Started working with pastels in the last few months, having absolutely no prior experience. (I'm an author by trade, so WORDS I know - art, not so much, LOL.) Stumbled upon your channel and I must tell you - you are so gracious to share your knowledge and talent. I may not paint in exactly the same "style" as you, but the techniques I've learned watching you are universal to the medium. Thanks so much.
What a fun painting. I love seeing how to be free with the marks and how to avoid putting every detail of the subject in. Thank you for your wonderful demos.
Thanks for all your help and tips I am so encouraged I am going to give it a go from a picture I took of sunflowers with a bee on. Love watching you at work. Beautiful picture😊
I love your art style so much and thanks for the tutorial!!! I want to develop my own style that isn’t just realism. Currently as an art student I just do realism and it’s painstaking to do every little detail.
Thank you. I get so much from your video tutorials. Yellows are so tricky - your discussion on making yellows pop is very helpful for me at the moment. I'm working on a canola field landscape at the moment!
Karen you are my favorite. I have learned so much from you. I miss your every Sunday so much. I can’t afford your patron page and I must not be the only one. Please don’t abandon us paupers. Could you put up a new demo a little more often?
Thank you so much!!! I don't mean to abandon you. It is on my list to do a new video at least twice a month but the month we went camping....bought another camper and so in my spare time I have been working on getting that settled. Next week I will be back to my regular schedule and a new UA-cam video is on my list!
Hi Karen, New subscriber here. I am trying oil pastels to replace oil paints for indoor Winter hobby here in North Alberta, Canada. I am truly enjoying your YT videos and can actually follow along! My question is, when do you smudge or blend pastels? I thought it was always (before watching your videos.)
Costco - what is it? A florist I am guessing. But I get your message :) You are so generous of your time and energy with your wonderful videos, Karen. I am an avid follower and admirer of your work. Beautiful pieces you create and I have learned so much and had so much joy. Please keep doing just what you are. Best wishes from the UK.
Great demo, thanks! Couldn't get that last vibrant yellow. Perhaps I need a super soft yellow like your Schmincke instead of the Rembrandts and Faber Castell I was using?
Since lighting is so central to establishing color, value, shading and volume wouldn't it have been better to use a reference photo that showed the effects of the light rather than one that didn't? Also, can you explain why you chose to add purple over the dark blue in the center of the flowers? When I squint at the photo of the flowers themselves, I can see only two 'darks' : the centers of the 2 main blossoms. One is an almost perfect circle. The other an ellipse. If I don't follow the structure of the photo reference as a guide, what DO I use? How do I know what to do apart from what I see? The green foliage is lighter in value than the centers, but you cover the green with the same dark value as you placed over the centers. I want to understand why you do what you do. But, I'm left with so many questions.
You have great questions! A lot of what I do is intuitive as I strive to interpret a photo. I try my best to explain everything in detail but some things I just do without analyzing. I will try harder.
@@KarenMargulis ''A lot of what I do is intuitive '' This is SO true ! Talking about the process is notoriously difficult...especially talking,describing, explaining AS you paint. I think maybe, it is difficult to do both simultaneously because explaining is done with the left side of the brain and DOING ( the intuitive part ) comes from the right side. This is the theory, anyway. But it makes sense to me. The left brain is involved with logic, facts and linear thinking. While the right brain has more to do with feelings, imagination, intuition. AS I paint, it's terribly hard to describe WHY I do what I do. My choices, somehow, come from a different kind of understanding than can be explained. I'm calling upon years of experience...the word you used " intuition". If I were making an instructive art video, I think that I would first film just the process of painting. I'd watch the video and write out a text that as clearly as possible, describes what I am doing...then record myself reading that text and add the audio after. Still, even with the limitations you work with, your videos are very valuable.
Hi Karen , I wonder whether you use fixatives on your work and if so perhaps you could do a video on the best way to go about it. Thank you for your instruction. Steve , England , UK.
Lovely. I am new in pastel painting. If I use oil pastel, after making the painting, do I need to use some kind of varnish as we do in an Acrylic painting? Thanks
good morning Karen - I have just discovered you - I have never worked in pastel, but since watching your very clear tutorials I think I will give it a try. Thanks so much for being so generous. Do you ever paint abstract ?
