of Croatia together. It’s a perfect opportunity to discuss how to use shapes to design a strong composition. There’s such power in simplicity, so we can let our design take center stage.
What Pastels Should I Use:
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What Pastel Paper Should I Use?
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[@Coco2345ful]

I was hoping you would glaze some green into the water underneath the trees. And gray down that very blue mountain in the back! I do love it!

[@angelaarkway2223]

Again, thank you! It is not only instructive but also a pleasure to watch you paint.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Angela! I am glad you enjoyed the lesson.

[@artfuljune6667]

Totally enjoy watching you paint with pastel, thanks.

[@elizabethvcaffrey6353]

Love the gentle marks and rythm it makes in the painting have not started with pastels yet

[@TheVortexLawOfAttraction]

So beautiful and fun!!! I’m so inspired 🎉

[@barbaraonisko7441]

Stunning! Im just starting pastel…been painting for 5 years. Excited to try this… lov your comment about “just let the pastel live on the paper… “. Great advice. Your teaching is excellent.. very inspiring.

[@AlainPicard]

Glad you enjoyed it, keep painting!

[@veronicavankregten9758]

Wonderful lesson.Thanks Alain.

[@AlainPicard]

My pleasure Veronica, I hope it helps you grow as an artist!

[@patfitz4099]

Absolutely gorgeous Alain; thanks so much for sharing. 🧑‍🎨🎨

[@AlainPicard]

My pleasure 😊 thanks for enjoying!

[@pennypiper7382]

Beautiful work Alain. Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺👍

[@tamlikazaidi1656]

Another beautiful piece of art.. Ur strokes are the gems of ur paintings 😍

[@aileenosborn5787]

Love you colours and contrast

[@isabellefoubert785]

c 'est treè beau. J'essaie en regargant cette vidéo de transférer cette technique à la peinture a l huile. J'ai quelques peintures bien sèches. En tout cas on apprend plein de choses en te regardant et ca c'est cool merci alain

[@dianahall1166]

I love to watch you paint, Alain.

[@user-hs8nj7tv5t]

Love the color

[@andrearhoda2802]

The shapes started this painting up, but the colors perfected it!!!! I always wonder "where is he going with this color?" and then BAM....it all comes together......Love it....learning a lot......

[@robinlambright6098]

I've just recently found your KZbin channel, I like your fabulous style.

[@karenhinson9582]

Lovely. It really comes to life!

[@lindagerwig7200]

Great tutorial and color exercise. Thank you for sharing and keeping us motivated .

[@denisegrossman3840]

Wow! Helpful in terms of approaching water and shadows from sky.

[@AlainPicard]

Glad it was helpful!

[@djhall4799]

I am learning so much for Alain's demos......great to see this one on black.

[@christinaanthony7531]

Your videos are very helpful, thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

You're very welcome I'm so glad you enjoyed!

[@blynn6240]

Of course I’ve always loved your art, the last time I saw your channel, I think you were just getting going with some shorter videos… but I rediscovered it as I’ve been struggling to find a video that showed reflections the way I want my art to look. The ones I’d found prior didn’t feel right- I didn’t want to over blend and lose too much texture and color intensity, but the techniques I’ve seen used were just a bit too choppy and rough for the feel of the smooth water, for my taste. Your style of painting is especially helpful with how intentional and contemplative you are when making your marks (with the little loopy almost hypnotic flourish each time which makes me smile).. its just slow enough it to let me process and follow along with your thought process without pausing or rewinding a million times. I also love the way you make pastel behave as paint on a paintbrush with your broader heavier strokes and yet still keep just the right amount pastel texture that an oil painting can’t really achieve. It’s the best of both worlds and an effect I’ve long wanted in my art. Now whether or not I can achieve my own interpretation of this technique remains to be seen, but I feel more confident about my chances with at least a roadmap and visualization. Ive subscribed- Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

Hey thanks for the kind remarks, and I hope you gain new techniques and approaches through these videos! Reflections are very fun to paint. Pastel is a real joy to work with in a painterly way, keep going!

[@KathyBrooksArt]

Wow, I would hang this in my living room. What a great lesson too!

[@AlainPicard]

Brooksk818 thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful. All the best!

[@usselpasoable]

I had a wow moment watching this when I realized you spend a lot of time with your pastels not touching the paper and just circling the air. It was like the quiet spaces between musical notes. The painting came together like a symphony!

