Underpainting Techniques on UART: Complementary Alcohol Wash Part One

Master pastelist Alain Picard showcases many different underpainting techniques on UART Premium Sanded Pastel Paper. Part One shows how to start by applying a base layer of pastels followed by a wash using denatured alcohol.

[@chrono5128]

Imagine owning the entire visible spectrum in pastels

[@monetcafe]

Great demo. I want your set of pastels! ;)

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

He really has the best voice for teaching. Aside from his excellent teaching that is.

[@johnkutz3207]

He needs to speak up

[@mjpete27]

Alain Imaging seeing you here on this video! Amazing work! Thanks!

[@Kristie-ws9uu]

Hello! I just got so excited watching your demonstration! I have just started using pastels and was in awe of what can be done! I'm just wondering if you show the rest of the video to complete this artwork?? Thank you so much for taking the time to show us how to do that but if it is just amazing!

[@sttarch5150]

I'm drooling over that palette. I like a red that is earthy for underpainting. Burnt Siena is my go-to. Ever been to Siena? that is the color of the earth there. It is striking.

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

Great demo Alain, very helpful.

[@MsJet1]

The underpainting is amazing!

[@La_abbess]

I thought I was listening to Bob Ross, until I heard alcohol underpainting, then I looked over- 😂

[@doreenchristie1260]

Rice fields.... A VERY INTERESTING CONCEPT -FOR ME, UNDER PAINTING WITH ALCOHOL WASH THANKS .....ALAIN PICARD

[@Angelica-bt4hh]

Just wonderful! Thank you for the great tips!

[@maldoori238]

Very interesting and illuminating. Many thanks for sharing your experience.

[@vimeopictures5170]

dayum!! Those pastel collection

[@jeannietoppi5574]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@michellekleingers8238]

Oo la lah! I love all your containers of pastels and the way they're organized! They're almost a work of art just by theirself. Where can I find good quality pastels? Can you recommend some brands etc? Thanks!

[@prayalways-]

interesting. worth a try.

[@dkollaritsch]

love your work and your hair! I am a stylist as well...question...what product are you using on your hair to get that broken up look?? Thanks!!

[@hossamsami1146]

The underpainting itself so beautiful! Wonderful technique. What is the advantage of using alcohol instead of water? Isn't there a risk of the alcohol degrading the paper? Thank you!

[@cg8397]

Alcohol dries much faster than water

[@judithwilliams5773]

One think I think I am missing is the value of the underpainting. Of I want to use a complementary underpainting should it follow the values of the final painting? I want to paint some fall trees, cottonwoods which are all shades of yellow with some green.

[@Morticia147]

It would be more interesting if you could see the whole work till the painting is finished. After this videos I only can see an oddly colored background and thats it.

[@belindaroca4577]

Hi.. love all your videos! I've learned so much.. I've been researching on buying a set of hand made pastels,but I would like your opinion on it. I've been looking at Terry Ludwig, Unison, Jack Richeson and Mungyo. Unison looks so far like the most expensive. Is it really necessary for a quality pastel? Your input would be greatly appreciated.. Thx

[@uartpremiumsandedpastelpap9906]

Hi Belinda. Great pastels don't necessary make great paintings but the quality of good pastels definitely make the difference. Try a few different price points and see where that takes you.

[@nadlavoie7868]

Beautiful ! But could you recommended another kind of paper thant the UART 400 it's like 100$ cdn for 10 sheets...

[@h.briseno8597]

Mineral spirits works as well? I just started working with pastels and love looking at other artists and their techniques. :)

[@uartpremiumsandedpastelpap9906]

Hi Hope. Yes they do!

[@gypsysnickerdoodle4354]

What isn’t explained is why he chooses the varied underpainting warms & cools in the mono dark plant masses by locations. Is it random? Is it theoretically strategic?

[@earlsandyevens]

If you use first aid alcohol, can you dilute the alcohol with water or does one have to keep it pure?

[@christierella]

Why denatured alcohol and not the first aid kind?

[@ginnybarcomb333]

Easton

[@Zomfoo]

What easel is that?

[@Newriverartist]

Great video! I wish I could get more views on my videos. Congrats on your success!

[@wayneharlow310]

How do you mount the UART to the Gatorboard?

[@uartpremiumsandedpastelpap9906]

Hi Wayne. We don't know how Alain does it, but we recommend using dry mounting Grafix Double Tack Mounting Film.

[@cg8397]

Alain Picard has a video on mounting pastel paper, see his KZbin channel.

[@renzo6490]

The sanded paper is “mounted to gator board”. How? How is it ‘mounted’? I think that is a rather important detail if you want us to do as you suggest. Does your paper have the same dimensions as your reference photo? Can we get one good, clear and complete view of the photo? You explained that you want an underpainting in reddish tones to complement the green of the vegetation that will be painted over it. Can you say why the same principle doesn’t apply to the sky? If the sky is pale yellow, wouldn’t you add a light lilac or violet hue underpainting?

[@renzo6490]

@@haroldcerdon6816 - Thank You. But I was hoping for a reply from the people who uploaded the video. I am still waiting.

[@cg8397]

​@@renzo6490Alain Picard has a separate video on his KZbin channel about mounting pastel paper

[@renzo6490]

@@cg8397 Thanks. I wonder if he ever replies to comments...

[@shekinahglory9150]

Does isopropanol alcohol work?

[@uartpremiumsandedpastelpap9906]

Hi Shekinah. Absolutely.

[@uartpremiumsandedpastelpap9906]

Hi Shekinah. Absolutely yes.

[@leighsirvent654]

Is there any difference in painting a sunrise vs a sunset?

[@cg8397]

In terms of techniques, no.

[@jonjonsson6323]

That set cost like sixty k here

[@digiphot2]

Why are pastel purists so hooked on SAND PAPER for eating up their pastels??? What exactly is wrong with a Canson 140 lb. or even a Moulin du Roi 300 Rag bond paper with good tooth? You see...I work with sand paper on wood and find it abrasive for a purpose and eventually for developing a glass smooth surface, and with Sand Paper used in pastels...They don't tell you what grit it is....They just give it a fancy name and expect the artist to take it or leave it, and if only construction sand paper, all they do is name it fancy, and charge five times more per sheet! That is my gripe about Sand paper, paper....it wastes the pastel within it's tooth!

[@sukistrong4500]

Layering

[@kerimaltuncu8152]

is this hard pastel?

[@cg8397]

Since it's the underpainting, yes.

[@marcelorezende1572]

quer casar comigo!

[@margolancaster263]

H