What Can You Paint with Limited Palette? Seascape Pastel Demo

[@lucyspastels]

The “teenage years” is such a wonderful, true statement!

[@lucyspastels]

Your composition is much better than the photo and is good for beginners to see.

[@Megzamani]

Thank you more. I just bought 22 sennilier sticks today. I bought broken ones at half cost. Best I could do.

[@altasomolivsage]

I would just like to also encourage everyone to watch the painting to the very end because it does go through a very messy stage it’s like the ugly duckling stage but it will turn into a swan. Just keep looking and remember that on Patreon she teaches so so much and you will learn a lot especially if you are a beginner but she has expanded on that and is teaching composition and it’s never ending.I have been a Patreon member for over two years and I have learned so much from her. Stick with it if you really want to learn something. I don’t think I could’ve learned if it had not been for her method of teaching. I needed to know that everything wasn’t perfect but it could turn into a stunning piece of artwork.

[@KarenMargulis]

Alta thank you!! I appreciate your support and for taking the time to write such a wonderful testimonial! It is my pleasure to share with you!!

[@susanobyrnes1524]

I really loved this painting. The flower surprise was great !

[@Engelhafen]

You are an exceptional instructor

[@canadaverydry]

To me you are the best paster teacher online! ; Thanks a lot Karen!

[@KarenMargulis]

Wow, thank you!

[@gullwingstorm857]

All your paintings are beautiful, but I think I love this one the best. So far.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@paint_me_blue-art_watercolors]

Dear Karen thank you for all your videos and lessons. Your educational approach is just wonderful. I have watched almost all of your videos and learned so much. Thank you ❤❤❤

[@denisewyant6457]

Just came across this video. Such a beautiful painting! While I don't work with pastels, I learn a lot about color and composition from watching you paint. Thank you for continuing to make such good videos!

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@1gabhriel]

Really enjoyed this video, waiting on some soft pastels I think when they arrive I will try and paint along.

[@veroniquejeannedemarbre5630]

I like the way you explain how to pain with pastels. It's great to learn and to progress! Many thanks for sharing.

[@KarenMargulis]

My pleasure 😊

[@yungchinghung3844]

Love this video and the colours in the painting are just gorgeous! Thank you for such a great demo.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@sabinelloyd8532]

Brilliant demo! I have just been to the North Sea Island of Texel, Netherlands. Dunes with heather and stormy skies. I think this demo will help me commit these to paper. Thank you so much!

[@KarenMargulis]

Have fun!

[@yf4012]

The colours in this painting are gorgeous. I’m mesmerized by your amazing painting skills and enjoy watching your videos immensely. Thanks Karen!🇦🇺💛🧡❤️♥️💗💜💙💚

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much 😀

[@ceciliamateu]

Thanks Karen, I love watching your videos. Your comments about how to layer and keep checking the composition are so useful! I don't paint with pastels and even so I find your videos so instructive, and they're just a pleasure to watch.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching!

[@l38blue72]

You make it look so easy but there is so much skill involved in your compositions. So often you take a mundane photo and turn it into a wonderful painting. Thanks for sharing,

[@KarenMargulis]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate you watching!

[@jenniferdavis6115]

You are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@lta2356]

Thank you. Your sessions are always awesome.

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad you like them! I appreciate you watching!

[@tamaraculp1139]

I particularly appreciated the tip to angle your marks in the sky to direct the eye. Thanks for that one!

[@KarenMargulis]

Glad it was helpful!

[@karenzeller3609]

Beautiful work.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you very much!

[@miguelesteinmetz6019]

Thank you Karen for all your explanation and for your generosity 🙏

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome!

[@claudiabudana4571]

Karen, thank you so much for your videos. Your explanations are simply excellent!! I am painting only for the last 4 months, but your videos have already brought me to a level that I would have never expected to be able to reach within such a short time. I turned into a painting and color addict! Only last night I painted the picture of this video and it became a "color explosion". I love it! THANK YOU!!!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your feedback and I am so happy to share with you!

[@mjpete27]

I really enjoyed watching you change your "vision" for the painting when you did not have the color of pastel you saw in the picture so you just changed your vision of the scene to match your pastel selection! I would love to see even more seascapes! Yes this is more of a sand-scape but Lets just go for it! Thanks Karen!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@wilmawernick9242]

Thank you for your comments and actions on the directions of your marks that you make on the drawing. It is important and something I often forget to do.

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@svetlanaproskurovska6795]

Karen, this is a very lovely painting of a very attractive motif. I love the color of the sky! the whole color combination is lively and work in harmony with one another. I was not sure about those orange flowers, which looked dark to me. Even without them the painting was interesting. To me, as I live at the seaside, it is important that you address this theme, as it gives me ideas for my future works. Thank you!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much! I will be doing another focus on the seashore on Patreon!

