Spring Landscape Painting Tutorial: Forsythia with Pastels

This soft pastels tutorial walks you through the steps of spring landscape painting with forsythia and flowers. I use the wet underpainting technique to establish the base colors for the atmospheric background and bring the energy to the foreground colors. I show how to paint the trees in the background that let the main center of interest, forsythia, shine.
For the Underpainting technique:
Hard pastels (I used NuPastels, currently the company sells them only as sets, but you can use other hard pastel brands if you'd like to get single sticks)
Isopropyl Alcohol (70%) for the underpainting (sold in pharmacies)
Flat Synthetic brush 3/4" (sold in craft and art supply stores, get a cheaper one, don't ruin good watercolor brushes on sanded paper!)
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- If you’d like to learn more in depth about pastel painting and my techniques please check out my Self-Study courses:
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[@thereserioux2178]

Very impressing! Your instructions are very helpful. Thank you!

[@LanaBallot]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@thereserioux2178]

How do you protect your work, do you frame it under glass or you apply a sealer?

[@LanaBallot]

Pastel always goes under glass. Some people use fixative but it still needs to go under glass. Fixative might make it a bit darker, I usually don't use it.

[@thereserioux2178]

@@LanaBallot Thank you so much!

[@susansteele691]

The alchohol on the base color blocking is a new idea for me. I will be trying it.

[@LanaBallot]

I usually would use that on white or very light paper, but sometimes it works well on a toned paper too.

[@jonlord1038]

Thank you for sharing this demonstration, truly enjoyed it...

[@LanaBallot]

So glad you did, thanks!

[@aliciamolloy5948]

Thank you so much Lana. Beautiful painting ❤❤

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks! Glad you loved it

[@1DaTJo]

What a beautiful painting! Excellent. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. ❤

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you! I’m glad you loved it!

[@kathyswearingen1509]

Lovely with great teaching thank you

[@LanaBallot]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@j.p.7914]

Thanks 🙏🏻 Amazing 👍🏻👌🏻‼️🍁🌻‼️

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you!

[@user-pc7sv6uo7i]

Beautiful Lana, your explanations for doing certain things are so really helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks Patricia! I'm glad it helps :)

[@user-pc7sv6uo7i]

@@LanaBallot I took a workshop with you at The Art Guild a few years back & learned so much! I'm not so interested in painting waves, but I notice that you have several landscape tutorials which I'm going to head to next. Thanks again!

[@LanaBallot]

Yes, I remember that you were in my workshop. I'm glad you found me here too. I will be posting more landscapes here, stay tuned :)

[@Coco2345ful]

Beautiful!

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you!

[@grazynagruszczynska1879]

What a beautiful spring! I love it!

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you!

[@cherihermans9118]

A beautiful painting. I love seeing it come alive ❤

[@LanaBallot]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@user-sj8eq9jx6q]

Thank you!

[@LanaBallot]

You are welcome!

[@irwintatyana9066]

So beautiful love it, happy plants

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you ❤️

[@Xyz19781i]

this is beyond comprehension. Absolutely stunning.

[@LanaBallot]

Much appreciated ❤️

[@superclark1981]

I can say as an artist this is incredible tutorial.

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@birgitblume4980]

Thank you so much for your gorgeous tutorials here on YT!

[@LanaBallot]

You are welcome, Birgit! 🌷

[@silviasunesen7649]

Beautiful. Thank you

[@LanaBallot]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@preetimaheshwari9018]

Thank you so much for such a detailed video and sharing your techniques. Totally love it.

[@LanaBallot]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@vegter8666]

Stunning as always. 👌🏻

[@LanaBallot]

I’m glad you like it ❤️

[@nh5083]

You're so talented and a good teacher. Just found you and bow following. Beautiful pastel!

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you! ❤️

[@kayleenwest]

Lana I love how you handled that blossom. It is the perfect amount of detail; simply but beautifully stated at the focal point. Your colour choices just as perfect. We paint in a similar way. It lovely to find another impressionistic pastelist on here. ❤

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you Kayleen! I'm glad you enjoyed my demo and you like my loose style. I'm looking forward to exploring your channel.

