Absolutely beautiful pastel drawing Helen. You use those pastels like a pro! Stunning work. I'm sad to learn they don't excite you because that drawing is outstanding. ❤
I am just exploring the world of soft pastels - this video was so helpful. I will ensure I have my hand held vacuum before I start as I can’t stand mess. 😂 Beautiful drawing/painting.
How lovely - I like the softness of the overall effect which possibly would not be possible with watercolours. I’d like to see the same picture done in watercolours though. 👍🐨
Hi Helen, I am sorry you didn’t enjoy your painting process with pastels. We artists always have our likes and dislikes, our favorite materials that we love and feel comfortable on using. All that said, you handled both the soft pastels and the pastel pencils like a pro and your painting is gorgeous. You did everything right, graciously and with utmost patience. Bravo! Even though watercolor paper can technically and successfully be used as a substrate for pastel painting, the different types of sanded papers are a godsend for artists working in this medium. Also, should you attempt in the future another painting like this, using pastels only, maybe you would like to consider taping your paper on a board and working vertically, on a easel, with either a piece of paper, or aluminum sheet, placed like a “tray” underneath the board - to catch in it all the pastel dust falling off your painting. Best if the angle of the board is slightly off vertical line, inclined towards you; then the fall off will not land on the surface underneath, to contaminate and smudge your painting. Thank you so much for your videos, they are always a pleasure to watch. Warm hugs from California ❤🥰
Thanks! I looked at what a lot of other people recommended for pastels before buying mine, and this does seem a very popular one. It's very textured, and will grab a lot of pastel, but I like that.
Thanks so much for this. I just received some Nyoni colored pencils and am really enjoying them. Thus far they seem very similar to Polychromos. If I get into pastels, I just might check out their pastel pencils, too.
So funny Helen. I got close to the end of your Timelapse process and thought to myself: I wonder how long it’s taken her to do, she gets bored if it’s too long a process… 😆 But the effort involved was very worth it - the final piece is gorgeous. Though I completely understand re not enjoying it if you end up spending more time than youd like to. 😘
Good morning Helen , this was a joy to watch . Pastels have become my "go to" medium over recent times and have many , mainly Derwent , I am not familiar with Nyoni and I can see that they are harder than Derwent also I can see the advantage of that when finer detail is required . My blender is a shaped cork ( not the plastic variety ) which also provides me with a good reason to open another bottle !! Mainly for reasons of economy , for some time I have been preparing my own card , ie cereal packets , which I coat with a mix of chalk paint and PVA . Mean , moi ? Thank you Helen . Mike in Exeter xx
Hello! Thank you! I think this explains my lack of affinity with pastel... I am teetotal! I actually have a tub of pastel ground to try out - kind of gritty paste. Yours is an interesting version!
Lovely finished piece. Alot of pastel artists I watch on you tube have their work on easels that are vertical or even slightly forward so the dust falls off. I'm guilty of just blowing it across the room 🙈 I always find sets of any kind so tricky (even if they are landscape) because I definitely have a favoured colour palette and it means I have swathes of unused red/orange/pink supplies but regularly run out of my favourite light blues, greys and muted greens, and am almost neurotic about having back up yellow ochres - the curse of rural landscape painting in Scotland 😂
Thank you! Someone else commented on an easel set-up too - and it makes so much sense!!! I've still got to go and clean up the dining room this morning 😬
Fantastic video and work Helen! And very nice to get your perspective on both the specific materials as well as the process in general . Did you do a piece of this particular spot awhile back? In watercolor, maybe? It’s a beautiful view and a lovely little church. Even if you found it a bit boring, you did a great job of it. Thanks.
I’m glad you said how long the painting took you, I was curious about that because it looked like a rather long process! It turned out beautifully, but it definitely felt like it was a LOT of work to get there! I have a small set of 12 pastel pencils (Faber castell, maybe?) and I enjoy using them on top of watercolour, but have never attempted anything beyond that. I would like to get some Derwent pastel pencils someday since I like the Derwent drawing pencils so much.
I was given my Derwent Pastel Pencils as a gift, but I'd definitely take a look at some reviews of different brands before buying them. I think the Carbothellos and Caran D'Ache come out very good, and Pitts for a harder/detail pencil
@@helencryer Thanks for the suggestion, I might just stick with what I have and top up with a few extra colours since my current small set is already Pitt. I like them for how I use them, just find I’d like a few extra colours/shades.