[@misterlori6654]

I love your style

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@debthomas3947]

Karen, there is never one of your videos from which I do not learn something new! I purchased the Sennelier Plein Air about a month ago. So creamy that as a beginner, I wonder if they are too good for me! 😉BUT so beautiful to work with. Thank you for all your inspiration!

[@KarenMargulis]

Wonderful! Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@sueaberle935]

Beautiful

[@deborahsilverblatt9248]

I love the way you teach and I learn so much from watching your videos!! I'm new to pastels and I couldn't have hoped to find such a fine instructor as your self! Thank you for everything you do!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@ediedanley2195]

My first introduction to your work and it made my heart sing....truly gorgeous, and I am hooked

[@KarenMargulis]

Wow, thank you!

[@cinnie2543]

That is just luscious.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@NolaDWrites]

Just love your work.

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you very much!

[@sofianavarrete1311]

Watched the whole video and loved your choice of color and style. Will be back for more lessons. Thank you

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much 😊

[@joannschoenleber813]

You’re such an outstanding instructor! I learn so much from you. Wow those sennelier half sticks on kitty Wallis just rock! So luminous I love sennelier even if they do crumble. . .thanks karen

[@soshnikovaelenapastelart]

Thank u for so useful demo - love your colors choice👍🏻

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@noahlittle4239]

Very nice!!!! I live at a beach, a fave subject

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@laurenagnes8435]

Beautiful!!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!!

[@marionwigzell7334]

Another great tutorial Karen. I love your techniques and how you put pastel down (-: Marion

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks so much 😊

[@mellowbats]

Loving those colors!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching!

[@meaeoh2235]

AWESOME!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks!

[@geri1864]

Beautiful. Love these colors! You’re a great teacher. Thank you

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you so much!

[@maitehidalgo3486]

I like your videos, I am spanish.

[@ЛарисаМетелёва-ю7ч]

Спасибо Вам большое, что делитесь своими знаниями!!!

[@brendakarika5719]

This is one of your best!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you Brenda!

[@andresgarciaulloa1887]

Superb!!!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you!

[@deniseshaw3871]

Superb Karen !! I live at the coast jn the UK..I would love it if I posted you a pic of my beach for you to use as a dem ??

[@KarenMargulis]

Please do! We need to do another beach focus on Patreon!

[@georginastulen9911]

Hi Karen, I am from the Netherlands and I just discovered your work. It is fabulous I love your sense of color. Now apart from attending (advanced) English course I happen to love pastel art work. I have a feeling I could learn a lot from you especially how to use colors. In the Netherlands we only have green and gray as main colors. It is a rather pale flat country in every sense. I am considering to take part of your patreon page for I am confident enough to follow it in English by now. The soft pastels yet is another challenge 😂 thank you for your lovely work ❤️👩‍🎨

[@KarenMargulis]

Hi Georgina! Thank you for your kind note. I appreciate you watching my videos! I would love yo have you join my Patreon group! I have many artists from Europe and everyone is so helpful!

[@cg8397]

Georgina, try visiting places like the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens and the Zaanse Schans neighborhood during this spring and summer for bright and colorful inspiration in the Netherlands.

[@jentai7536]

Thank you Karen for the tutorials. This one was particularly interesting because of the limited palette. In this demo, am I correct in observing that you used your hard pastels more than the Senneliers? The Senneliers seem to have been reserved for the finished creamy painterly touches. How do they compare to the Terry Ludwigs as far as the way they work and the effect they render? Are they as versatile? You are a virtuoso on the Ludwigs but seemed to be a bit more circumspect with the Senneliers. Thanks again.

[@KarenMargulis]

I am not used to the Senneliers since I don't use them much but I did enjoy them They can be just as versatile as the Ludwigs but the creamy feel takes getting used to. I will use them but I really enjoy them for those thicker finishing touches!

[@piadraws9360]

Thank you❤️

[@KarenMargulis]

You’re welcome 😊Thanks for watching!

[@nirmaniranchagoda1]

I love your videos and I do learn a lot from them. Love the way you freely put differrnt styled marks and I really lowve your colour selections. I am a beginner and tend to pick th colours I see in the photo. How do you pick such amazing palettes to your paintings?

[@KarenMargulis]

You are so welcome! Choosing unexpected color will come! It is important to understand the concept of value...how dark or light somethings. If you can select colors that are the correct value then it will work. That is the quick answer! Check out my Patreon group for demos and lessons about this topic!

[@wilmawernick9242]

Funny that you should say that about organizing one's marks because our brains tend to go in that direction. We must block out that "right" brained point of view in order to make things interesting. You are a talented teacher. Thank you.

[@carpeductumc]

What beach were you at? We just got home from Folly Beach SC a few days ago! Last week was too overcast for me to get good photos. :( Thank you for this demo, so awesome!!!

