Pastel Painting - Lake Reflections

In this paint along video, learn how to create convincing water reflections with soft pastel. Alain will show you how to capture light and movement in your water reflections. Get the Sky Holes Guide here: mailchi.mp/1aeb99aed9c8/sky-h...
Get seven free underpainting videos here: mailchi.mp/46c0c874901f/under...
Join the Waiting List for Alain's Painterly Landscape Online Course here: picardstudio.mykajabi.com/plc
Alain's Workshops: www.picardstudio.com/workshops/
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[@letsdrawwithmanya1328]

It takes a big heart to teach little minds 😌

[@debykalush9199]

You are the very ,very best, how on earth to you stay so humble? Awesome teaching, a million thanks. It’s beautiful.

[@AlainPicard]

So nice of you, life keeps us humble, and passion too, to desire growth and reach toward something beautiful in the next painting. Helping others keeps us humble as well, remembering we're all in this together. All the best Deby, keep painting!

[@soulrider64]

This one and the one with the back lit tree inspired me so much. Thank you.

[@Frostedminifirecracker]

You are teaching me not to fear my erratic little marks here and there. Walk away. Come back and realize they are what take the painting from a yawn to a wow. Almost every time.

[@jenniferr-m5899]

Thanks, Alain!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Jennifer!

[@sabaydakma]

love the instructions... i see a left handed pastel artist video i hit sub.

[@janapeony8561]

Magical painting,bravo!

[@jdboi8124]

Great Video!

[@picsandpieces]

Thank you Alain .. love watching you paint with confidence and intuitive markmaking and always brilliant colour

[@AlainPicard]

thanks so much, means alot to me!

[@fjv8755]

Thank you for your generosity sharing your magic skills with us.

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Vincent!

[@saumyabhalerao5845]

Your videos are amazing. I am learning so much from them. 😀 Keep inspiring.

[@adamthorntonillustration9281]

Steve Elliot sent me to you. Subscribed! 🙂

[@nurunsupti7439]

Alain, I am a painter I am working water color oil pastel and mixed media but your demonstration always inspired me.I love your coloring.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks Nurun, that's very kind. So glad you enjoy and gain inspiration. All the best!

[@yogibakshi2375]

Beautiful painting sir and beautiful style love it.

[@kerryhelelr8037]

Another fabulous learning video thank you

[@svetlanaproskurovska6795]

Alain, this is magical indeed. Beautiful!

[@mustafamhaji4193]

Just brilliant!

[@susanthrom3092]

Thanks Alain for such another beautiful painting...such gorgeous color complements.

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Susan, it's a real pleasure! All my best to you in your work

[@patriciacoveney1]

Hello Allain, I was directed here by Steve Elliot another you tube artist who is a great admirer of yours. I have just completed my first reflections piece based on your tips but applying them to digital art and I am very happy with the result. The biggest challenge was trying to wash the pastel under painting with lots of water and a big brush! I hope to go through your repertoire of videos and pick up some more tips. Lovely dramatic work thank you .

[@maija-riittavuorikoski2242]

It is so inspiring to watch your videos. Thank you!

[@lauraval4757]

I found it beautiful every step of the way!

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you very much Annviolet!

[@hisdaughter2354]

Beautiful love the violet/yellow palette. You are such a quality teacher. Thank you.👩🏻‍🎨

[@AlainPicard]

Awww, thanks Cindy, that is a big compliment. All my best to you in your creative work!

[@loissnyder8704]

So happy I can find these instructional videos of yours! Was really having trouble with a water scene with reflected trees. I going to try using some of the tips you mentioned…and hopefully get more painterly in my execution!

[@AlainPicard]

wonderful news, I'm glad you found me, and wish you all the best on your pastel journey!

[@elainelogan2023]

WOW! I have heard of artists saying paint the whole under painting orange or red, you kinda did that! I would never have thought of that! I love your pleasant voice and your beautiful curly hair as well! thank you Alain! I am Elaine LOL PS my paintings never look like yours :(

[@mudradnyandeonimbalkar2206]

Sooo good... u r brilliant..

[@karlynwilliams4526]

Great lesson! I enjoyed laying down a pink/purple underpainting. My finished piece is very moody in tone, which I love. Uart is my favorite paper, but this time I experimented with a home-gessoed inexpensive pastel paper. I found it totally adequate for quick studies.

[@flooklh]

Thanks for a really inspiring painting. You make me want to jump up and go grab my pastels and dive into something like this. It's awesome, those red violets and pinks, against the darks of the trees and the light yellows of the sky... Absolutely fabulous. Thank you so much.

[@denisegrossman3840]

Yes, looking forward to it!

[@victoriagadd6831]

Genius - every stroke is a symphony. I hope that doesn’t sound corny but you are truly talented. Thanks

[@adamsaoud7191]

beautiful work as usual

[@KathyBrooksArt]

Amazing lesson and painting!

