NEW Pastel Painting Discovery! You Gotta Try This DIY Surface (Real Time Tutorial)

NEW Pastel Painting Discovery! You Gotta Try This DIY Surface / Real Time Painting Tutorial
I love making new discoveries in my Pastel Painting Journey!! And this is one I will be sure to use for many paintings.
Over the years, I have created many videos on making your own homemade soft pastel surfaces, which is a great savings since so many professional pastel papers are quite expensive. One technique I use often is using watercolor paper and clear gesso to create a pastel surface that works quite well. A challenge to this technique, however, is that often the watercolor paper can buckle or curl when you add wet mediums... such as creating a wet underpainting, and then adding the clear gesso. This makes it a bit cumbersome when applying pastels. The paper usually flattens out after some time, but never completely flat in my case.
So, that's why using this new product was so exciting for me! I wanted to try using 300 lb watercolor paper. In the past, I had only used 140 lb paper. So, I ordered some that happened to be what's called a "watercolor block". This means the pages are glued together on the sides, which keeps the paper nice and flat when adding any liquid mediums. Also, since the paper is 300 lb it is much thicker and takes lots of water without buckling.
Not only did the surface stay completely flat while working, when I removed the top sheet from the watercolor block I was pleased to see that it was still flat and quite sturdy. The thickness of the paper also made the painting feel more professional than the thinner watercolor papers.
This was an accidental discovery for me, and you know me.... I just had to share!
Products Used in This Lesson:
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper / 300lb Block / 6 x 8 (comes in other sizes):
amzn.to/3UySQn4
Mount Vision Iridescent Pastels (set of 15): amzn.to/3LD109U
Clear Gesso: amzn.to/3y6d0LB
Reference Photo from Juniper Canyon Flower Farm. Please only use this photo as a reference for painting. If you share your results, please give credit to the flower farm and this channel. (Artist's Etiquette: never sell your paintings that have been created from a tutorial). / 404970441577970
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[@monetcafe]

Hope you enjoy this new product I discovered for making your own pastel surfaces!! I just love sharing these things with you my artistic friends!

[@mathewfines8727]

Hey 'jabberbox'... I like the way you ramble, and tell the story of your journey in pastel painting. There is one thing about being self -taught, and that is that: even though it is the hard way to learn - you know what you know - because you tried it every other way and learned from all your mistakes and misadventures.

[@monetcafe]

That's such a great comment Matthew! And I'm glad you don't mind my ramblings. It is true that when you learn something on your own, you really know it quite well since you've experimented with so many other processes. Again, I really appreciate that comment and I agree with it.

[@mathewfines8727]

@@monetcafe Well, I'm a self taught musician. I toured for yrs throughout North America, and also taught many hundreds of students, so I get it.

[@Willa279]

Your energy is wonderful! Thank you for all the useful information. getting started with this new art thanks to you 🥰

[@yeshonestly4268]

All your paintings are wowooo! Great learning, thank you 👍👍👍

[@Donna_73]

Amen! ❤ Being in love and using our gifts is the greatest way to show our appreciation of this beautiful life. ❤ 🌺 🌸

[@herbalannie7707]

Okay, new to this and am just amazed at how much more beautiful your pieces are compared to your reference picture. Did not know about under painting. Well maybe I did but didnt know it was called that. I found an old hard set of pastels i've had for years that I never really used and started playing. As a watercolorist I immediately used water. That was cool. But I decided this nasty chalky medium was not for me. But I am hooked on watching your videos. So today I bought a set of five Rembrandt warm tone on Amazon and am looking forward to trying something with more quality and see how that goes. I like your teaching style.

[@katelemon2750]

Thank you from France

[@brandihart2367]

I’ve been doing acrylic pours and mixed media but after watching your tutorials using pastels-I’m very impressed and now I want to do PASTELS too! ❤ Beautiful work Susan

[@monetcafe]

You are so welcome!☺️❤️☺️

[@yogibakshi2375]

Beautiful painting Susan ma'm .waiting also for the coffee cup tutorial. ☕️

[@createthememories5381]

That’s for the video. Love the clear gesso on water colour paper!