I am sorry that you didn’t take to pastels and the pencils variant, but you still produced an excellent painting. I like the the way you did the grasses and the bush. I love using pastel pencils (Faber Castell PITT, Carbothello and Caran d’Ache and PanPastels for under painting). Derwent are not bad, but when they need sharpening, they frequently break. I hope you will try them again and you have a good paper in Pastelmat.
@@helencryer Yes, those are the tools use, including various sponges depending on the size of the area to be painted and also some inexpensive make-up brushes purchased from Boots, called Eco Tools (five in the set, from tiny to wide). This idea was pinched UA-camr, Xrissart (Chrissy Moore) in Australia, she being an ardent user of PanPastels, even for finished items.
I liked this scene when you did it in watercolour. As I‘m trying to finish a kingfisher with F.C. Pitt pastels on Canson Ingres paper I to itch to return to watercolor. But, find it‘s good to try other mediums. Thanks
Absolutely beautiful pastel drawing Helen. You use those pastels like a pro! Stunning work. I'm sad to learn they don't excite you because that drawing is outstanding. ❤
Ahh, thanks ever so much Panda!
I avoid all those dusty media because I can't stand the mess, but I never thought of using a vacuum cleaner to clean up while working! Great idea!
I saw someone else going it once, so thought that I'd try it!
Absolutely love this drawing, just gorgeous. I especially love the grasses in the foreground, keep up the beautiful work!
Thank you!! I think I enjoyed the foreground most!
Pastels do seem like they take a lot of work to me but your drawing turned out really beautifully😍 Thank you for sharing and your review🙏🏼
Thank you!
I am just exploring the world of soft pastels - this video was so helpful. I will ensure I have my hand held vacuum before I start as I can’t stand mess. 😂 Beautiful drawing/painting.
I'm so glad - thanks ever so much! Good luck!
Thank you very much for sharing your process and final results. I like the picture very much.
Thank you!!
How lovely - I like the softness of the overall effect which possibly would not be possible with watercolours. I’d like to see the same picture done in watercolours though. 👍🐨
Yes, it was fun doing a completely smooth sky! Thanks!
I can see how those would be nice over watercolor for sure. Thanks for this b
Hi Helen, I am sorry you didn’t enjoy your painting process with pastels. We artists always have our likes and dislikes, our favorite materials that we love and feel comfortable on using. All that said, you handled both the soft pastels and the pastel pencils like a pro and your painting is gorgeous. You did everything right, graciously and with utmost patience. Bravo! Even though watercolor paper can technically and successfully be used as a substrate for pastel painting, the different types of sanded papers are a godsend for artists working in this medium. Also, should you attempt in the future another painting like this, using pastels only, maybe you would like to consider taping your paper on a board and working vertically, on a easel, with either a piece of paper, or aluminum sheet, placed like a “tray” underneath the board - to catch in it all the pastel dust falling off your painting. Best if the angle of the board is slightly off vertical line, inclined towards you; then the fall off will not land on the surface underneath, to contaminate and smudge your painting.
Thank you so much for your videos, they are always a pleasure to watch.
Warm hugs from California ❤🥰
Thank you, that's very kind! And I'm very grateful for the board advice!! That makes so much sense!
I understand a comfortable angle is around 14 to 17 degrees.
Thanks! Good to know!
such a gorgeous piece, might have to give these a go ☺☺☺
What a fabulous drawing in pastels !
Thanks!
So beautiful! I love watching pastel paintings!
Thank you very much!
Thank you for your Pastelmat Pad review! I was looking for pastel paper and this one seems very nice. 😊
Thanks! I looked at what a lot of other people recommended for pastels before buying mine, and this does seem a very popular one. It's very textured, and will grab a lot of pastel, but I like that.
Thanks so much for this. I just received some Nyoni colored pencils and am really enjoying them. Thus far they seem very similar to Polychromos. If I get into pastels, I just might check out their pastel pencils, too.
That's good to hear! Thanks!
Thanks for the overview Helen. Pastels are not a material I'm overly familiar with..so it's so very helpful seeing them in action.
Thanks!
Beautiful end result.❤
Thanks!
