Keeping It Loose! How to keep your pastel paintings loose and impressionistic

[@DahHar117]

OMG, you could have stopped with the underpainting and I would have been enthralled, but, my o my, what a video!!!

[@monetcafe]

Awwww...... thanks so much Dahl!! I actually happened to like the underpainting in this one too :). So happy you like it!

[@libbyfuntera8497]

Wonderful watching you paint all those layers and see the painting come alive. Even the under painting was beautiful.

[@lotus615]

Oh! WoW! Quelle merveille! Ça fait du bien!Je suis confinée ,il fait froid,voir sortir toutes ces jolies couleurs console de l’hiver.Merci!

[@monetcafe]

Awesome @lotus615, I appreciate that so much! Merci cherie!!

[@amygonzalez6685]

I enjoy your painting with you and learning as I go. Thank you.

[@monetcafe]

Thank you so much, @amygonzalez6685! Your comment blessed me.

[@cynthiaward5750]

What FUN you ARE.....and love, how you create and talk about your thoughts as you do, think it all through. Terry Ludwig pastels are really wonderful. I hope to find more of your lessons and looking forward to more - tips n' techniques that you share. Many thanks, best wishes, Cynthia

[@elainelogan2023]

WOW that is beautiful!!

[@monetcafe]

Thank you so much, @elainelogan2023! Your comment means the world! I appreciate that!

[@christinalondon9231]

It's absolutely beautiful ! I love how all the color blended together and it became a romantic scenery !

[@gwenritch]

Love all the tips! Love this piece! thanks

[@ΕυαγγελοςΠαπαζησης-ζ6β]

Thank you so much!... beautyful colours nice music ...

[@MDEBonzes]

And, I have to admit, I LOVE your personality-it makes the lesson fun! God has gifted you to reach many through your work, and it is, indeed, GOOD therapy!!

[@carolferguson5467]

What an incredible video! I'm going to have to watch this several times to take this all in, so much information. I just can't thank you enough for offering these educational videos for those of us struggling to better our techniques. Thanks again And God Bless

[@monetcafe]

Carol Ferguson awesome!!! Trust me, I have struggled with learning art myself. I think that's why I love sharing these videos so much! I hope you learn a lot and create some beautiful works of art!!

[@carolferguson5467]

Monet Cafe' with Artist Susan Jenkins : would you be willing to open a Facebook page under Monet Cafe' so those of us that are following you could upload paints for critique?

[@monetcafe]

Carol Ferguson .... that is such a wonderful idea! I actually already have a Facebook page called "the art of Susan Jenkins". But I think I'm going to make a new page as you suggested named "Monet café" and invite others to upload their art. What a Great suggestion! Thank you so much!

[@TerrieJohnson731]

I watch them many times also, in case i miss anything, and they are so enjoyable and inspiring as well as containing such valuable teaching! It's not easy to find the right art teachers, we all are different ;-)

[@BreadNButterArt]

Loved it, from start to finish.

[@monetcafe]

🙂 🙂 🙂 ❤, @BreadNButterArt Thank you!!

[@ArtOnlineUkraine]

Simply amazing! Very nice, when the work is filled with light tones!

[@jackiebyers1272]

I SO enjoyed watching you paint this gorgeous painting. Thanks too for the tips on Paint My Photo. I set up my account, and I'll thoroughly enjoy choosing photos to paint from!

[@sylvianblue]

You're so right, art is therapy. Love this 💙

[@dr.maryllishughes1214]

Excellent demonstration videos Susan It is so helpful in terms of taste, style & beauty, but also introducing new products & techniques. Thanks!

[@lyndagenet3170]

Wonderful tutorial. Very helpful. I am just starting pastel painting and I am trying not to be so heavy handed. Love your paintings. Thanks. I want to paint the way you do with all the amazing colours. At the moment I have to go over to much and make a lot of muddy looking work.

[@johneisner9813]

Thank You- You're a Great Teacher and Inspiration

[@canadaverydry]

Exquisite painting!

[@monetcafe]

Thank you very much! I happened to like this one myself :) :) I was almost sorry it sold ... lol.

[@valeriefayevorster7510]

New to pastels. Loved the way you brought the lesson over; made it seem so easy. Thank you. Going to keep following the lessons. And, yes, it is good therapy!