[@ElizabethBattle]

Clear gesso is my best friend! 😃

[@monetcafe]

Mine too!!

[@seattlesue178]

You have such a fabulous sense of color!

[@skerrie1]

This is amazing!! It turned put beautifully 😍 I love that you explain what you are doing and why, everything makes so much sense to me. I gotta get some clear gesso now!!😅

[@LynnePriceStudio]

Thank you, Susan. Loved this tutorial (and the shimmer, oh my). God is good!

[@marit4660]

Thank you for the recommendation! And beautiful tutorial. I hope that you and your family stay safe through Hurricane Ian. And the sweet cow (Oreo?) you visit, too. 💗

[@rosemarymccarron3887]

Greetings from Ireland. I really love your artwork.☘️

[@monetcafe]

Hi Rosemary! Thank you so much!

[@yogibakshi2375]

Very beautiful scene and painting.

[@sharihofmann674]

Thank you so much for your channel!!! I'm a watercolorist. I've been fascinated with the look and feel of pastels for years. But after so many years exclusively painting watercolors, the pastel techniques just feel alien to me. Seeing pastels used with a watercolor block, and seeing your recent video on "local color" underpainting and alcohol spraying puts pastels into a much more familiar context. I feel like I could attempt a pastel painting now! Thank you so much!!!!!

[@monetcafe]

Yes, you can do it! Some of the principles are a little different, but it basically just has to do with how the mediums behave. Of course, with watercolor you work like to dark and with pastels, being an opaque medium, you can work dark to light. Takes a little while to get your brain rewired but if I could do it, anybody can do it.

[@graciousmom4127]

So beautiful! ☺️😍🙏

[@marytesta3003]

While waiting for my pastels to arrive I clear gessoed a stack of canvasses I had. This is a wonderful video and live the subject. I learned so many tips from you. Thank you!

[@deborahthompson3847]

Really enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@patlatour2465]

Love the delphiniums great ideas with the gesso. Thank you for sharing.😊

[@monetcafe]

You’re very welcome Pat!

[@canadaverydry]

Exquisite!!!!!!!!

[@jackieojeda6101]

Oh Susan I am loving these colors and the flowers, and of course you!! Hugs and God bless you and your beautiful family! I have been trying a little, but this tutorial will really help me! 👍👍🤗❤👋😄🙏😝👏

[@tbm7187]

I have to say I'm really becoming a fan of your channel! Lovely technique.

[@Megzamani]

I have used the clear gesso. Also acrylic media and also a mix of media.

[@JLPrice-kc2uy]

Test kitchen results... You always help beginning and advanced artist as well, to save money. But what I truly love about it, are the professional results; preserving the artist' work. You're such a wonderful person Susan, and this is why I share your channel with other elderly people who were once someone in this life... Like me. "Inspiration, is the process of stimulating the mind." Aptitude, is the ability to do something naturally; and how else did we start off as children..? Fingerprinting..! 💜 PS, mankind started off with burnt wood on a rock. Today we call it, charcoal drawing... Lol 💜

[@Hangland29]

Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@Vincentvan_girl]

Beautiful painting. Enjoyed the class. I like this method. Peter Wood uses rough watercolour paper, I also like using the rough watercolour paper w/soft pastels as it holds pastel with a rough tooth.

[@catrinahampton4706]

This is such a great lesson! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@annamay2152]

Beautiful 🎉❤😊

[@monetcafe]

Thank you! 😊

[@terrierose5917]

Wonderful to know about the clear gesso. I have used sanded paper, but it has a few drawbacks. Expensive, and cannot be reworked too much. Plus the water or alcohol is not possible. Thank you.

[@treelinktree]

I did already try your suggested technique with my clear acrylic gesso (you said to let you know!) It's been a marvel (to me) who has been painting with soft pastels for over 35 years. I like your enjoable videos and will try to subscribe. Blessings to you and your family throughout all storms. You make many smile, with your light, ole soul. Just me, Tree.