[@MoniqueBourgeois]

Amazing painting. Enjoyed watching the entire process:)

[@LanaBallot]

That makes me happy! Thanks! ❤️

[@pambuccilli3561]

Another great tutorial ❤

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@mdush1424]

@@LanaBallot 😊

[@LanaBallot]

@@mdush1424 Thanks!

[@mariaroca5762]

Thank you for a fantastic video and a gorgeous painting!

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks! So glad you loved it ❤️

[@ILuvCaroline]

Amazing artist!!!! You and Susan Jenkins are very talented!

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you! Susan is wonderful

[@cyndi2060]

Heheh the backwash finish looks like a troll doll peaking up from tall grass! Cute!!!

[@LanaBallot]

I’ll have to take a look 😊

[@philomenacesta563]

You are amazing. Thank you.

[@LanaBallot]

I appreciate that :)

[@daisydog8127]

Just lovely! Thank you

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks, Daisy!

[@liliyadudko9959]

thank you for sharing!

[@LanaBallot]

You are welcome!

[@pinkpet25]

I just discovered you today. Really enjoyed watching how you painted the forsythia. I usually paint animals on pastelmat paper but I’m looking forward to start with landscapes. Your video gives lots of insight into the techniques I could learn. Thank you. I live in the UK but grew up in California.

[@LanaBallot]

I'm so glad this helps you to start with the landscapes! It's a wonderful subject, have fun! ❤️

[@kathiemiller7223]

Wow! It's like the bush is lit from within. Love it. I would like to learn how to paint smooth ripples on calm water. Like the ripples created by a duck or an animal standing in calm water. I love watching your videos, I learn something new every time. Thank you so much for making these. Learning pastels can be so tricky, but you break it down and makes more sense.

[@LanaBallot]

Glad you liked it Kathie! And thanks for the demo idea! I think this might be an interesting subject, stay tuned for the demo with ripples 😁

[@Homengineer-artist]

This painting is so beautiful, I live it. I am going to try and paint it myself. It's gorgeous.

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you! Yes, definitely try it

[@atomicyang6702]

Wow! This is soft pastel. I didn't know it can create such beautiful art. Wonderful ❤.

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you! Pastel is a very versatile medium 😁

[@cmaranatha9890]

Beautiful!! It was a joy to watch the process!

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks!

[@bonniemueller1308]

Thank you, Lana. Beautiful demo!

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks!

[@Oleander3333]

I love this painting. I even went to buy a forsythia plant for my garden because of it hoping one day it’ll bloom like this one . I also made a clumsy attempt to paint it. I did many things wrong but only something right. I did it in an evening and felt a bit deflated after finishing it before going to bed. And just that few something I did right already made it quite pretty in daylight the next morning when I saw it! I will watch it again and give it another try to improve it. It is really fun! Thank you for sharing it.😊

[@LanaBallot]

This is so awesome! Thanks for sharing this little story! It makes me happy that my painting was a reason you added a forsythia to your garden 😁 You’ll be painting it once it starts blooming!

[@marlibenevenga3016]

Lindo trabalho artístico. Contrações artista !

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks!

[@joaniemiller4362]

Very nice

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks!

[@PersTV]

Great tutorial...very informative and relaxing at the same time! Keep the vids coming!

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you! Glad you liked the video

[@dmcdaniel2009]

AWESOME LANA !! GREAT TEACHING ON HANDELING COLOR IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS ! Liked and subscribed, thank you!

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks! and welcome to my channel ❤️

[@eddiepalmer5740]

You're amazing.❤

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@Shopgirl49]

Gorgeous painting 🖼️

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you Cheryll!

[@brendatrujillo2666]

Wonderful!❤️

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you!

[@kimbakerpaints]

Beautiful!💓

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you Kim!

