If you love to paint, but also have a passion for drawing, then painting with pastels is THE thing for you. You can easily learn it and achieve fabulous results within a short time.

How to start a wonderful pastel painting is explained in only six steps by Nancie King Mertz, a fabulous painter and tutor, who recently won the Prix de Pastel award in the IAPS 33rd Web Show!

Step 1: Whether studio or plein air, I always first map out a composition with directional “tic-marks” using vine charcoal. This ensures that each element I want to include has its space and prevents letting the subject “grow”, wishing for more painting surface.

Step 2 a&b: Broad strokes of darks are blocked-in next and a light wash of dematured alcohol is applied with a fan brush (Grey Matters by Richeson is my durable favorite). With my method, it’s important to get the darks in first (no lights yet!) and wash them down with a light application of alcohol. Drips are fine as is loose, random brushwork at this stage.

Step 3 & 4: Darks are applied more heavily-handed on top of those I’ve knocked down with the wash, to provide interesting mark-making. All of these steps are done very quickly to keep its freshness.

Then I go in with the mid-tones and color that bring life to the piece, defining form and edges with soft and hard sticks, but still keeping it loose and fun.

Final step: Additional color is added to keep the image lively and to define space. Throughout the process, minimal drawing was done with the end of the stick, but rather I do most of the work with the soft or hard side, and then add a few light highlights with the end, at the end! That's the candy for dessert.

How easy some things can be, if it is only properly explained, right? Don’t miss this opportunity to get some more great tips and tricks from Nancie in her beautiful pastel painting workshop in Italy! You can find the painting holiday here: https://www.artistravel.eu/en/tour/2019/10/capture-the-architecture-of-umbria-in-your-italian-landscape

Alaskan Hideaway, 15×23 on #320 UART Visit Nancie’s website at www.nanciekingmertz.com to view more of her work, products & videos.