Using Soft Pastels on Backgrounds in Coloring Books

[@eugenemorrill7009]

Here is a little TIP: If you would like to save the sharp side of your X-acto knife, scrape the pastels with the dull side of the blade. It works just as well and does not dull your knife.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Oooh! Thanks, Eugene! I never would have thought to do that! I've learned something new today. :) Many thanks!

[@DiannaGutoski]

Thanks, I just started with pastels and I learned alot from this video.

[@judylittle2919]

Your picture is absolutely beautiful!

[@chainilotus1117]

Little late to add this but if you have trouble with using the exacto knife or are nervous using something so sharp, I use the diamond painting pans. If you drag the pastel across the ridges you can create the dust and you can wipe out the tray and reuse.

[@khaalis9385]

Thank you so much for this! I've only been coloring for about 8 months and backgrounds prove to be my Achilles Heel. May I tell you how many backgrounds I have done in my completed pictures? None. Zip. Nada. Zero. Goose egg. All of my pictures have one thing in common though -- white backgrounds! Ha! At least I am consistent! So this video will lift me into the stratosphere of art!

[@kimberlyzinzow2333]

I absolutely love all of your Tutorials! You explain things so well that anyone can understand and learn from you! My coloring has improved so much from watching you! I subscribe to many others but you take the cake!!! Keep it up please!

[@normawingo5116]

I’m just so happy that Johanna hasn’t run out of ideas. Great, inspiring video. I love the museum theme, so creative. Lovely

[@AmazinGraceXOXO1]

Dude. This helped me so much. The circle thing you did and then you flip it to the side to overlap the circles and mix the colors.... such a common sense thing and yet I've never thought of that lol

[@brittanyrose6294]

This is exactly the video I was after!! Thankyou xx

[@pennyrockysmomma4445]

Thank you! I’ve just started using pastels, and I’ll have more success after watching this!

[@berryfairy68]

What an awesome idea ... I color a lot of fairy and nature scenes and it takes a long time to create soft, magical backgrounds with pencils, so this is perfect 😊

[@AaliyahAliSlaveOfAllah]

yes, youre right!

[@deborahjane68]

Thank You For Sharing. Looks Beautiful.

[@Shariba29]

Fantastic demonstration of how you use your pastels for a background. Thank you so much for showing us Erin. ❤️

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Thank you, Shari!

[@dkehlenbach]

Great tips - many thanks for sharing! I just started using pastels to hand-color my black and white photographs and these techniques will work great!

[@sheilapechman8962]

Terrific tutorial. I've kept away from using my pastels but now I feel confident thanks to your instructions. 😊

[@kathybradley8315]

Thanks for sharing the background techniques, Erin!

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Thanks for watching!

[@NisesSanctuary]

Pastels add so much to a picture and I love using them. It’s amazing what can be done with them.

[@deepowers3117]

Thank you for this video that shows us how to use soft pastels as a background. The problem I had was that the pastels wanted to bunch up on the Q-tips and it would only leave one dark spot on the paper and then quit while the rest of it stayed caked on the Q-tip. I had the same problem when I tried to use a dry powdery eye shadow. Is it because I applied the cotton tip directly to the pastel stick instead of scraping the pastel off onto a plate first? It really seemed to want to stick firmly to the cotton, and also to the dry eye shadow applicator. I think I answered my own question. No skipping the scraping the pastel onto the plate, right? Wonderful video for those of us who obviously don't know a thing about what we're doing when it comes to using soft pastels. Your picture was very beautiful, and all your instruction was really, really appreciated. Thank you!

[@pamelamiller9969]

I appreciate the video. I know I mentioned backgrounds about a week ago and here u are demonstrating! You have given me more information on how to apply the chalk. The blending stump seems to work quite well. I've been looking at the mungo pastels to purchase as well. Thanks again!!

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

You're very welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@crystalgillis9296]

Color Shapers...Thank you! I've been looking for that product name for months. Now I can finally order some! 😊

[@robinsummers9141]

Thanks Erin for the video on how to use the pastels different ways. I have had the Mungyo pastels in my save for later cart forever. I really need to jump on the bandwagon and get them.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

You will be glad you did. They come in so useful for things, and they're very inexpensive. They also last for-ev-er. I've used mine a LOT and they still look new!

[@jandermom]

Great tutorial! Do you use a fixative spray to set the pastel? If so, which one?

