Marianne Martinez
Painting flowers with pan pastels can be a fun and rewarding experience. Pan pastels are soft pastels packed in pans, making them convenient to carry and use on the go. They can be used dry on paper and applied with various tools, including brushes and erasers. One of the advantages of using pan pastels is the ability to erase or lighten areas of your painting once the paint has dried. When painting flowers, it's important to focus on tonal values, palette, surface, and composition. You can create a wide tonal range by using very light and very dark shades to add drama to your floral painting. Additionally, pastels lend themselves to smudging, which can be useful for blending colours and reducing vibrancy in shaded areas or backgrounds. Whether you're working from life or a photograph, understanding the general structure and shape of the flower will help bring your floral painting to life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medium | Pan pastels |
| Paper | Sandpaper, hardboard with Colorfix primers |
| Technique | Blending, smudging, erasing |
| Composition | Unusual, flowers touching the edge of the paper, room to breathe, drastic cropping |
| Tonal range | Wide for more drama, smaller for less drama |
| Lighting | Natural light |
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What You'll Learn
Using pan pastels to paint flowers
Painting flowers with pan pastels can be a fun and rewarding experience, offering the ability to blend drawing and painting techniques. Pan pastels are soft pastels packed in pans, making them convenient to carry and use on the go. Here are some tips and techniques to help you create beautiful floral art using pan pastels:
Choosing the Right Surface:
The surface you work on can significantly impact the final result of your floral painting. Sandpaper is an excellent option for flower paintings, providing a suitable texture for pastels. If you prefer working on a larger scale, you can use hardboard with Colorfix primers as a base. This preparation converts most surfaces into a pastel-friendly medium.
Understanding Tonal Values:
Creating life-like floral paintings involves paying attention to tonal values and luminosity. To achieve this, use high-quality pan pastels with a high pigment ratio. Experiment with different tonal ranges to add drama or subtlety to your composition. For instance, a wide tonal range, from very light to very dark shades, can create a striking effect. On the other hand, a narrower tonal range, such as light grey to dark grey, will result in less dramatic contrast.
Composition and Structure:
The composition is key to conveying the qualities and structure of the flowers you're painting. Be creative and allow your flowers to touch the edge of the paper, giving them room to breathe. Alternatively, you can crop them to focus on specific sections. When painting complicated flowers, don't get too caught up in capturing every petal. Instead, focus on the overall structure, such as whether it's round or elongated, and the basic shapes and colours.
Blending and Smudging:
Pastels are known for their blending capabilities, and this technique can be particularly effective when painting flowers. Smudging helps blend colours and reduce vibrancy, creating softer, shaded areas or backgrounds. You can achieve very fine lines by breaking a pastel stick in half or using a harder Conte stick for more detailed work.
Erasing and Lightening:
One of the unique advantages of using pan pastels is the ability to erase or lighten certain areas of your painting. Depending on the type of paper used, you may be able to completely erase the pastel once it's dry or, at the very least, lighten specific sections. This feature adds versatility to your floral paintings, allowing you to make adjustments as you work.
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Erasing and lightening areas
One of the benefits of using pan pastels to paint flowers is that you can erase or lighten the pastel once it has dried. This is especially useful when painting flowers, as it allows you to correct any mistakes or make adjustments to the painting.
To erase or lighten areas of your painting, you can use a simple eraser. Depending on the type of paper you are using, you may be able to completely erase the pastel or just lighten it. It can be a bit more difficult to erase on some papers, but you should still be able to lighten the area.
When working with pan pastels, it is important to remember that they are meant to be used dry on paper and applied with a variety of tools. You can use reservoir brushes, which allow you to mix the pastel powder with water. However, the pastel powder does not mix with the water but rather stays in suspension on top of the water.
Another technique to consider when painting flowers with pan pastels is smudging. Smudging can help to blend colours and reduce vibrancy, creating a flatter surface that is less sparkly. This technique can be useful in shaded areas or backgrounds where you want a more understated effect.
Additionally, when working with pan pastels, it is important to consider the tonal range of your painting. A wide tonal range, such as from very light to very dark, can add drama and a striking quality to your floral painting. On the other hand, a narrower tonal range, such as from light grey to dark grey, will create less drama in your artwork.