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you so much! All the best to you in your work!

[@silvanacecchini9701]

Absolutely gorgeous! ❤️

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks so much Silvana!

[@jenniefrench1338]

I enjoyed the tutorial very much! Thank you for sharing those alternative color values that knock it out of the park.😟

[@tel5891]

Great work

[@jancarlton6674]

Thanks again Alain! Another gorgeous painting and edifying demonstration!

[@AlainPicard]

Hey thanks Jan, great to hear from you! Always encouraging. Keep painting!

[@indigojones941]

Wonderful demonstration Alain! I watch you often and am always inspired. I paint in acrylics but I still learn so much from your application of color and how to move from the underpainting to the refined. Really appreciate your fantastic videos!

[@drawwitharchit9389]

Wow

[@rebeccabassett4714]

Thank you for the inspiration to try different colors rather than local colors for landscape paintings. I also see the value of using the med. hard pastels for the underpainting only, and the soft pastels on top. To have the basic same colors as you, I had to mix both hard and soft and it was much harder to achieve what I was going for. I plan to try more of these colors on my own pictures which will be exciting.

[@birgitblume7877]

Beautiful!!! Thank you for this video!!!!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome, Birgit! Good to hear from you!

[@fionaruth2223]

It helps me improve my art.Make more video please!

[@cazlee4493]

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your skill and experience. You are a wonderful teacher. And so kind and calming.

[@deborahbrown1132]

Alain Picard is an excellent teacher. I Took the May 2020 online painterly landscape course, and it was the best, (of ALL the art workshops and university courses that I’ve taken) so incremental, logical, and the instructor is super encouraging

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you so much Deb, that really means alot to us! You did a wonderful job! Keep painting.

[@landonrasmussen4910]

This was very inspiring. I love your painterly techniques.

[@gjlaird]

Stunningly beautiful! I was referred to you by Steve Elliott, and I'm happy for the introduction! :-)

[@thenewartistworkshop9914]

Very beautiful! Nicely done👍

[@miguelesteinmetz6019]

Thank you Alan !!!!

[@vduron1]

Gorgeous!

[@Dony3791]

It's beautiful, with a lovely sky and reflections. Thank you for sharing it.

[@AlainPicard]

That means alot, thank you very much!

[@annesonnenberg9821]

Gorgeous

[@lunamarte]

Maravilloso!!!. Toda esa delicadeza, y esos colores... es genial.

[@JBri5678]

Yes! Can't wait to follow along this weekend. Wishing you good health from Israel

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you very much, and blessings to you as well for good health and much inspiration!

[@janetkelsey7663]

thank you...spectacular!

[@j.p.7914]

Amazing 👍🏻👌🏻Thanks ‼️

[@AlainPicard]

No problem 👍

[@judicleghorn7582]

Wonderful! Reflections are always magical! Cam’t wait to try this out!

[@indykethdy5983]

so handsome!

[@altasomolivsage]

STUNNING. Yep I shouted it! I’m thinking of doing one that is like the undercolors. (In my dreams). But I’d like to try both.

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you Alta! That means alot, really! I wish you all the best in your version, and may your dreams become reality.

[@jamesholder13]

Amazing work as always!

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you James! All the best in your work

[@josephineherrera8508]

Glad to see you have been staying away from the hair cutter!

[@michellekleingers8238]

That's really beautiful. I've really been struggling with my paintings of trees (green), lake (also green), reflections etc. I'm going to incorporate a lot of your color choices and techniques into my lake painting to see if I can inject a lot more pop into it. Can't wait to try this.

[@AlainPicard]

Awesome Michelle! So glad you've got fresh ideas and inspiration. Have fun!

[@shyamaldebnath256]

Sir, m following u since couple of weeks n cannot appreciate more about your teaching ways n knowledge about pastel medium, got some confidence trying on my own. It would be great pleasure if u give some tips to deal with a larger size painting, I mean how to approach from underpainting till finish in short, regards

[@lyneqc7805]

Ty for sharing

[@lyneqc7805]

Your light pink was it a girauld

[@AlainPicard]

You are so welcome Lyne

[@moragburton2841]

Another great video Alain, thank you. What are your objectives with the small colour study please?

[@RT-wk1bd]

A very informative and well done video. I hope to do portraits using pastels and presently have a set of 60 Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils. After watching you draw a portrait using only a few Faber-Castell pencils, I was wondering if is really necessary for me to purchase a set of Prismacolor NuPastels? I live in a small apartment with pets and initially decided to use Faber-Castell pastel pencils rather than soft pastels to reduce the chance of spreading pigment dust. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@SuperColleen01]

Thank you for your video tutorials they are priceless! Do you use alcohol when blending the underpainting?

[@LoubnaNajjar]

Beautiful work! What solvent you use?