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

Watching this I understand now about under painting and how to do it, I can use my Rembrandts for that , I like using pastelmat and initially they won’t fill up the tooth , so I can do many light layers. Thanks to one of your videos on analogous colours I now understand how my colour wheel works and iv3 been playing around with it ,thinking up a colour scheme initially for a simple painting I want to do as a starter

[@bobgenet598]

You are such an amazing person. Besides your beautiful paintings being great therapy , your wonderful personality is therapy as well. Besides watching you I love listening to you as well. THANKYOU so much.... Lynda .. New Zealand

[@monetcafe]

Oh what a wonderful comment to read

[@Jazzwayze]

Hi Susan. I have just discovered this channel of yours, via my Amazon Firestick. It's so involved to comment via that device so here I am back at my Mac. I am blown away with your style, and your ability, and I am pretty fired up at the moment to have a go. I have my own channel, but it is/was devoted to Guitar. Unfortunately, a lot of things caused me to neglect it. Just last year I had a health issue which affected my guitar playing, so I decided to fall back on my other hobby of painting. Pastel in particular. I usually work in oils or watercolour, but pastel is something I do like and I am probably going to settle for that. As said, I do admire your impressionist work, and you have inspired me to go down that route myself. I am no novice with art, but it's a leap of faith to find I have the nerve to try and teach others. We'll see, but at 79 years old, I must keep going. I also promise to shave next time I make a video Lol! Thank you and keep up the good work. ( I like Unison and Rembrandt pastels, by the way and I prepare my own panels with a liquid pastel-ground, which I tint with acrylic. In case you wondered.) John (Birmingham) UK

[@monetcafe]

John, your message truly blessed me! Meeting new friends like you is one of the benefits of my KZbin channel. I too play guitar, but sometimes it's hard to find the time to play anymore. I hope you continue to grow as an artist and we are truly never too old to learn new things. You may like to join our Facebook group called, Monet Cafe' Art Group. It's a private group and you have to answer a few easy questions to join, but just say you heard about the group from me personally and you will be sure to be accepted. There are so many pastel artists of every level in the group growing, sharing and learning together. God bless you and I hope to make more videos soon :)

[@Jazzwayze]

Thank you Susan for such a warm, and welcoming message. I haven't visited my Facebook account much, since I started to care for my wife, 5 years ago. Sadly, I don't have that responsibility any more,. Because I could no longer mange her care on my own, Jean had to go into full-time care in a nursing home. I am not complaining about that you understand, but I do visit her every other day, so I am not left with much time, after the housework is done! However I shall have a look on Facebook, and if I can be of any service to your group I will do my best. Thank you again and Bless you. John

[@MissTinaTv]

Hi, Susan! Thank you for another great video. You boost my inspiration when it starts to flag. Appreciated!

[@monetcafe]

Oh thank you so much Tina! Comments like yours boosts my inspiration as well! I love knowing that my videos are helping and inspiring others! :) :)

[@MissTinaTv]

YaY! Win-Win. Have a great day!

[@andreaharutunian3316]

Loved the teaching part of the video and love the artwork~~~

[@derickelsner6802]

Susan that’s gorgeous great video

[@annettecarroll842]

Thank you I am a beginner with pastels and my I pad. It was very informative Annette from from Ireland 🇨🇮

[@monetcafe]

Wonderful Annette! This is exactly how I learned to paint with pastels..... by watching videos and learning from other artists online. That's why I love giving back and offering these lessons for others. Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have. Enjoy this beautiful artistic journey!

[@suepussilano1069]

Gorgeous! Can't wait to try it. Thank you.

[@jackiegarroutte8970]

This is so beautiful!!

[@soshnikovaelenapastelart]

This one is really really beautiful and very peaceful picture... thank you for your positive and kind describing !!! You are very nice person)))

[@monetcafe]

🙂 🙂 🙂 ❤, @soshnikovaelenapastelart

[@maryannewatson2393]

thanks for sharing your art and techniques. lovely

[@marycaloiaro7253]

I just have to thank you for your beautiful work, your teaching, which is amazing, the tools you share with all of us, and the heart you put into your work and your demos. I have learned much from you and I am so happy I found you!!! I have learned so much!! I taught myself how to draw, paint in watercolor and have done pastel on my own also ,BUT I was in the dark until you shed much light on many of my questions. I thank you!!! I heard you mention hurricane Irma so we may be neighbors!!!