Stunning! You are such a brilliant teacher, down to earth and happy to share your knowledge ❤️❤️
Thank you so much!
Love the way you move colors with you hand . Everything seems perfect ❤
I'm so happy I have found your tutorials.
Your are very kind sharing your knowledge and for that I'm grateful
Another great video. Can't wait to try this approach, especially adding those background colors to create color harmony! Thanks Karen!
stunning as always!!! top marks to the excellent cameraman too!!!🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥
I love your work.I have gained so much from your videos.Thank you, lovely lady!
You are so welcome
Beautiful! Impressed with your style! Thank you for sharing your instructions…
Your a born teacher. It’s beautiful 🙏🏼
Thank you! 😊 I appreciate your comments!
Karen, you're amazing! Just started following as pastel beginner. Thank you for such clear and constructive instruction!
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!
Started working with pastels in the last few months, having absolutely no prior experience. (I'm an author by trade, so WORDS I know - art, not so much, LOL.) Stumbled upon your channel and I must tell you - you are so gracious to share your knowledge and talent. I may not paint in exactly the same "style" as you, but the techniques I've learned watching you are universal to the medium. Thanks so much.
Wonderful! I appreciate your kind comment!
love how you make this come to life through various steps/stages. Thank you so much for your great instruction.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!
Beautiful painting Karen. You are inspiring! Thank you
What a fun painting. I love seeing how to be free with the marks and how to avoid putting every detail of the subject in. Thank you for your wonderful demos.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for all your help and tips I am so encouraged I am going to give it a go from a picture I took of sunflowers with a bee on. Love watching you at work. Beautiful picture😊
Wonderful! Thanks so much for watching!
Wow fantastic. This is very difficult. Thank you
Thank you very much!!
Greatttt demo … beautiful paintinggg
I love your work Karen, you are a genius!
Karen you do a great job of concise, very helpful instruction.
Thank you very much!
Beautiful work!
Nice points of emphasis.
I love the addition of the fallen petals!
Thank you!
Good lesson !
I love your art style so much and thanks for the tutorial!!!
I want to develop my own style that isn’t just realism. Currently as an art student I just do realism and it’s painstaking to do every little detail.
You are just the best teacher! And I can understand you even at 1.75x speed so I can take in even more info. Thanks for helping us all 💙
You are so welcome!
Very interesting lesson . Beautiful !!!
Thank you! 😃
Karen, I love your videos and watching you work.
Thank you for bringing your passion and sincerity to UA-cam.
Beautiful
Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching!
I'm going to try this this afternoon. I have taken your very great advice to paint every day and I am seeing myself improve.
Wonderful! Thanks for the comment!
Wow!! Looks like a van Gogh! As always amazing 🤩👍thanks Karen.
Thank you! 😃
Loved the video. What paper are you using? Is it sanded?
Thanks! I am using Uart 400 grit sanded paper.
🤔😃 The handle is gone. I like your painting style. Thank you for the demo. 🌹
You do with such confidence....wow👏👏👏👏
Thank you! I appreciate you watching!
love the sharing... beautiful
Thank you so much!
Beautiful. Very instructive. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Beautiful work. Thank you.
Many thanks!
Very inspiring. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
So talented! Thanks so much for sharing.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching!
This is a really nice demonstration. Beautiful color combinations.
Thank you so much!
Thank you Karen. You’ve inspired me to head straight to the studio. I love your work.
That is great! I appreciate you watching!
Thank you for your lovely painting. Love to watch it. Will try to make some stil live after this.
Have fun! Thanks for watching!
Gorgeous Karen. Thanks for sharing your techniques (-: Marion
Thanks so much 😊
Thank you. I get so much from your video tutorials. Yellows are so tricky - your discussion on making yellows pop is very helpful for me at the moment. I'm working on a canola field landscape at the moment!
You are so welcome! Thank you!
Karen you are my favorite. I have learned so much from you. I miss your every Sunday so much. I can’t afford your patron page and I must not be the only one. Please don’t abandon us paupers. Could you put up a new demo a little more often?
Thank you so much!!! I don't mean to abandon you. It is on my list to do a new video at least twice a month but the month we went camping....bought another camper and so in my spare time I have been working on getting that settled. Next week I will be back to my regular schedule and a new UA-cam video is on my list!
