Pastel Landscape Demo: Painting Rocks and Water

Have you struggled with painting rocks and water? My goal is to suggest the rocks with pastel marks rather than draw them and get too fussy. In this video I share with you some tips for painting a landscape with a rocky sand beach.
This painting was originally the Artist Choice demo painting for my Patreon Page. Join me on Patreon for the newest weekly videos and paint alongs! / karenmargulis
You can see closeups of the finished painting on my blog:kemstudios.blogspot.com/2018/1...
Thanks for watching!

[@shielyjunio1210]

I love all her painting tutorials but her famous line "My pipe insulation foam that I forgot" always makes my day 😆😂😂

[@vanvalkenburgh101]

I'm busting to create something that is not overworked. I'm thankful for this video!

[@AngelaSTrombley]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and love for painting! I understand now, when you step back from the painting I could see all the colors working so beautifully together, it’s amazing!

[@scooterose100]

You are such a wonderful teacher ! I learned so much from this video and it’sa beautiful painting, thank you so much.

[@lindataylor2192]

Thanks so much Karen. Always a great learning experience with you.

[@1DaTJo]

Karen you’re so talented! You make it look so easy. Pastels are my favourite medium and I want to get good like you. ❤️

[@patriciapilipuf6372]

Thank you Karen for this lesson. You give me courage to try things that I thought would be too dificult for me

[@Angayasse]

I always learn SO much from you! And this is a topic I wanted to learn so thank yo, very very useful!

[@dr.maryllishughes1214]

Bravo! Excellent tutorial Karen! I learned so much! THANKS!

[@leighsirvent654]

Great explanations,it’s very helpful. Love hearing your pets!

[@patriciasmith1196]

I JUST LOVE LEARNING FROM YOU. YOU'RE AWESOME AND SO ARE YOUR PASTELS. JUST BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU COVER EVERYTHING IN YOUR TEACHINGS.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@chio53]

Thank you for this demo Karen. It's very interesting

[@magoo8386]

Don’t get a big head or anything (kidding!) but wow, you are a genius with everything: color, your marking technique, simply everything! Thank you so so much..

[@carolebentley5697]

Very nice demo. You do make it look so easy!

[@franspeight1610]

I paint with a group each week I always share your tips...you rock....

[@bevross935]

Really great instruction. Loved the pastel picture

[@vduron1]

Love your videos. I learn so much!!!

[@toniagrantham160]

Thank you, Karen! I enjoy learning from your videos. 🤗 I’m working on a creek painting and my rocks looked like potatoes at first.

[@janecourtenay3676]

Love it, love it, love it! My hands are itching to get hold of my pastels!!! Once again a wonderfully informative video. Thank you Karen 💓

[@denisegrossman3840]

Thanks Karen, really like the dry wash underpainting will try it. Your marks are so loose, wow you make it look so easy and effortless. Beautiful.

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@deniseshaw3871]

How lovely I learn so much from you ..Hello Jenny !!!xx I have a Tula and a Dottie 😻

[@cshula1]

This is the first time to watch one of your lessons. You are an excellent teacher. Thank you so much for teaching me. New sub.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you for watching!

[@jamesholder13]

Awesome! Thanks for the demo!

[@kareng3655]

Great teaching, great painting!

[@rzrr41]

Way better the one you did You are the real artist..

[@joycewickman3249]

Great demo,Karen!

[@annelloydholden2567]

Thank you Karen! Your tutorials are always so informative. Loved how your painting turned out. My rocks tend to look like sheep, so very helpful tips. :)

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@cathlaurs9754]

Great demo Karen 👍

[@jpascualripa]

Hello Karen. I am a faithful follower of your videos and I would like to see how you paint an urban landscape, the view of a small Spanish or Italian village. Thank you. Greetings from Spain.

[@mjpete27]

Lovely work! I am still struggling with the contrasting color under-painting technique. I have also watched Alain Picard do this, but coming from a water-colorist sensibility or training I find is so very difficult! Thank you for continuing to show the dullards out here your accomplished pastel techniques! Have yourself a lovely day!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for your support!

[@miguelesteinmetz6019]

I love it !!!!

[@catmeow333]

Stepping away recalibrates my ‘eye’ sometimes I have to force myself but it’s worth it.

[@anettedouglasdotter]

Thank you so much, Karen - what a wonderful tutorial! 🙏 Gorgeous painting too! 🎨 As a "potatoe-rocker", I really appreciated you showing how to fix it! 😊

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@celsoteixeira252]

Lovely lovely!