[@kimberlywalker1015]

Beautiful picture. .. I agree with you leaving the birdcage alone draws the eye...love your coloring book☺

[@screamingmimi90]

A kneaded eraser is great for picking up pastel dust and getting rid of errant smudges.❤️ I love that scritching sound of the stump, though.🤷🏻‍♀️ Also, about the smearing of pastels: you can get a workable-fixative (kinda pricey, and kinda toxic, though) to put on before your colored pencils, or you can lightly spray hairspray on the page after. Make sure it’s a light spray, or the alcohol could dissolve the pencil. Probably 18”-24” away from the paper is good. I love the varied application of color! Makes the background light more interesting. The cage looks like it’s glowing. Just beautiful.❤️

[@johncarrico4283]

Your awesome ! I love the way you teach us tools and technics .. this would take months of trial and error to figure out ill be going to Micheal’s this week for my soft pastels and the tools i need .. cant wait to start adding these colors to my charcoal drawings .. 😊👍🏻👍🏻

[@kimberlyzinzow2333]

Mungyo pastels are cheap on Amazon!!!

[@sherrysterner5276]

The best video I've watched on backgrounds. Thank you so much. I really learned a lot. Trust me. I needed help!😉

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Glad you enjoyed it Sherry!

[@7bobette]

This video is awesome! I’ve been looking for tips to colour my backgrounds with pastels for a long time and haven’t found one as helpful as yours!,,, and what are the chances that I have exactly the same pack of pastels! Thank you for the video and I am ready to colour now!

[@sandidoty1142]

I really enjoyed this video! I learned a lot and I may get up the courage to do a background by Thanksgiving. You have a very light touch which I need to learn. Thank you for the fun video.

[@mariannekeller7504]

Love this idea. Do you spray a fixative on when you are done? How about after the pencil and before the pastel to keep it from smearing the pencil? Thank you so much!!

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

I think fixative before the pastel might be a good idea, but honestly, I don't worry about it too much. The transfer is so slight (if any at all) that I can just erase it if need be. I'm a bit lazy when it comes to fixative - it smells bad. Haha. I try to avoid it if at all possible. You absolutely could use it, though!

[@brawyn777]

really nice,looks better than distress ink,wow,never thought of this,love it

[@catbriggs8362]

Do you recommend any particular fixative? Several people here have asked, but I have not seen a reply. :) Thanks!

[@timyank8433]

Just bought these same pastels, looking forward to trying this!

[@GodsSmile]

Erin you channel is helping me so much lassy : ) THANK U !

[@Priscilla81ful]

Thank you very informative I have never used pastels because I didn’t know how. You are a great teacher. Thanks again

[@pamobryan5455]

Thanks so much!!!!! Perfect!!! But where do I get a blending stump? Where are those cut out patter sheets at Wal-Mart please? THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

[@vernabailey3671]

Love this! I've always been stumped (hee hee) on how to get into the tight area and a qtip just wasn't doing it. I never thought of a stump. Great video. 😊

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Thanks, Verna! The stump works wonders!

[@tonidrury6768]

Erin, I'm a little late commenting but thank you so much for showing more ways to use the pastels for backgrounds... now my unloved blending stumps have found a purpose...lol...beautiful!

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Yay! I'm glad I helped your unloved stumps get some love! :) Thank you!

[@maggiehughes4283]

Fabulous, enjoyed this page very much

[@lasalsera-x8d]

23:13 What do you call the plastic sheet you use under the paper? I want one but I don't know what it is called 😂

[@brendasmith-allen4601]

Do you use any fixative after you have finished pencils or pastels to preserve it?

[@DD-d6d3]

I'm loving your channel. Thanks for sharing.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Thank you Doreeen

[@Sullykitten555]

Beautiful! I know I’m a little late to this but searched pastel backgrounds and yours was the top video and it was very helpful! Quick question though, do you use fixative after? And if so, which one? Many thanks

[@dyannmorgott4376]

Great tips, I really enjoyed your video. I would like to know the brands of the blending tools you used. I have no idea how to find the description box. Help! Found it, thanks!

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Glad to hear! I'm also really glad this is helping you!

[@ruthranieri9268]

Thanks for showing this technique. Looked at several techniques and I think I am going to try this one first. An art company sells just pastel tools if I decide to venture into this more.

[@lindarowley749]

Great tutorial. I use the pastels a lot, but you gave good ideas. I like the blender stump - I don't really use it with gamsol so glad to find a use for them.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Linda, if you use any oil-based colored pencils (like Polychromos), the stumps will blend them to a degree just dry. They work well for my Polychromos once I have several layers down. No chemicals needed!