Stunning! Thanks
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you! Very helpful!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
II enjoyed this video. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Karen, New subscriber here. I am trying oil pastels to replace oil paints for indoor Winter hobby here in North Alberta, Canada. I am truly enjoying your YT videos and can actually follow along! My question is, when do you smudge or blend pastels? I thought it was always (before watching your videos.)
Thank you, Karen. You make it look so easy. I'll try. :)
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful painting! But watching those poor pastels crumble hurts 😂
Costco - what is it? A florist I am guessing. But I get your message :) You are so generous of your time and energy with your wonderful
videos, Karen. I am an avid follower and admirer of your work. Beautiful pieces you create and I have learned so much and had so much joy. Please keep doing just what you are. Best wishes from the UK.
Thank you! Costco is a big warehouse store! Thanks for watching!
Beautiful, thank you 🙏🏻🌹
Great demo, thanks! Couldn't get that last vibrant yellow. Perhaps I need a super soft yellow like your Schmincke instead of the Rembrandts and Faber Castell I was using?
Yes! Both make a great intense yellow!
Since lighting is so central to establishing color, value, shading and
volume wouldn't it have been better to use a reference photo that showed
the effects of the light rather than one that didn't?
Also, can you explain why you chose to add purple over the dark blue in
the center of the flowers?
When I squint at the photo of the flowers themselves, I can see only two
'darks' : the centers of the 2 main blossoms. One is an almost perfect
circle. The other an ellipse.
If I don't follow the structure of the photo reference as a guide, what
DO I use?
How do I know what to do apart from what I see?
The green foliage is lighter in value than the centers, but you cover
the green with the same dark value as you placed over the centers.
I want to understand why you do what you do.
But, I'm left with so many questions.
You have great questions! A lot of what I do is intuitive as I strive to interpret a photo. I try my best to explain everything in detail but some things I just do without analyzing. I will try harder.
@@KarenMargulis ''A lot of what I do is intuitive '' This is SO true !
Talking about the process is notoriously difficult...especially talking,describing, explaining AS you paint.
I think maybe, it is difficult to do both simultaneously because explaining is done with the left side of the brain and DOING ( the intuitive part ) comes from the right side.
This is the theory, anyway.
But it makes sense to me.
The left brain is involved with logic, facts and linear thinking. While the right brain has more to do with feelings, imagination, intuition.
AS I paint, it's terribly hard to describe WHY I do what I do. My choices, somehow, come from a different kind of understanding than can be explained. I'm calling upon years of experience...the word you used " intuition".
If I were making an instructive art video, I think that I would first film just the process of painting.
I'd watch the video and write out a text that as clearly as possible, describes what I am doing...then record myself reading that text and add the audio after.
Still, even with the limitations you work with, your videos are very valuable.
Hi Karen , I wonder whether you use fixatives on your work and if so perhaps you could do a video on the best way to go about it. Thank you for your instruction. Steve , England , UK.
I don't use final fixatives. Instead I store paintings flat covered with glassine paper.
@@KarenMargulis , thanks for responding
Lovely. I am new in pastel painting. If I use oil pastel, after making the painting, do I need to use some kind of varnish as we do in an Acrylic painting? Thanks
Thank you! I don't use oil pastels so I am not sure of the framing /finishing requirements. I need to try them!
Background noise sounds like you have a tiger in your studio or a bear??? Love your videos, they help me a lot!!!!
I love sunflowers! Love your work! Thank you, Karen!
How’s this for punctuation? 😊
Perfect! Thank you for watching!
good morning Karen - I have just discovered you - I have never worked in pastel, but since watching your very clear tutorials I think I will give it a try. Thanks so much for being so generous. Do you ever paint abstract ?
You are so welcome! Welcome to the wonderful world of pastels!
Why did you eliminate the handle in the final version?
Honestly it wasn't working. If it wasn't a demo I may have fussed with it but in the end it was easier to eliminate it.
forgot to ask; how do you fix the finished painting ?
I don't use final fixative. I store paintings flat under glassine paper!
❤❤❤❤
And if it does move you have other problems.
Hi!!!!!!
💜💙❤️🤎💚🧡✨🎼🎶✨🌹…