[@monetcafe]

Great Demo Karen!! You make it look effortless :)

[@jimspatz9211]

Thank you Karen.

[@odettelecler7118]

Thank you so beautiful

[@gonulcelebi9800]

Çok güzel bir çalışma. Bana oldukça yardımcı oldu Harikasınız. Sizi seviyorum 🤩

[@Elnino09ification]

I'd love to see an update - like a retrospective on how you fixed it briefly and a look at the very final piece ...

[@KarenMargulis]

I will have another look at this one! Thanks for watching!

[@wieswarnders6501]

Thank you Karen, I enjoy this video!

[@osmosismary-leeresinator5272]

A brilliant painting well done 👍

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@magalysuarez3233]

Beautiful!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you! 😊

[@jiaxuzhang3527]

This is amazing thank you so much

[@KarenMargulis]

You're so welcome!

[@maureenreid6963]

Thank you for your wonderful videos, fascinating to see the process and end result. I have to ask, how do you stay so clean, I get everything, including myself covered in dust? Best wishes, Mo.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching! I am usually a mess myself!

[@joannwalsh3107]

how do you decide which colors to put as an underpainting? don't have much experience with pastels but find this decision making difficult

[@Bridgton1]

Hi, I feel like a jerk for not saying how great your videos are until now.

[@denisegrossman3840]

Thank you, the water that was in the background was white, will you leave it that way? Just curious? Beautiful painting, really like explanation of rocks how to form them. Will take another look at Carlson's theory of angels. Great! 😊

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching! I made the water a pale yellow because that is the area of the sky that is reflected win the distant water.

[@jennyforeman4844]

Amazing Karen, love your paintings. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Barbra Streisand?

[@KarenMargulis]

Not yet! Thanks for watching!

[@janemarvell]

I am so inspired by art and start with great enthusiasm putting in the “dirt” ......then I am flummoxed.........I just don’t know where to go , I need more basic practice.

[@KarenMargulis]

I understand! It will all fall into place!

[@dariovolpones1188]

Very helpful teacher. What paper and pastels do you use?

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you for watching. I use Uart paper and Terry Ludwig pastels.

[@christinewood6549]

What is the brand of pastels you are using? Are they sets, like the browns?

[@KarenMargulis]

I mostly use Terry Ludwig pastels and my own curated Floral Landscape set. Although I do have a big collection of all varieties of pastels. the floral landscape set is the one I use the most

[@annaozolins5465]

Where is the finish painting. And what Pastel paper did you use. Thank you

[@KarenMargulis]

There is a link to my blog in the comments which gives more information and the finished painting. I use Uart paper and Terry Ludwig pastels.

[@rafaelcastro5632]

Would be nice if you put one potato there 😜😆. But this is awesome 👍👍👍👍

[@KarenMargulis]

Next time! Thanks!!!

[@josephineherrera8508]

Hi Karen, I haven’t seen you in a while, here. I see you’re using hinges with artist tape. When I use, especially with pastelmat, it tears the back of the paper. Is there something else we can use?

[@KarenMargulis]

I use the tape on Pastelmat. The trick is to remove it from the edge of the tape very slowly and as soon as the painting is finished. You could clip the paper to a board. I do this when I paint en Plein air but it can leave indents in pastelmat so I stick to the tape and just remove it slowly!

[@josephineherrera8508]

Thank you, Karen. This helps a lot.

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

Seriously thinking about joining patreon.

[@KarenMargulis]

Would love to have you join us!

[@jekaterinanemeth3052]

🤩♥️😊💐🍀🎁

[@dianned1496]

Great demo. Could you enlarge your reference photos for us? That would help a lot. Thanks. Dianne.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching! Most of the time I work from tiny photos as it is a part of my process of interpretation and not copying. I will try form time to time to use larger photos.

[@jenniferdavis6115]

Hi. If you haven't learned how to mix the colors, can you still get an interesting painting? Thank you. Jennifer

[@KarenMargulis]

Sure! It is easier with pastels because you have the colors!

[@jenniferdavis6115]

@@KarenMargulis Thank you!!!!

[@bevross935]

Please use a larger painting surface

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you for your feedback! I will occasionally paint larger so please stay tuned! Most of the demos are 9x12. Thanks for watching!

[@ArtTripper]

One thing - I wish the timbre of her voice was a bit lower. A good voice coach could help her fix that quickly. A good voice holds interest and then concentration and learning.