Pastel Painting: How to Paint Trees - Part 1

Want to paint loose, impressionistic trees in pastel?
In this lesson I’m going to show you how to harness the power of suggestion by creating the impression of leaves without actually rendering each of them. By the end of this two-part video lesson, you’ll know how to create loose painterly trees with wonderful color and bold fresh marks that sparkle against the sky.
View part 2 here: • Pastel Painting: How t...
Make sure to download your, “How To Paint Trees Step-by-Step Guide” here: mailchi.mp/4ed...
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Alain's Workshops: www.picardstud...
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[@tzieg9534]

Wonderful video.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks T Zieg, glad you enjoyed! See you next week!

[@barbskeelcsw]

I’m just starting using pastels and I’m in love with them!Really enjoyed watching you create this lovely painting. It gives me courage to see how freely you move the color around and vary the marks! Learning a lot!

[@danabarunas9682]

It's so much fun to watch you develop those shapes, pushing and pulling. Looking forward to part two. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.

[@AlainPicard]

Dana Barunas I am glad you are picking up on the push and pull theme, thats so important! Really thrilled that you enjoyed part one. Its a joy to share this creative journey together!

[@suehoyt-oneill9501]

Thanks for part 1 - I hope to improve on my trees and shrubs without worrying about every little detail. I am starting to enjoy doing the underpaintings as well. At first I thought it was too much of a chore, but it really makes a scene pop!

[@AlainPicard]

Sue Hoyt-O'Neill I am so thrilled that you are experimenting with underpainting! It adds something very unique and special to the work. Keep squinting at your scene to avoid details! All the best

[@zahoorjan6999]

Hi,Sir There is no doubt that your work is great,God bless you.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks, Zahoor, I appreciate the kind remarks. I'm really glad you enjoyed this lesson!

[@andrewansaldiiii7441]

Excellent and professional as always Alain. I learn so much from your videos. Thank you.

[@AlainPicard]

Andrew Ansaldi III you are very welcome! So glad to be a source of encouragement to you. Keep painting!

[@mjpete27]

I just am amazed that you use the contrasting colors for the under painting, your mark making is stunning in its execution.

[@sylvianblue]

Yay! Upload day! Great to hear your thoughts and reasoning behind each stroke.

[@AlainPicard]

sylvianblue thanks for the energy and excitement! I’m glad all my talking is helpful. Now its your turn to paint!

[@allisonp.8034]

I truly enjoyed this video! I'm a new pastelist and have been afraid of using an underpainting. I love the monochromatic one you demonstrate here. You are such an inspirational teacher. Thanks to you, I ordered my Golden Taklon brush today! I love your work and can't wait for Part 2. Thanks again for helping me move forward.

[@AlainPicard]

Allison P. That’s great news! Don’t worry the underpainting is really fun and you will get the hang of it. All the best to you!

[@louisehones]

Thank you Alain. What a relaxing joy to watch you paint. I like your style...you make it look so easy. I appreciate your years of work and experience it has taken to get to this point. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent.

[@AlainPicard]

Louise Hones that means alot! Thank you so much for appreciating and sharing encouragement! It is very fulfilling to provide help to other artists at this stage in the journey of painting. I am cheering you on!

[@MrJairo3259]

Fantastic Mr Alan👏👏👏

[@AlainPicard]

Awesome thanks!

[@moniebaisa6564]

Im excited for the next part.... Cant wait..

[@leigh-annh2544]

Thank you Alain. I appreciate your style of teaching.

[@AlainPicard]

You're very welcome Leigh-Ann, thanks for appreciating! All the best

[@crystalthursby2808]

Oh I cannot wait for part 2!! This has made my day! thank you! Beautiful photo to work from, can't wait.

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Crystal, that's great! It is a lovely scene. Now your turn!

[@crystalthursby2808]

@@AlainPicard yes!! You have great instructions, fabulous way of teaching! Awesome.

[@monetcafe]

Such a great video my friend. This is such great instruction for every artistic level. :) . "anchor the darks early so you don't need to chase the lights".... I like that.

[@AlainPicard]

Monet Cafe' with Artist Susan Jenkins thank you! I learned this valuable lesson the hard way over the years. Now it is ingrained in my process, darks, middle, then lights! All the best to you this month in your creating, teaching and sharing this gift of painting!