[@Trueblue222]

Hi Alain , I find you’re videos both informative as a budding pastel artist but also therapeutic. Yo have a very calm relaxing demeanour. Thank you for your instruction. My question for you is do you use fixatives to hold your paintings and if so at what point in the process do you use them and how do you deal with the darkening effect that fixatives seem to have on the values. Once again thank you.

[@AlainPicard]

Thank you for your kind comments. I only really use fixative as a final securing layer when I will ship my art. I only use Laxcaux Fixativ for it's high quality and non-darkening. It does NOT darken the pigments at all, the only of it's kind. It is added security, but not necessary if you are using good sanded surfaces. I hope that helps

[@Trueblue222]

@@AlainPicard , yes thank you , it is very helpful.

[@gregorysmith5884]

Alan what liquid did u use 2 do the underpainting was it water ? Amazing colours Thanks Lynette 🙂

[@KatherineLWince]

It's been forever since I took a pastel class. did you use water or alcohol to do the blending for the underpainting?

[@mahdieht8919]

Very nicely done and it's going to help me a lot with my coming project! May I ask what brushed you used at the very end?

[@AlainPicard]

It's just a hake brush with squirrel or badger hair. Not too soft, not too hard. Thanks and I hope your coming project goes well!

[@janetfraley4110]

That brush your're using looks like what we use to apply color to hair. Is it?

[@brianross4740]

Hi Alain I’ve just finished watching watercolour under painting and found it really interesting. Thank you so much for taking the time to create these demonstrations. On the Pastel paper you using you didn’t rub the Pastel into the paper so do loose a lot of pastel in dust???? Thank you in advance. Regards Brian Ross

[@AlainPicard]

I use sanded paper, so I don't lose alot, but some dust will fall, I use a cardboard catch just below the painting to catch the dust.

[@carolgaffney6952]

beautiful. can you post your reference photo?

[@josephineherrera8508]

What brand of brush and size are you using to knock down some of the colors?

[@artofmanneherrin5273]

do you spray a fixative after your painting is done?

[@mjpete27]

PheW!~ Well Alain your amazing! BUT You lost me at about the 6 minute mark! I understand the reasoning behind speeding up the video but as a paint along it just got to fast to quick! If I can not keep up with the under-painting how can I stay up with your extraordinary mark making? A truly lovely painting. Thanks for sharing your expertise but not a "paint along" That's for sure! I look forward to your next painting video whither or not it is a paint along or just watching your technique, it is a joy to watch you work! Thanks for the under-painting videos!

[@AlainPicard]

You an always hit that wonderful pause button, Michael! Also, there is a feature on youtube to playback at .25 speed or .5 speed, another great way to slow down the marks. On KZbin I have to try to keep things a bit shorter, you'd be amazed at the average watch time of a video. That's why I teach those longer online courses, to give you ALL the gritty details. Keep painting you are doing great!

[@mjpete27]

Alain Picard thanks! I know videos have to be on the shorter side, even the dreaded algorithm picks on the longer ones! I am just going to have to try again and use the pause and slow features that I can. You create truly inspirational art and I thank you for continuing to post here as well as your phenomenal online classes!

[@judicleghorn7582]

Alain, will you be offering any online classes this summer?

[@AlainPicard]

Hey Judi, running the course again in the fall for sure. You can get on the waitlist here: mailchi.mp/56ae09e3355c/yes-please

[@isabellefoubert785]

Alain j'adore votre travail, au debut de la vidéo , comment faites vous pour diluer la poudre du pastel , c'est du pastel à l huile ? merci

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Isabelle, thank you. I use isopropyl alcohol, you can get it at the pharmacy or grocery store. The soft pastel is water based, not oil based. Hope that helps!

[@elainelogan2023]

DID you use alcohol or water for the under painting and does it matter?

[@janinecooley2137]

In this painting I noted you actually went from light to dark instead of the reverse. Can you comment on that?

[@AlainPicard]

Hi Janine, I actually massed in the big shapes of darker value with the underpainting, but not fully dark. Then I massed in the dark values before adding the sky. I circle back at the final pass to anchor the darkest darks and lightest lights. But I still think in terms of value shapes of dark, middle, light.

[@sman7099]

Hi, is the wash just using water?

[@AlainPicard]

the wash used here is isopropyl alcohol. You can use water, but the drying time is alot longer.

[@debiwomack5063]

Hello

[@jenniferdavis6115]

My bad: you did slow down..

Your style is really good. I came from the Steve Elliott chanel, kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXycqodopJqmr6c and he was quoting you. I never contacted you because i think you are in the highest level of pastel, but yes , you have influenced me a lot to create my digital pastels for Krita. Thanks

[@LS-yp5yj]

Nice to watch, but in portions it was sped up too much. You could not tell what colours were used or see clearly what you were accomplishing.

[@jenniferdavis6115]

Painting too fast.

[@AlainPicard]

Try the playback speed if you want to slow down any part, KZbin will let you play back at 1/4 speed, it can really help!

[@jenniferdavis6115]

You are painting just way too fast.