[@monetcafe]

Wonderful! So sorry It's taken so long to get back with you! Love that this technique is beneficial for you!!! Happy Painting!

[@JeanStewart-d3j]

A great demonstration so helpful and informative thankyou

[@monetcafe]

Thanks for that input, @user-th4gm5bd2l! I appreciate that so much!

[@418SurferGirl]

I love iridescent pastels. They just add that little, special touch to the painting. I always hated blocks for watercolor, but you've inspired me to try it with pastel and gesso!

[@kathyhall668]

Art and .music belong in the same world as poetry. 🎉

[@monetcafe]

🙂 🙂 🙂 ❤, @kathyhall668

[@ИринаПлахотская-о6ш]

Очень милые цветы!!Мне нравится Ваша техника рисования пастелью!!Спасибо!!

[@samarberri8648]

That was beautiful. Thanks

[@Shilo2020]

What a beautiful painting! I've mostly been using watercolours lately but have both soft and oil pastels and haven't thought about adding water to paint with soft pastels as an under painting! I can't wait to try this! I will have to buy clear gesso and 300 pound paper as I don't have either.

[@loredanavacca8587]

Bellissimo complimenti! 😍👏👍💕

[@mathewfines8727]

The dissonance you are referring to, is what gives Blues music the thing that grabs your attention, through tension - as you correctly observed - mostly by expressing dissonance through moving through the microtones between the minor and major third and around the flat seventh ( minor third and flat 7th are the ' blue notes'). You also hear this in Soul and some Country music. It's the tension in the movement of the microtones which adjoin those notes that creates the tension and disonnance which we perceive as 'soul' or the thing that grabs you. ( I hope that wasn't too technical).

[@monetcafe]

Wow, you really do know your music theory! My oldest son is a professional musician and you are definitely speaking his language. While it is mathematical, I love that unlike mathematics there can be so many variations and interpretations. Music and art have so much in common.

[@mathewfines8727]

@monetcafe I am not one to disagree for I heartily concur! I'm planning on getting back into art, after a career in music. I love your videos! Keep up the good work.

[@angelalabauve9131]

Hi Susan, I love the movement in your paintings! You’re a real inspiration and a great teacher. I do use clear gesso but haven’t tried it over my under painting! Can’t wait to try your technique! Thanks for all your tips for impressionistic paintings. I tend to get bogged down in detail which is a “killer.” Your paintings are just beautiful!!!

[@foxykc]

wow. who knew? the clear gesso thing is popular among coloring book folks because you can maintain the image and then use your water media without ruining the paper.

[@missdeesaccount]

Hi Susan, I use Arches, which is pronounced Arsh, for all my watercolours, pastels, acrylic, everything! I love that block! I want to get some books you recommended in an older video. But I still haven't got the rules of how pastels must be done yet. I get very confused and overwhelmed easily and I fear I'll never get them down 👇 😔 What can you recommend to a beginner who is overwhelmed!! I don't understand!!!

[@4ohgollycats]

❤

[@awkward_witch_of_the_east]

I love this painting, so beautiful! I so want to be able to get a more painterly look in some of my pieces, but have a hard time loosening up. I can very much be a perfectionist, and so tend to paint realism. But I love the impressionistic look too. Do you have any suggestions?

[@monetcafe]

Thanks Kate... I have a video I uploaded a few weeks back giving tips on painting with a more impressionistic style. I think it's called, "5 Ways to Impressionistic Painting" or something close to that. Perhaps check that one out. Happy Painting!

[@paulah317]

Clear gesso is on my " to buy" list and I already have 300# watercolor paper in stock. I'm primarily a watercolor artist and exploring pastels. Thanks for the tip and instruction in pastels.

[@monetcafe]

You are so welcome Paula. I think you will like this technique!

[@MaryAnnHetrick]

Love your videos. I am new to this and wanted to know if you could use this technique with oil pastels?