[@AlainPicard]

thank you, I try to be intentional with the mark making, and visualize the mark before I make it. I appreciate it, enjoy your creative journey!

[@tessakelly216]

Love your work Thankyou

[@2011Mamamia]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, talent.& gift of communication.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome that means alot!

[@anindyaupadhyay7254]

Love your playful yet precise marks

[@AlainPicard]

thank you I appreciate it!

[@kerryhelelr8037]

❤️❤️ the colors. fabulous demo. Thank you

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Kerry! Glad you enjoyed the demo.

[@lindamlynch]

As a newbie, I’m learning that bold strokes with just the right placement can have marvelous effects. Also learning the importance of a dark, middle, light study prior to ever picking up a pastel. Looking forward to more videos. Thank you.

[@rubysaleem7269]

Love your strokes ❤

[@ClariceAust]

Alain, this was such a good teaching tutorial and the work is so beautifully done. Your voice puts me right in the zone and I just want to keep watching and learning. So relaxing!

[@roxannekeomaka4754]

I live on the Big Island of Hawaii and I also love those turquoise. It’s like living in a prison of color. You put that punch in all your paintings. Thank you for sharing your gift of sight and color

[@mikeh7935]

Amazing video, as always. Love the loose, impressionistic style in this one. Thank you so much for sharing your gift!!

[@AlainPicard]

Mike H thank you! I really am glad you enjoyed it. It’s such a pleasure to share with you.

[@susanbriggs1396]

I love many of your choices of projects! I’m an oil painter, but I’ve been very much enjoying the pieces you are presenting, however, I’m doing these in oils!

[@susanbriggs1396]

Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

I"m so glad they translate and inspire you in oil. I painted in oils for 20 years, and the concepts translate really well. All the best!

[@triciaarmitage1060]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing

[@elizabethpeck4932]

Love the way you share your thought process, very helpful.

[@AlainPicard]

so glad you found it helpful Elizabeth!

[@elizabethpeck4932]

@@AlainPicard Im absorbing all the information and will do my best to use your teaching when my arm is up to the task. Thank You .

[@hollymorris5132]

I so enjoyed the development of this painting! Greens can be so overwhelming, your use of blues just created a more interesting and dynamic painting. Inspirational!

[@anneklein3864]

Love it! It’s gorgeous.

[@bernadetteperkins6181]

Alain you have such a gentle warm spirit that comes through your beautiful artwork. Thank you for sharing your talent and for inspiring me to paint again.

[@theresasandoval1182]

Hello,Alain , this painting really helped me understand the using of basic shapes that begin to morph into something beautiful by the layering colors. The process really captures the beauty of nature. Thank you, so much! Theresa

[@giselallorens9087]

I love how your abstract mark making comes together to make such a beautiful realistic painting. Love it.

[@AlainPicard]

That's very kind Gisela, thank you.

[@fjv8755]

I generally love your way of using colours, this green & turquoise blue combination is in such a vivid harmony. Also love to learn your abstract way of portrait trees. Wonderful👍

[@ellenpillersdorf2986]

Love watching you bring a painting to life

[@jancarlton6674]

Gorgeous color choices! Thanks again for inspiring us!

[@vduron1]

Great video as always. Learned a lot. Thank you for posting. Looking forward to the next one.

[@joegiunta6148]

Inspiring demonstration. Beautiful landscape.

[@janapeony8561]

Alain you are the best teacher ,Thanks so much for sharing !Brilliant art piece!

[@karineelbaziz5019]

Stunning ! Thank you Alain for sharing, I learn a lot from your videos. And turquoise is also my favorite color. 😊

[@dslart9576]

Loving the turquoise blues on this one and the bold mark making. I have been inspired ! Thank you !

[@monetcafe]

Love this painting Alain!

[@nanceesebenaler4301]

Alain you are so gracious to share these demos with us. I learn so much. Can't wait someday to take a workshop from you.

[@AlainPicard]

Nancee Sebenaler why thank you for appreciating the lesson, you are very welcome! It would be wonderful to someday have the opportunity to work with you!

[@sheuhauchow]

Just gorgeous work! Thanks again.

[@dianapueppke7959]

Alain, you have such a calm and pleasant manner in your teaching. I learn so much from your videos. Thank you for your willingness to share your talent.

[@juliebabb3365]

It is amazing to watch the forms build mark by mark! The videos are wonderfully done & the content continues to be fantastic! congratulations.