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Using pan pastels with reservoir brushes
Pan pastels are a convenient art medium to work with, as they are packed in pans and can be used on the go. They are dry pastels that can be applied to paper with a variety of tools. One such tool is a reservoir brush, which can be used to create interesting textural effects.
When using pan pastels with reservoir brushes, the pastel powder can be mixed with water. The powder does not dissolve in the water but rather stays in suspension on top of it. This mixture can then be applied to paper with a brush, creating a unique effect. It is a good idea to use the cover of the pan as a mixing area to avoid making a mess.
Before starting to paint, it is important to consider the composition and structure of the flower you wish to depict. Think about the space you will leave around the flower and how you can convey its qualities through your composition. Additionally, consider the tonal values and where the light and dark areas will be. This will help to create a sense of depth and make your flower appear more three-dimensional.
When painting with pan pastels, it is also possible to create a smudging effect, which can be useful for blending colours and reducing vibrancy in certain areas. This can be particularly effective in shaded areas or backgrounds where you want to create a more understated effect.
Remember that pan pastels can also be erased or lightened once dry, so you can always make adjustments if needed.
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Creating a light grey wash
To create a light grey wash, you can use the cover of the pan as a mixing area. Start by adding a small amount of water to the pan and gently mixing it with the pastel powder. The pastel powder will not fully dissolve in the water but will instead form a suspension on top. This creates a unique, speckled texture. You can adjust the lightness or darkness of the grey by adding more or less pastel powder.
When creating a light grey wash, it's important to remember that it may not create a flat, even wash. The suspension of the pastel powder in the water will likely result in an uneven wash with varying shades of grey. This can add depth and interest to your painting.
After creating your light grey wash, you can start painting your flowers. Keep in mind that pan pastels can be used with a variety of tools, such as brushes or sponges, to create different textures and effects. You can also layer the pan pastels to add depth and detail to your flowers.
Additionally, you can create a lighter or darker grey wash by adjusting the amount of pastel powder you use. If you want to make certain areas darker, you can dip your brush directly into the pastel pan and apply it to the wash while it is still wet. This technique allows you to create a range of shades and add dimension to your painting.
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Choosing the right surface
When it comes to choosing the right surface for painting flowers with pan pastels, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, it is important to understand that pan pastels are artist-quality soft pastels packed in pans and are meant to be used dry on paper. The type of paper you choose can impact the final outcome of your artwork, as well as the ease of creating it.
Some artists prefer sandpaper for floral paintings, as it provides a unique texture that can enhance the overall effect. Sandpaper can also help create a softer, more subtle look for your flowers. If you are working on a larger scale, another option is to use hardboard with a Colorfix primer as a base. This can convert most surfaces into ones suitable for pastel work.
The ability to erase or lighten pan pastel paint once it has dried is also dependent on the type of paper used. Certain papers may be more difficult to erase on, but you will generally be able to lighten the painted area. This is an important consideration if you want to make changes or corrections to your floral painting.
Additionally, the surface you choose can impact the tonal values and luminosity of your artwork. To create vibrant and dramatic floral paintings, aim for a wide tonal range, such as from very light to very dark shades. Pastels with a high pigment ratio can help achieve better luminosity and more vibrant colours.
Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment with different surfaces and techniques. Floral paintings can benefit from unusual compositions, such as allowing flowers to touch the edge of the paper or cropping them to focus on specific sections. Remember that painting flowers is about capturing their spirit and character, so feel free to break the rules and find what works best for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Pan pastels are artist-quality soft pastels packed in pans, which makes them very convenient to carry. They are meant to be used dry on paper and can be applied with a variety of tools.
Pan pastels can be erased or lightened with a simple eraser, allowing you to correct mistakes. They are also highly versatile, capable of being used both wet and dry, and producing a range of effects.
Focus on achieving a good tonal range in your paintings. You can check this by taking a picture and converting it to black and white to observe the tonal values. A wide tonal range will create more drama, while a narrower range will result in less dramatic effects.
When painting flowers, it's more important to capture the overall structure and tonal variation rather than focusing on individual petals. Be mindful of the composition and feel free to experiment by letting your flowers touch the edge of the paper or cropping them down to emphasize certain sections.
You can use the cover of the pan as a mixing area for your pastel powder and water. Keep in mind that the pastel powder won't fully mix with the water but will instead remain in suspension on top of it. This technique can be useful for creating a light grey wash as a mid-tone for your flower paintings.