[@gonnafreeserve3336]

Thanks again Alain your video is so informative. Can’t wait for part 2 of trees. I look forward to all your videos an appreciate your dedication. Trying to loosen up and add more texture in my work ,not an easy task, but I will keep watching you for inspiration. 🥰

[@chantalgravel4517]

Love the colours. Thank you Alain!

[@AlainPicard]

Chantal Hunter so glad you enjoy them! I am a sucker for warm reds, pinks and violets. We can create the world of our own dreams in our paintings! All the best

[@toniagrantham160]

Very helpful, Alain, thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

You're welcome, Tonia, keep painting!

[@patriciarobledo3954]

Love watching you paint! Learning so much.

[@ddarling9783]

Alain, A BIG thank you for being out there for us! I love your teaching style and plan on watching all of your video's. I've dabbled in watercolors and acrylics. Now I'm excited to get in there and have fun with pastels. As a beginner I really don't know where to start though.

[@denisegrossman3840]

Its really helpful to see your process. Especially, in terms of eliminating areas in your reference that do not compliment your composition. Thank you, so helpful!!

[@GGGG-zy3yn]

Very beautiful. Thank you so much for your instructions. I love this!!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, Cindy, so glad you enjoyed!

[@michaelmcewan432]

Excellent tutorial

[@vduron1]

Can't wait for part two. :)

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks you wont have to wait for too long!

[@sandradodson540]

Wonderful! Thank you for sharing.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Sandra. Enjoy painting your own trees now!

[@ToonNagtegaal]

Great video, thank you very much!👍🏻

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, Toon, so glad you enjoyed!

[@margaretbrownhill1193]

Alain Thankyou so much for sharing this, yet again I’m captivated by your process in building the painting, certainly this is one I will try, I love trees and this is going to be awesome. I just love your style and relaxed approach

[@AlainPicard]

thank you Margaret, I hope by now you had a chance to try this lesson! I am honored that you enjoy the style and approach. Now it's your turn to make some beautiful trees!

[@leonidaslevi9595]

Not sure if you guys gives a shit but if you're stoned like me during the covid times you can watch pretty much all the latest series on Instaflixxer. Been binge watching with my gf lately =)

[@valentinoanderson8697]

@Leonidas Levi Yup, I've been watching on instaflixxer for since december myself :)

[@jamesholder13]

Excellent!

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks James

[@Jessielude]

The alcohol under painting is such a game changer!

[@AlainPicard]

Jessica, definitely. Have you tried it yet? All the best!

[@Jessielude]

Alain Picard Yes! I took a workshop where our instructor used that method. No looking back! The expressive strokes you can get with it are so fun. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnfdl62dmMlrY80 is where I show my use of it

[@AlainPicard]

Jessica Shippee way to go!

[@monikastahnke9362]

Thank you very much for this great video. First I would like to tell you that the reddish chromatic underpainting is great. It will heat the following colors. There is always so much to learn and remember, e.g. to omit unimportant details. I'm looking forward to part 2. Thank you also for the time you invest in these videos.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, Monika! I'm glad you are excited about the underpainting, and I wish you the very best in your own creative exploration! Part two comes out tomorrow...

[@jmeetze8]

Thanks so much Allain. I enjoy your presentations so much and I hope to meet you at IAPS.

[@AlainPicard]

You're very welcome Janette, thanks for appreciating! See you at IAPS!

[@kaybrown4010]

Wow, wow, wow! I can’t wait to see Part 2. Liked and subbed!!

[@AlainPicard]

Awesome thanks Wynona! Did you watch Part 2?

[@kaybrown4010]

I sure did! ❤️

[@cnbowles1]

Thank you so much and once again thank you for the Step by Step Guide...really appreciate it!!!...I really loved the fact that you used the pale green in the sky color ...when you added that to the sky I then saw the color in your reference photo...I had not seen the green in your reference photo until you added that...that was really cool!....I am still hoping that you may do a Patreon Page...

[@tdelphia1]

I love the freedom with which you paint/make marks - I always feel like I am watching you dance with the pastels and paper. Showing your pastels selected was very helpful to me. I'm having a watch of the trees videos today since my very first TL set arrived (I know...it should be the darks, but I was totally drawn in by the special autumn set - Fall is my favorite season!). Can't wait to get outside to plein air paint some fall color!

[@cherylshannon8505]

Love it! I Seee the tree!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AlainPicard]

You are really fun, thanks!