[@monetcafe]

Mary Caloiaro Bless you! It’s comments like these that truly encourage me to keep sharing and painting. We live in the Tampa area, and unfortunately the hurricane flooded our home and my studio. We are rebuilding though and things are coming along great. If you haven’t joined our Facebook group, Monet café our group, then you should try to find it. It’s a wonderful way to meet other artists and learn so much! You just have to ask a few questions to join and just make sure you mentioned that I invited you. This journey of art is such a blessing to our lives. Happy painting!

[@LarisaCarliArt]

wooow those flowers are so pretty!

[@rzrr41]

Love what they said about Mpnet Cafe a place where you can have fun enjying your work and easing your mind....great Susan....ur the best...

[@annmarie3520]

Hi Susan, I'm new subscriber. Enjoying watching how you paint with pastels. I'm recently in an oil painting class but I'm finding pastels very interesting. Love your videos, very informative! Thanks, Ann Marie

[@monetcafe]

Ann Marie thank you so much!! Feel free to join our FB group "Monet Cafe' Art Group". Lots of artists of every level helping and encouraging each other 👍🏻💜😄

[@pandalanawilliams4544]

I have used a lot of this board. Not long ago; I painted 2 pastel portraits of sisters for a commission. I did use my fingers for some blending. As I was nearing completion of the 2nd portrait; there was a place right in the middle of her face that was smooth. No matter what I did fixed it. I even tried adding more tooth. I contated Ampersand about the problem and was told by them to not use your fingers to blen with their product. I was told that their surface is somewhat delicate; and any oils or presperation on you hands or fingers can remove the tooth. I probably will not purchase anymore; having I have a lot of these boards left and have used another one since and did not use my fingers for blending and had no issues.

[@nenanenic5315]

Izvanredno 👍

[@naomibrik8843]

Marvellous! Do you use any spray to fix it? Thanks a lot

[@monetcafe]

No, fixative always darkens the final painting, but I typically put my finished pieces in plastic bags made for storing. This also allows them to be handled without smudging. ;) I have another video on how I use the bags if you are interested. I think it's called "Storage tips" or something like that. :)

[@jamesholder13]

Awesome! Thank you for the video.

[@MDEBonzes]

Susan, I'm like Kaylyn below; I'd love to know how you select your palette colors-I seem to have been blessed with automatic color-theory built in, and understand value well, and can really 'push' color, but I'm trying to use a 'limited' palette, and really need to pare down my palette to a few brights and neutrals and darks, as well as lights....thanks ever so much for these lessons-and I LOVE the fact that you TALK thru the lesson...music is ok, but I love to hear the process! Thank you!!!!! Marlene from GA

[@coSMia2010]

I have been eying that same photo for a while, I have it tucked away in my PMP photo album. Love your channel and tutorials -Wynnie

[@monetcafe]

How cool! That we liked the same photo! It's a really great composition and just the kind of scene I like to paint. Now I'll have to remember to go back and upload the painting to PMP! :) So glad you like my channel Wynnie! :)

[@coSMia2010]

Monet Cafe' with Artist Susan Jenkins Yes! I hope you do upload it to PMP so that I can get a good look at it, and I know the photographers really appreciate seeing the art their photos inspire. 👍👍 for your beautiful painting!

[@johneisner9813]

Your In Depth Tutorials are Incredibly helpful (real time and lapsed time) THANK YOU

[@reneekroyer5104]

Question for you, Susan. When you do the first layer of your painting, before you add water/rubbing alcohol, do you use hard pastel or a soft pastel -- just curious if it matters, makes a difference? Thank you, love this painting.

[@elzbietapomianek7768]

Very , very nice .Greetings from poland :)

[@suemarkwald159]

Where can I find the painting photos that you talked about. Is it an app? Thanks. Your work is very inspiring!!

[@monetcafe]

I think for this video tutorial I used ref images from www.pmp-art.com , but lately I've been using www.unsplash.com .

[@barbararivera2380]

thank you

[@kaylynsorrells3332]

Really enjoyed this video! Everybody talks about painting loose watercolors, but not so much loose pastels, so this is appreciated! I was wondering if you could share your process on choosing your color palette prior to actually jumping into painting. Do you ever do color studies or smaller thumbnails using color to help you decide on your final palette before you paint so you can test out color schemes? Perhaps you could do a video? Thanks for your consideration and for sharing your skill and knowledge!