So funny Helen. I got close to the end of your Timelapse process and thought to myself: I wonder how long it’s taken her to do, she gets bored if it’s too long a process… 😆 But the effort involved was very worth it - the final piece is gorgeous. Though I completely understand re not enjoying it if you end up spending more time than youd like to. 😘
🤣 That made me laugh! Patience is not my best quality!! Thank you!
Good morning Helen , this was a joy to watch . Pastels have become my "go to" medium over recent times and have many , mainly Derwent , I am not familiar with Nyoni and I can see that they are harder than Derwent also I can see the advantage of that when finer detail is required . My blender is a shaped cork ( not the plastic variety ) which also provides me with a good reason to open another bottle !! Mainly for reasons of economy , for some time I have been preparing my own card , ie cereal packets , which I coat with a mix of chalk paint and PVA . Mean , moi ? Thank you Helen . Mike in Exeter xx
Hello! Thank you! I think this explains my lack of affinity with pastel... I am teetotal!
I actually have a tub of pastel ground to try out - kind of gritty paste. Yours is an interesting version!
Lovely finished piece. Alot of pastel artists I watch on you tube have their work on easels that are vertical or even slightly forward so the dust falls off. I'm guilty of just blowing it across the room 🙈 I always find sets of any kind so tricky (even if they are landscape) because I definitely have a favoured colour palette and it means I have swathes of unused red/orange/pink supplies but regularly run out of my favourite light blues, greys and muted greens, and am almost neurotic about having back up yellow ochres - the curse of rural landscape painting in Scotland 😂
Thank you! Someone else commented on an easel set-up too - and it makes so much sense!!! I've still got to go and clean up the dining room this morning 😬
@@helencryer the joys of creating art at the dining table!
I love watching you color with pastels 🥰 and thank you for the review
Thank you!
Fantastic video and work Helen! And very nice to get your perspective on both the specific materials as well as the process in general . Did you do a piece of this particular spot awhile back? In watercolor, maybe? It’s a beautiful view and a lovely little church. Even if you found it a bit boring, you did a great job of it. Thanks.
Thank you! Well remembered! It's a very similar photo taken at the same time!
I’m glad you said how long the painting took you, I was curious about that because it looked like a rather long process! It turned out beautifully, but it definitely felt like it was a LOT of work to get there! I have a small set of 12 pastel pencils (Faber castell, maybe?) and I enjoy using them on top of watercolour, but have never attempted anything beyond that. I would like to get some Derwent pastel pencils someday since I like the Derwent drawing pencils so much.
I was given my Derwent Pastel Pencils as a gift, but I'd definitely take a look at some reviews of different brands before buying them. I think the Carbothellos and Caran D'Ache come out very good, and Pitts for a harder/detail pencil
@@helencryer Thanks for the suggestion, I might just stick with what I have and top up with a few extra colours since my current small set is already Pitt. I like them for how I use them, just find I’d like a few extra colours/shades.
I am sorry that you didn’t take to pastels and the pencils variant, but you still produced an excellent painting. I like the the way you did the grasses and the bush. I love using pastel pencils (Faber Castell PITT, Carbothello and Caran d’Ache and PanPastels for under painting). Derwent are not bad, but when they need sharpening, they frequently break. I hope you will try them again and you have a good paper in Pastelmat.
Thank you! Can I ask what you apply the Pan Pastels to Pastelmat with? Just the Soffit sponges and applicators?
@@helencryer Yes, those are the tools use, including various sponges depending on the size of the area to be painted and also some inexpensive make-up brushes purchased from Boots, called Eco Tools (five in the set, from tiny to wide). This idea was pinched UA-camr, Xrissart (Chrissy Moore) in Australia, she being an ardent user of PanPastels, even for finished items.
It’s a really beautiful piece of art x
Thank you!
I liked this scene when you did it in watercolour. As I‘m trying to finish a kingfisher with F.C. Pitt pastels on Canson Ingres paper I to itch to return to watercolor. But, find it‘s good to try other mediums. Thanks
Haha - it just takes so much longer!! A very similar photo - yes, thanks!
@@helencryer Enjoy watching your creative journey. Hope mine is as good.
Your pastel piece turned out great but they do require a lot work and re-working.
Thanks! Yes!
No greens or blues ...😮
Well, two of each!