[@lindarowley749]

I hadn't even though of that. I have a couple oil based pencils - time to experiment. Thanks.

[@s.e.hebert7307]

Messy is the funnest! I like to either shave the pastel onto the coloring page or even draw on the page with them. For instance , I'd draw a small circle then blend it out, as a gradient, for a radiating star effect or waves in the water. I hadn't thought of using a blending stump nor stencils!

[@deepowers3117]

Thank you for this video on how to use soft pastels for backgrounds. My problem was that if I tried to rub a Q-tip onto a pastel it would clump up in the cotton and just put a tiny dark spot of pastel on the paper. Is that because I tried to take the color directly from the pastel instead of scraping the pastel into a powder on a plate first? The same thing happened when I tried to substitute powder eye shadow for the pastel.

[@BettaBeautiful1]

Thank you. Love using pastels. I tried the stumps, but they didn't move the colors well in the book I tried. But can see they move good with that book. So I'm going to have to give them another shot in a different book... would love to use my stumps for them, as I don't use them for anything else at this point. That book had real rough paper, which may of prevented the pastels from moving.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Sometimes it's the paper, and sometimes it's the pastels. Different ones have different textures. These Mungyo ones get REALLY fine when you shave them. But I agree.... it is definitely a pain on really rough paper.

[@marlisetp]

What a valuable video, Erin.

[@ShatteredRippleBooks]

Now I just need to find my hemostats. They are also used in dollmaking that's why I bought them. Your video is super helpful thanks for sharing 😁.

[@EbbyNermal]

Good stuff, Erin. Thanks for doing this one, these pointers are going to be very helpful. Now my blending stumps can collect chalk dust instead of the airborne flotsam swirling around in my house. Woo!

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Haha! Someone else in the comments pointed out that the stumps don't work well on all types of paper, so I'd probably check it in a "tester" page beforehand. I know what you mean about flotsam. I think the air in my home is probably 1/4 pencil dust. Hehe.

[@EbbyNermal]

An even split of pencil dust and eraser particulate in my case. :P

[@ABC-co8id]

Just what i needed! Amazing tutorial !

[@bettyedayadams2769]

Do you spray your work with a fixer after you finished. Your work is beautiful and your Video very helpful. Bettye Day Adams

[@barbaracantwell8831]

Thank you for sharing this technique. Question: What type of fixative did you use to seal the page. Also, did you use wax based colored pencils or oil based colored pencils?

[@shutterbird13]

She said it's done with Polychromos, and those are oil based. I'm curious about fixatives, as well...

[@kayrusher1647]

6

[@louisedimond9315]

Enjoyed this one thank you 😊 off to shop for pastels 💗

[@elizabethrivera3288]

Thanks for the video. Can you use a Fixatif to protect it without smearing the color pencil?

[@moriganna67ify]

Thank you for these tips. I have soft pastels and love working with them and using them in a colouring page background is a great idea! I will definitely play with this idea once my official art area is set up. Right now my art supplies kind of travel all around my apartment with me. LOL We are going to set up my craft/art area soon. I am saving the Premiere Prismacolours for then.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

That'll be a nice way to celebrate having everything where you like it!

[@carmellelapointe7583]

Great video!! Thank you for sharing😉

[@jeanmayo4076]

just now trying chalks, thank you for the informative video with demo and info on tools! Do you use a fixative when you are done? Is it necessary?

[@sugarcandy243]

Pastels don't really stick to oil based pencils, so you can go over them. Prismacolor will smear though! I would still test them before you use it on a page, specifically by using a dark pastel color over a light colored pencil like a dark blue over yellow etc.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Hi Shilpa. I used Polychromos on this page and it smeared the black around the butterfly, so I was trying to be careful elsewhere. I will put the pastel down first if I'm using wax pencils; the pastels do stain the wax. I've used pastels a million times.

[@maryshaffer7300]

Thank you, this has been a big help!

[@isobelmoore7025]

This was a great video thank you! Can’t wait to try it out

[@tonilea1212]

These pastels are new to me. Interesting.

[@brandonsmith1198]

This video is too terrific so how old I am at how long can you keep your paper stump that clean

[@JStillings03]

Could you use a fixative on the color pencil before you added the pastel background?

[@JaggedReality]

Hi Erin, I have a box of crayola coloured art chalk , do you know if that can be used the same way as the chalk pastels?