[@anabellamaldonado9617]

Thank you for your you tube wonderful videos. I love your bold strokes and the palette you choose for this painting I have learned so much. You are a wonder artist instructor

[@sharonlefebvre2599]

Thanks so much for sharing this. Love your loose style and use of negative shapes!

[@AlainPicard]

Sharon Lefebvre thanks a lot I’m really glad you enjoyed it! All the best in your work!

[@jamesnash9795]

Thank you for doing this beautiful painting.. mountain lakes are so gorgeous.. so much depth not just in the water but also the skies. Good to hear you talk about negative shapes when painting... makes sense. Now away to do some practice myself.

[@maureenkerr3430]

I absolutely love watching your paintings emerge with every stroke of the pastel. Wonderful technique I hope to grasp some day!

[@AlainPicard]

Maureen Kerr you can do it, just keep practicing and learning! Thank you for the kind words,

[@meowis11]

I love your bold marks and loose style! So inspiring. Thanks Alain.

[@AlainPicard]

You're very welcome Monica! Glad you enjoyed.

[@scottderrick8166]

Beautiful work and original style. Excellent instruction. Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

Scott Derrick thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed the lesson. I hope it really helps you in your work!

[@tel5891]

Please keep up the great work, there are so few really interesting pastel artists on youtube right now that really explain to the newbies like me whet Im supposed to be doing. Thanks

[@michellecorbesier]

That looks absolutely stunning, Alain! Your bold and unexpected marks make everything come together beautifully. Thank you for sharing your talent!

[@AlainPicard]

You are welcome Michelle! All the best

[@panchoverde5078]

Thank you for this.

[@mariedunleavy305]

Enjoyed this, loved your subject. Thank you.

[@davidengler3094]

I love this! Simply beautiful scene, masterfully painted. Well done. I have used these boards before and found that the black 'eeks' out from behind the lighter values in particular which require re-working layers and values of pastel. I noticed this was happening during the vid as well. Thanks again for another great and inspiring lesson Alain.

[@birgitblume4980]

Great and inspirational video! I'm a beginner and since I watch your videos I try bolder strokes - and love it! Thank you!!

[@AlainPicard]

Birgit Blume that is fantastic! So glad you are getting bolder with your work! I wish you all the best!

[@MsElibob]

Thank you, Alain, for sharing your videos. They seem to come at just the right time to give me that "kick in the pants" needed to move me forward in my artistic journey! Hoping you'll be back in Charleston soon for another workshop. All the best to you and yours.

[@potsrme]

Great colours Alain! The water is so evocative. I was worried the whole way through that you would cover up the wonderful marks that you laid down early on the bottom left, as I just love them. So happy they made it through! : )

[@louisehones]

Really do love your work and your teaching style. The tips, color choices, paper choices, the way you place your marks and your freedom and confidence help me...a beginner pastelist. Thanks for this instructive video. And there is nothing better than painting in the studio on a rainy day....here in Seattle we get lots of days like that.

[@Tespen42]

Another beautiful painterly scene! You are certainly inspirational. Negative painting really helps establish what you want rather than being restricted by a more precise shape. That has been a real help to me.

[@AlainPicard]

Don Smith thank you so much! Glad you have been inspired to keep pressing in with your work. Keep going!

[@robertweinblatt2018]

This was a particularly exciting piece to watch you develop! I LOVE the palette! Everybody is doing this warm thing and this is dynamic and bold! GREAT VID ALAIN! I'll keep watching👀💥😍

[@AlainPicard]

Excellent! So glad to hear it Robert. Thanks so much.

[@maldoori238]

What a joy to watch your work very inspiring and informative as usual. And my favorite colours thank you for sharing your wonderful skills

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome! So glad you enjoyed it. I am honored!

[@ritahudson3970]

Thank you Alain. I get so much inspiration from watching you. I just got some samples of the 400 art board to try. It looks like light values go down on top of dark values quite easily so I am anxious to see the results.

[@dech4548]

Oh a turquoise surprise! And such a happy one! My favourite color ☺️ You are a beast sir! Your marks are so intentional and it’s like you know what you’re doing 😆 I always say oh this one is my favourite but you keep outdoing yourself! Will definitely practice this one

[@avashevlin1758]

I don’t currently work with soft pastels but your demonstrations have even helped me with the way I draw landscapes in colored pencil and artists crayons like Neocolors , the blocking in of colors and the underpainting technique translates well into my favorite mediums !