[@monetcafe]

artgone country .... thanks so much for your wonderful comment! That would actually be a great video that I think would help many others. I sort of go on instinct when choosing a color palette, but sometimes I will do some small thumbnail tests. I also will play around with an image in Photoshop adjusting the hue, saturation, and other things to get an idea of what pallet to choose. I am actually about to upload a video very soon where I discuss pastel storage tips and different techniques. Perhaps I can throw in a little lesson on choosing the color palette for certain paintings. 😄👍🏻💜

[@monetcafe]

KaylynsRandom World .... I just thought I'd let you know, I just posted a video where I talk a lot about choosing my color palette. 👍🏻😊 it's the most recent video on my channel.

[@ceciliaborders]

I'm a beginner pastelist, and really need to know what solvent you are using with the waxed pastel underpainting. I didn't hear you mention the type of solvent. Thanks so very much for your wonderful videos. I am a new subscriber, and am trying to catch up by watching all of your previous videos.

[@monetcafe]

So happy you've subscribed.... and I pray my videos help in your artistic journey :) I was using water only as a solvent for this, but I think I have tried alcohol in another video. The water seems to work best with this medium. ;) Happy Painting!

[@ceciliaborders]

Thank you, Susan! I re-watched the video, and then saw your added instructions on using water or alcohol. I'm sorry I didn't see those words across the screen the first time, lol!

[@monetcafe]

No worries sweetheart... I miss things all the time! LOL ;)

[@ss2003utube]

Beauriful!

[@melindawysocki2000]

What kind of solvent is she using? @ 4:45 I couldn't quite understand her ☹️

[@IYQ2-22]

AMAZING!!! Thank you:-)

[@Nazareth434]

A little confused- you use water to dilute your wax pastel underpainting?

[@amariebeaubien]

hi how did you stick the pastel board to your easel? I noticed it was about an inch higher than the green tape at the bottom of the easel.

[@monetcafe]

that's a great question and it's a really helpful technique. I basically turn my pastel surface (sanded paper or whatever) over to the back and just place two pieces of tape on the back where they will stick out of the top about 3" or so. Then I just lay it on my board (right side up) and put another piece of tape across the top.... that's the one you see above my painting. This way I am able to paint all the way to the edges instead of having tape on the edges. :)

[@amariebeaubien]

thank you so much Susan!! This is a huge help to me!! also, I love your paintings and videos--beautiful and informative

[@OumiKapilaMusic]

inspired. Thank you

[@elzbietapomianek7768]

Hello. What paper do you use for your work?I really like your paintings Susan .(:

[@monetcafe]

Elżbieta Pomianek ... this particular piece was Ampersand pastel board. I use various surfaces though for my pastel work. The key though is to find a surface that has grit sort of like sandpaper. I have a Facebook group called Monet café art group. Feel free to ask to join if you like and make sure to answer the questions and say that you found out about it through KZbin. There are lots of artist from every level helping each other and growing with pastel work.

[@elzbietapomianek7768]

Susan thank you (:I will look for ... Greetings from Poland

[@templemoore3799]

Just found you last week Susan. Your teaching speaks to my way of learning. I am drawn to the impressionist, expressionist and even Fauvism. Your value lessons are exactly my focus at this very early stage of learning. I understand the common draw to sanded surfaces but I am staying with Mi Tientes/watercolor paper due to budget for paper & pastels. So I am interested in underpainting techniques to establish values to maximize the efficiency of my layers on non sanded papers. I heard on another video that the terry ludwigs have great darks. I cannot afford a full set. I heard you mention the Eggplant. Can you recommend 3-4 most essential dark colors in priority? I heard you mention the Eggplant.