[@sonamsaxena328]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@KashiGirl911]

Beautiful

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you!

[@dewimuarifa-art6508]

Thanx lana...ita a beautiful paintings....

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you!

[@dewimuarifa-art6508]

Im exited n wanna try painting this too....may i?

[@LanaBallot]

Sure, you can paint it. Just mention that it's done following Lana Ballot's KZbin tutorial if you post it anywhere. Happy painting!

[@dewimuarifa-art6508]

Wahh tankyou so much lana🤩🤩🤩

[@emilyadams6194]

I'm so glad I stumbled on your wonderful video. Will be looking to find more immediately. Picked up so much information, including the order in which you applied color and layered the warm and cool colors; the use of very controlled but valuable detail; your choice of color in the underpainting that establishes a mood. Would love to know the paper you use (it seems to be sanded), the size of this painting and the mixture of pastels you use. Thank you for a lovely experience.

[@LanaBallot]

You are very welcome Emily! Glad you found it 😊

[@mariadagloriasantosdeolive1593]

E uma aula maravilhosa dr grade valia

[@LanaBallot]

Thank you 😊

[@rta3738]

Thanks for this and all your KZbin videos. I learn something from each. Your music selections go well with the video. Do you have music playing while painting? If so, could you share some selections with us?

[@LanaBallot]

I'm glad my videos are helpful. I uses the KZbin's royalty free music library. I listen to some music when I'm painting if possible, but of course not when I'm recording the videos. I cannot really tell much about the music, what it is. My husband picked something for me. One is a classical music station, that's great too.

[@user-bi8eh6jb3g]

Lana, this is a wonderful tutorial. Thank you so much! What brand of soft pastels are you using and when in the video you start layering them on top of the hard pastels? I think I missed that. Thanks again

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks! I usually do one or two layers with hard pastels before soft ones. As far as brands, it’s hard to tell - I use a lot different brands and they are mixed in my box.

[@user-bi8eh6jb3g]

@@LanaBallot Thank you so much Lana. It is very kind of you to answer so quickly! I love your channel. Happy Holidays to you! :)

[@junelong-schuman3733]

Love it! Wondering if your technique can be applied to acrylic paint? Thanks for posting. 😊

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks June! I'd think that you can definitely use the same principle - building up the values first to get the volume and let the highlights shine more. I have not worked much in acrylics, I have them but always felt like they don't mix quite like I'd like to. Maybe I'll give them a try again when I get a chance 😁🌷

[@LinWarren]

I’ll be teaching this to my class today and don’t recall me ever finding out what the list of colors would be. Can you please in your future videos, at least show the colors that you’ll be using so I can hand them out

[@LanaBallot]

I give swatches for the demos for the students in my courses and Zoom classes. There are a couple of videos here on KZbin that show swatches because initially I created them as my class exercises, but I cannot provide color swatches for KZbin videos.

[@user-rb4zi8ju8c]

👋👍🔥

[@LanaBallot]

Спасибо!

[@b.cherter1380]

Hey, which kind of paper do you use here? Thanks in forward

[@LanaBallot]

This is the Canson Touch paper, their sanded version. The color is Twilight.

[@myalicioglu]

Did you use split colors in this painting?

[@LanaBallot]

Not sure what you mean by that. If the question about selecting specific color palette in advance, no I don’t do that.

[@user-ep8my4vg3o]

Es pastel al oleo?

[@LanaBallot]

Pastel

[@robindurso6911]

What paper are you using?

[@LanaBallot]

It’s Canson Touch toned paper, the color is Twilight.

[@LanaBallot]

Robin, I gave you the wrong paper. The color is Soft Umber, there's a link to this paper (on Blick) in my description after the video.

[@Alithios]

Would be amazing without the background music loop!! Otherwise, excellent working commentary.

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks! It was done while I was still trying to figure out if I want the music in the videos.

[@2222marilyn]

Beautiful!

[@LanaBallot]

Thanks!