[@rosaliefunk1629]

There was a video where you used Fabriano water color paper and a mild sandpaper to remove the sizing. You then used pastel on the surface and said you could get several layers of pastel on it. This paper is less expensive. Can I use this paper and get the same result?

[@daisydog8127]

Hey I noticed they had the sennelier 80 half stick general selection for around 83 dollars today. Sounded like a good deal to me. I love this pastel painting! God bless and stay safe. Hope the hurricane fizzles out. Thanks for this great detailed tutorial. Saw the deal on amazon

[@bposey69]

Came here looking for oil pastel advice. Found a neighbor. Hello from Ocala. Dabbled with acrylic for a bit but looking to build a paint set for backpacking and I think oil pastels will fit the bill pretty well

[@monetcafe]

Oh, Hi Neighbor! I'm just about 2 hrs from Ocala. Love it there. So glad you found my channel. :)

[@kathyhall668]

So u do the underpainting ,then add clear gesso ?

[@monetcafe]

🙂 🙂 🙂 ❤, @kathyhall668 yes, that's right.

[@randyweisbin9605]

Good video. Thank you. Can you tell us where to find 2 of the darks you used (brand and name of pastel)? You compared one to magenta. And the other looked like a very dark intense violet or ultramarine blue. Thanks.

[@monetcafe]

Thanks Randy… Without going back and looking at the video I am fairly certain that the two darks were Terry Ludwig pastels. The darkest violet is called eggplant and the color number I believe is V100. The dark magenta is one that I don’t know the color number for, but you can get on dickblick.com and look at all of the individual colors and choose the darkest magenta color. That one should work fine.

[@randyweisbin9605]

@@monetcafe thanks!

[@claychick100]

This is so fun to watch. I have a question about paper. Have you ever tried Canson XL Sanded Mixed Media paper. It comes in gray and cream. Blick and Jerry’s carries it. It is about $8.50 for a 40 sheet pad. If it works, it would be great for me as I am just starting to dip my toe in with pastels and can’t afford the pricey papers to practice on.

[@monetcafe]

Thanks! and yes, I do use Canson XL Sand Grain paper. It is really best for pastel studies and sketching because it does not allow for many layers. I have some videos demonstrating the paper. Here is one video where I used this surface: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGeyp3qChNN3e6c

[@jamesgowen4781]

The Fluid watercolor blocks are glued only on two sides. I would suggest finding a block you might want to try that is glued on all 4 sides. The two sides unglued at times will rise and let air underneath and there will be a slight bow. The answer to that is to use artist tape and tape the two unglued sides down on the Fluid paper. The brand that has the 4 sides glued on the block is Hahnemuhle. I use the Fluid 140 lb blocks at times and it is more economical. So, I would have freedom from the block I take a sheet off the block and tape it to my gatorboard which gives me a bigger workspace and is secure. :)

[@monetcafe]

Nice suggestion. I actually have an Arches watercolor block that is glued on all 4 sides (140 lb). I think what I found I liked with the Fluid 100 block is that it was the first time I used 300 lb paper. I think that lended to the surface staying flat.

[@jamesgowen4781]

@@monetcafe You can paint on 300 lb paper without attaching it to a painting surface. When it dries it will have a slight bow. I tape the 300 lb down so it will be flat.. I use gatorboard to attach the paper. I even pull off the paper from the block. It's much more comfortable that way. The block was designed for plein aire.

[@madmadmona]

An update for you: I purchased the Sennelier Paris set (120) for $113! Terrific price for an impressive set.

[@monetcafe]

Wonderful! That’s the best price I’ve ever seen on that set. Have fun, sweetheart!

[@hildapriore472]

😮❤👍🍀😍😍😍❤️🙏😊

[@1DaTJo]

I feel clear gesso chews up my pastels very fast, much faster than professional sanded paper. That’s why I tend not to use it. Art Spectrum Colorfix “Rough” clear pastel primer isn’t as savage on my pastels and feels more similar to uart and other sanded paper.

[@lucillefemine2339]

isn't it better to sand the paper instead of gesso?