[@elizabethnaylis3851]

So if using a blending tool how do you switch colors with a blending tool without using the previous color ? Like how do you get it ready for the next color?

[@dianatapia9274]

Wondering if you could use eye shadow that I have so so much of instead of pastels.

[@sarjenka]

Just try :)

[@pamelaoneal3229]

This was very informative. It gave me other tips on how to use my pastels

[@irishr.4140]

very well explained this is the best vid thanks for sharing First time here and new sub.

[@pamobryan5455]

Thank you!!!!!!! Pretty pictures!!!!!!

[@tonyafromaz]

Thanks for the tips! I need to get some stencils.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Stencils are FUN!

[@marciamullings3787]

Thank you for your help I have some I did not know how to use them

[@ShirleySingh-w9e]

What are the two long sticks in the the soft pastels? (One black and one white)

[@Vonnies1929]

Pretty!!!

[@jayteadesigns]

Great information, thanks!

[@themommywifelife3558]

Great video I have one question. What is that plastic oversized sheet that you use to put between the sheets of your coloring book. I am try to find it but I don't know what it is called. I would really appreciate your help so that I can get my hands on one. Thank you and you have one more subscriber :)

[@cindydecker57]

Not sure what plastic mat she is using exactly. I have seen people using a flexible kitchen cutting mat/chopping mat which can be found at some dollar stores.

[@ShelleensCreativityRoom]

Thank you so much. This was very helpful.

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

Thanks, Shelleen! Glad you thought so. I'm about to go catch up on all your videos here in just a bit. I'm behind on two of them, I think.

[@squeezable]

Could you do same with mica powders?

[@AlissaAddingColor]

Thank you for the tutorial!!

[@rebeccalane3039]

The pastels I have are chalk pastels are your pastels different ? I can’t seem to get my ones to produce any colour on the page ..

[@debbielewis3910]

Can I use a finger sponge

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

How do you stop the pastels from transferring to the opposite page?

[@jocelyncharleswood5430]

Spray with a fixatif such as Krylon workable fixatif

[@sarjenka]

You can use hairspray as well. Way cheaper

[@alisonbranagan8914]

Do you use something to fix the pastels after?

[@sassipants1]

Do you have to scrape color off with a knife? I would like to give my granddaughter some of these but I don’t want her using an exact knife.

[@youlooksocool1975]

Maybe she could use something less dangerous, like edge of a ruler or something :)

[@passionforcolouring5992]

How do you clean the stumps after use. ☺️

[@sassipants1]

I don’t understand what the bubbles look like finished. Bubbles all over the page? Or are they blended?

[@beverlydunn4741]

Can you use pastel pencils for this? How?

[@debbieemerine8582]

I have been wanting to try pastels for backgrounds. Thank You so much. One question do you put anything on your picture to set the pastels?

[@karenkess7945]

so beautifull!

[@rachellafontaine4303]

Hello where did you get the stencil ? Thank you

[@gentlespirit3547]

Where do you find the color shapers, and how much do they cost? Thanks very much for this instructional video.

[@valerielboss]

Is that just a paint brush that you are using right around the 32 min mark?

[@tiabeaniesemotionalsupportdmon]

She is using a silicone tool for clay sculpting. I get mine from Amazon and they’re pretty inexpensive.

[@2robdot]

Thanks. They make q tips that have a large flat end on one end.

[@bunnyjanie]

This is very pretty !

[@heavenfxeyesforsale]

Pretty thank u!

[@francoisegrenot1335]

Hello ! Thank you for the video😉 Where can I found the plastic stencils please? Thank you 😊

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

I got the bigger ones (the white ones) at Walmart in the sewing aisle. The smaller ones were at Office Depot. Thanks for watching!

[@francoisegrenot1335]

Simple Art for Adults thanks a lot😉have a nice day🌞

[@evagalvez6375]

Nice 😍

[@jadeau9980]

Thank you! I really appreciate this video 😍 I have a question. Will the pastel transfer to the page that you have colored on the opposite page?

[@SimpleArtforAdults]

It might! You can either spray your page with a fixative and let it dry, or you can just stick some tracing paper or glassine between the pages. Either way will keep your pages safe.

[@Jana-TheCraftyGambler]

Too funny, yes, I was born in ‘62 so I get it.I bought a bunch of loose eye shadows from the Dollar Tree. I bet that would work well too. I’ll have to try it.