[@egomod]

❤️ Thanks!

[@LeoraLaGraffe]

Oh this is wonderful! Thank you so much!

[@AlainPicard]

You're very welcome, thanks for appreciating! All the best

[@lindachamberlin9255]

Alain, thank you so much for this video ( and all your videos!) From your opening smile to your signing off you are such a pleasure to watch. You are such a wonderful teacher. You take us from thumbnails, to underpainting, to putting down those “painterly “ marks in such a way that is so easy to follow along and understand the process! Love your teaching style. I can’t wait to see Part 2. OK, I must go and get painting those trees! Thanks again! Keep Smiling Alain!

[@AlainPicard]

Linda Chamberlin you made my day! Thank you for taking the time to share thanks and encouragement with me. It means a-lot! I am thrilled that you find the teaching clear and inspiring. Keep painting!

[@williamjames5033]

another great lesson,,,,, i think it looks great as it is, but will watch part two to learn more,,, I live in England, and not sure what type of alcohol you mean,,,, ive been using zest pencil blend, and it works well but take ages to dry. Thanks for your great work

[@AlainPicard]

You can use isopropyl alcohol from the drug store/pharmacy. The kind you rub on your skin. Rubbing alcohol is another name for it at times. It is 70% to 90% alcohol and evaporates quickly which is so convenient. All the best William!

[@joycebackus9441]

Thank you for this inspiring demo! I am trying to do 30 small landscape experiments in 30 days since I saw your 30 day challenge. First one today! I do have a question about toxicity, I am trying thin plastic medical gloves indoors. Wondering if you use the Spectra cream block on your hands and how you feel about it? Since I want to start doing Plein air, I am imagining the gloves will be uncomfortable. I like your use of the brush and am trying the technique as well. I also love the underpaintingl, which I will try! Thank you for your generosity. Best, Joyce

[@AlainPicard]

I use Gloves in a Bottle cream for my hands. It is a good barrier cream. All my best Joyce!

[@reneeshields7567]

Alain I am so inspired by your "painterly" style and hope to gain the confidence to loosen up. Can't wait until part 2! I tried several times to download the step by step guide and it never arrived in my email. I checked my spam folder just in case.

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Renee, I am sorry you did not receive your email. Please email us at [e-mail] and we will send it to you.

[@denisegrossman3840]

I wanted to know if its possible to feature a video, which concentrates on painting rocks and boulders to exhibit density and depth. Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks for the great suggestion!

[@mikenorton4861]

What's the timing of part 2? Love this, so valuable

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Mike. Part 2 will be 30 min long.

[@AlainPicard]

Mike Norton Part 2 comes out on Wednesday April 17!

[@mikenorton4861]

Ha! Wondered if you'd catch my meaning

[@elizabethrice1579]

Please describe how you attach the photo reference. What is it clipped to?

[@lucillefemine2339]

I paint in acrylic mostly. Pastel is new to me and the pastel paper cost is prohibitive. What about gesso'ed watercolor paper?

[@janinecooley2137]

What do you use to keep the UART board on your easel?

[@panchoverde5078]

Will you give us some charcoal drawings? Like 100 of them, please.

[@birgitblume4980]

Thank you very much! When I use soft pastels for the underpainting, they quickly fill the tooth of the paper. How can I avoid that? Do I need a lighter touch?

[@paulinawaas9204]

How do we seal our pastel paintings?

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Paulina, soft pastels should be framed behind glass for final protection. You can fix them with a high-quality fixative like Lascaux for further setting though. It's not currently possible to completely seal a soft pastel painting so that you don't actually need to use glass though. Maybe someday!

[@barbaraeastbourne5398]

Alain, I would like to buy your drawing series. Can you order them in a DVD. I don’t know how to save them on my iPad.

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Barbara, thank you for your interest in the drawing series. You can order the DVDs here: www.picardstudio.com/store/learn-to-draw-dvd-set

[@AlainPicard]

Barbara Eastbourne did that help?

[@barbaraeastbourne5398]

Alain Picard Thank you. I just ordered your DVD’s

[@AlainPicard]

Barbara Eastbourne wonderful! Hope you enjoy them!

[@AlainPicard]

@@barbaraeastbourne5398 That's fantastic! Enjoy!

[@belisaid]

Sorry do you speak french 🤷‍♀️

[@belisaid]

Sorry do you speak french 🤷‍♀️