[@monetcafe]

Your comment really blesses me! I can so relate to having to create on a budget. In my early years of painting things were very lean and I had a very limited supply of art supplies. You are right about the Terry Ludwigs being expensive! Today happens to be my birthday and guess what my present was?!! The Terry Ludwig set of "Plein Air" pastels. They are so lovely! It's taken me years to get a full set. The "Eggplant" is the Terry Ludwig color that is a very dark pastel. I just bought two and they were $6 each!! It seems you have to buy single pastels directly from the TL website, but you can buy the sets a bit cheaper from www.dickblick.com. I'll try to get the names of some of my favorite darks and share with you. I typically like a very dark dark blue, green and purple (which is somewhat like the eggplant color). I think you may like a video I'll be uploading soon. I just experimented with a way to make watercolor paper work pretty well for pastels. I just used the watercolor paper and did a watercolor underpainting... let it dry, then apply (with a brush or foam brush) some clear gesso. It's a product that actually has grit to it which allows the pastels to adhere. It worked really well! If you need more layers you can apply some workable fixative (also not cheap at $10 a can, but I use it sparingly). I don't use it at the end of a painting, but only if I need to get another layer or two down before I'm finished. I hope that helps and keep an eye out for the video I'll be making about the watercolor paper technique. Happy painting sweetheart and never give up on this beautiful artistic journey!

[@gypsysnickerdoodle4354]

Did the Ampersand come that shade?

[@Penciledbykay]

Can I ask what kind of oil pastels you used for the underpainting? Wonderful video by the way! Thank you very much!

[@claudiachappel3350]

Also, why don't you create a patreon page like Karen has? I would totally pay to have more instruction and paint along with you and I bet lots of other people would too!

[@dr.maryllishughes1214]

What fixative do you use please?

[@TerrieJohnson731]

.If I have to use black, ever, I always mix it with much more of the color, and it will deepen it without being black. But it is a last resort. I have decided that if mt paper is for pastel, or has pastel ground on it, scrumbles and edge of stick lines only. No drawing, until I get it. t's not about getting the masterpiece at this point, it's about developing the right brain and muscle memory, right? and I will convert my prints to black and white so I can see both. I can do that today, taking an art rest. Thanks Susan. I appreciate you. When it seems like I am challenging you, I dont mean it that way. (Te Van Gogh blue sky thing) I just think art is art, and sometimes the artist will make the sky blue. It's just art. I am experimenting with many sky colors. In watercolor, I had fairly limited myself to Ultramarine and shades of lavender ;-)

[@arlenemurphy804]

Lovely

[@terrilynnstalvey1416]

Loved this lesson. Can you use a pmp as a reference photo if you acknowledge? It gets so confusing. I mean usually it inspires. Can you say inspired by pmp? Thank you 🌺😀

[@TerrieJohnson731]

Oh, one more question! Do you think I should invest in an easel for pastel work? I have heard that working flat can distort proportions...thoughts? I have one picked out that is affordable in September, but if I dont need it, I dont need to buy it. It's just under 100.00 at the bottom end, you know?

[@monetcafe]

I definitely prefer working from an upright surface. First, because pastel dust falls and working from an easel lets the dust fall down, instead of all over the surface. Second, I can back up easily and see things easily from a distance. You don't have to buy an expensive easel though. You can just start with a table easel if you like. Lots of options. Love your good questions. :)

[@monetcafe]

Keep it up sweetheart! I love your hunger to learn. And the mixing of the "black" sounds like a good approach to me. :)

[@TerrieJohnson731]

If I buy an inexpensive table easel I can buy the 3 drawer pastel box to set beside it. I think that's probably a better plan for me. I wont be doing plein air or urban sketching in pastel for some time. I am still trying to get out with graphite and my travel watercolors. My son is finally signing up to go with me very soon. Don't want to go alone ;-) Excited about that! I have a 14 pan water color set in a black damask embossed business card holder I made with an etsy seller. Pretty class huh? I got the magnet and pans from her, the card holder from Amazon, and my tube paints are Shinhan. My Home watercolor box is Van Gogh 20 set. Bought a Handbook watercolor Journal also. Watercolor was my first love, but if II had to choose, I couldn't I'm sure!

[@claudiachappel3350]

I have a question. Can you use a photo from this site and alter it and then post it as your own art? Also, am I correct that you gave us permission to use your personal reference photos to do what we want with? Thank you and I LOVE your work! You are so very talented, especially with color, which is a passion of mine also! :)

[@warawiriarts]

Subscribed

[@rzrr41]

Love dont think you need more ob it,,,it is magical how from the dark values..it cameout that beauty of color

[@TerrieJohnson731]

how does a beginner in pastel learn never to be tight in the first place? I have simple single flower blooms to try on small papers, I just dont understand. I will watch this video a number of times.

[@olyndawalker8813]

I agree with KaylansRandom World. Color determination is crucial to success in a painting. I would like help with that also.