[@shrljazz]

Omg! You remind me of Liberace with your pleasing voice and warm personality. Thanks for your lesson and I’ll be looking for more. .

[@kaybrown4010]

Alain, your work is so inspirational. Even though I’m studying acrylic painting, your emphases on painting loosely and with negative shapes really resonates with me. Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

Wynona Fudd I am excited to hear that this instruction still helps you and applies as an acrylic painter. Thank you very much for your kind words of encouragement. I appreciate it! All the best to you!

[@constancebrosnan3013]

I very much enjoyed the lesson on pastel, I get so much from watching you paint.

[@AlainPicard]

Awesome thanks!

[@patriciaharris6404]

Just beautiful. Thank you.

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Patricia, you're very welcome!

[@joytaves7418]

Loved your lesson! I am new to soft pastels and a brand new subscriber. I am excited to watch your other videos.

[@AlainPicard]

Joy Taves welcome to the channel and I wish you all the best with pastels! Excited for you. Have fun!

[@sylvianblue]

Yay! Hey Alain.

[@karenstowe1108]

Thank you, Alain! I still find working on black paper to be a challenge, and along with everything else you are teaching us, it was great to see making use of a black or colored ground paper as part of the color palette. I also join you and the other commenters as a big fan of turquoise :-)

[@jmeetze8]

I am really enjoying your videos, thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Janette. All the best!

[@roslynburgess-clay1419]

Thanks so much Alain for sharing this process. It turned out amazingly...and turquoise is also my favourite colour. Never can resist putting a little in my paintings, even if it’s just a couple of tiny marks that only l know are there 😉. Great tutorial as always 🙋🏼🇳🇿

[@DunnAndAssociates]

Delicious! Everything I want to say has already been said. Thank you for your inspiration, Alain, and for clearly demonstrating the power of shapes. I, too, would like to know what you are using for your sketches.

[@kathyrohrer6229]

Learning! Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

You are so very welcome Kathy!

[@washingtonprintmakersgalle5299]

First time watching! So impressed! Learned a lot!

[@AlainPicard]

Awesome thanks WPG GMail!

[@kathleenjones2687]

Alain, after taking one of your online courses, I recommended to everyone to consider taking a course with you. Not only do you receive instructional videos like the one you’ve seen today, but along with the course, in each “Milestone” section, you will receive invaluable, support resources, and an opportunity to participate in a weekly, live Q & A session. There is also a private Facebook community where you have a chance to share your progression in the class in a supportive community who are participants in the same course. Positive and constructive feedback can be given if you ask for it. This course has something for everyone from beginner to the advanced painter who might be looking to explore a new painting genre. Oh, did I mention that all online courses material is yours to use long after the course is over. I can’t wait for Alain’s next online course.

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you very much for your kind comments and recommendations Kathleen! You are very kind, and it means alot. The online course is such a joy to teach and to see artists like you develop your painting abilities is so fulfilling! Keep going

[@lowen838]

Thanks for a great lesson! I’m preparing for a wildlife scene where water features prominently. Your lesson causes me to think more broadly, instead of so literally in painting water & reflections. Very helpful!

[@AlainPicard]

L Owen that’s great! I’m glad this video is timely for you! I am rooting for you on your wildlife scene. All the best!

[@michelechouinard4579]

It is amazing how many colors you use to create that look of nature

[@timepass3829]

Thank you!

[@saolyartstudio752]

Love it 😍 amazing

[@PaintingStepByStep]

Truly Beautiful!

[@AlainPicard]

Painting Step By Step awww thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it and I wish you all the best!

[@juliewalsh7623]

I love this. I have photos of my visit there so I will see what I can do with those

[@publicopinion3596]

beautiful, thanks for the share

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you too

[@ewastrycharz9173]

Piękny, dziękuję bardzo 😄💖

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Ewa!

[@lonnymcsherley773]

Thank you...

[@marcelabodorikova710]

Just yesterday I decided to work on black sanded paper for the first time and it was quite confusing laying down the dark values not seeing what I am doing lol but it looks I was doing it right after all. Thank you so much, can not wait to get another black sheet on the easel and paint blue green lake

[@josephineherrera8508]

Where have you gone, Alain? We have not seen any new demos/tutorials from you. We still need your mentor ship!

[@aubreyfinch7720]

I feel like a jack of all trades art but master of none. How can I overcome a fear of wasting art supplies in a process of learning or is it the real thing this new work.