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks fro watching. We were at St. Augustine FL

[@wilmawernick9242]

One other comment . . . then I will stop. How amazing it is to me that you . . . Karen . . . can complete a painting in such a short period of time. I guess that that comes from many years of experience. I am struggling with this one pastel painting in order to try to get it completed. I must stop now. I do not have the stamina to pursue it further until tomorrow. I guess that I am hopeful that others have similar experiences as mine. I am not "quick." I must take breaks and take time. Yuck is the watchword when I see how quickly you . . . Karen . . . are able to produce a pastel painting. Will I ever get there? who knows! I am slow as a tortoise, maybe slower.

[@SweetLoveTarot]

Beautiful! I just had to subscribe.

[@KarenMargulis]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@wilmawernick9242]

Karen, a question: Have you ever used Caran D. Ache's Neo Color II water soluble wax pastels? I am attempting them with this pastel painting by the sea of the sand dunes and the lovely sky. I toned hot-pressed watercolor paper by Fabriano Artistico 100% cotton at 140 lb. weight. To tone the background, I used M. Graham's quinacridone rust in a light overall wash to try to simulate the paper color that you were using for this painting. I am using blending stumps before I attempt to add the water. This is an experiment and simply a trial and error attempt. I love your scene, but I don't have Sennelier Plein Air pastels or any Sennelier pastels for that matter. I am moving at the end of the month, so most of my pastels have already been packed away. Because these Neo Color II's are waxed based, I am taking them in the car with me. I don't want them to melt all over the place in transit. I continue to watch your painting process and pause the scene so that I can try to replicate your color choices with these wax-based pastels. I have the 84-color set . . . a lot more available to me than what you used in the Sennelier Plein Air set. But I don't have access to my hard pastels. I also do not have Nu-Pastels, mine are CretaColor, but they are packed. I won't have access to most of my art supplies until October of this year. I do enjoy your instructional videos and appreciate them very much.

[@KarenMargulis]

Hi! I have used them but only for the underpainting and with water. The waxy quality of them don't mix with dry pastels so I wet them to make an underpainting. Here is the link to a video I did using them: kemstudios.blogspot.com/2017/06/new-you-tube-video-demo-neocolor-ii.html

[@rebeccawong1]

Wow wow wow 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jazzyjeweljudeyahoocom]

I love your work. You used a colored paper in this. How do you decide when to use colored paper and what color to use?

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks! The quick answer is that there is no real rule about paper color. I choose a color that will help enhance the mood and support my story. I share a month of lessons devoted to paper type and choice in my Patreon group!

[@jazzyjeweljudeyahoocom]

Thank you.♡ How do I find your Patreon group?

[@KarenMargulis]

@@jazzyjeweljudeyahoocom Thanks for asking. Here is the link. You can join for a $4 or $6 am month pledge and can cancel at any time! www.patreon.com/karenmargulis

[@Patrickkind78]

Your so talented I watch all the time my dad died today

[@tel5891]

Dude, thats sucks

[@KarenMargulis]

Thank you Patrick. I am so sorry for your loss.

[@doreenlorenzo2501]

So sorry

[@kiaraortiz3693]

Like sumi-e trasmite the force of the nature like wind in the for or how you draw the sea o

[@wilmawernick9242]

In my earlier comment about how our brains attempt to "organize" stuff . . . that portion of our brain is what occurs in the left-brain hemisphere, not the right. What I meant to say in that earlier post is to make sure that we engage the right sides of our brains so as to stay away from rigid, repetitive mark making in our paintings and drawings. Blocking out that critical and ever diligent process in sorting and creating "order" from the left side of our brains is very important when we are attempting to create art pieces. Just "tune out" the left brain when you are painting and drawing. Go with what "feels" right and that is a right-brained activity.

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

Once you start pastels, you can't stop buying them.

[@derickelsner6802]

Yep

[@mariebarnes9822]

How do you know what color paper to use?

[@KarenMargulis]

Thanks for watching. That is a great question. I cover the answer in more detail on my Patreon group but I choose paper color that will help enhance the mood I want for the painting or to complement the color palette I will be using. So for example a warm color under greens works to give an interesting sunny warm mood or feeling.

[@Engelhafen]

Are your hard pastels chalk pastels and the soft ones oil pastels?

[@robertweinblatt2018]

A light pass

[@KarenMargulis]

Yes! That is the word I was trying to remember! Thanks!

[@tel5891]

Thanks Karen, your a star

[@tel5891]

Hey Karen, Ive drawn about 5 or 6 of your videos so far and a bunch of others videos and my own originals. Why do my own drawings still look like a kid did them? How long did it take you or some of your students to get the nack of it?

[@KarenMargulis]

I know how you are feeling! I went through the same thing and I decided to paint a small study every day. It took many many paintings before things started to click. It is a combination of study of the basics plus practicing that will help you. It is important that you enjoy the journey and keep painting! The results will follow.