Here is a little TIP: If you would like to save the sharp side of your X-acto knife, scrape the pastels with the dull side of the blade. It works just as well and does not dull your knife.
Little late to add this but if you have trouble with using the exacto knife or are nervous using something so sharp, I use the diamond painting pans. If you drag the pastel across the ridges you can create the dust and you can wipe out the tray and reuse.
I absolutely love all of your Tutorials! You explain things so well that anyone can understand and learn from you! My coloring has improved so much from watching you! I subscribe to many others but you take the cake!!! Keep it up please!
Thank you so much for this! I've only been coloring for about 8 months and backgrounds prove to be my Achilles Heel. May I tell you how many backgrounds I have done in my completed pictures? None. Zip. Nada. Zero. Goose egg. All of my pictures have one thing in common though -- white backgrounds! Ha! At least I am consistent! So this video will lift me into the stratosphere of art!
Dude. This helped me so much. The circle thing you did and then you flip it to the side to overlap the circles and mix the colors.... such a common sense thing and yet I've never thought of that lol
What an awesome idea ... I color a lot of fairy and nature scenes and it takes a long time to create soft, magical backgrounds with pencils, so this is perfect 😊
Thanks Erin for the video on how to use the pastels different ways. I have had the Mungyo pastels in my save for later cart forever. I really need to jump on the bandwagon and get them.
You will be glad you did. They come in so useful for things, and they're very inexpensive. They also last for-ev-er. I've used mine a LOT and they still look new!
This video is awesome! I’ve been looking for tips to colour my backgrounds with pastels for a long time and haven’t found one as helpful as yours!,,, and what are the chances that I have exactly the same pack of pastels! Thank you for the video and I am ready to colour now!
Love this idea. Do you spray a fixative on when you are done? How about after the pencil and before the pastel to keep it from smearing the pencil? Thank you so much!!
I think fixative before the pastel might be a good idea, but honestly, I don't worry about it too much. The transfer is so slight (if any at all) that I can just erase it if need be. I'm a bit lazy when it comes to fixative - it smells bad. Haha. I try to avoid it if at all possible. You absolutely could use it, though!
Great tips, I really enjoyed your video. I would like to know the brands of the blending tools you used. I have no idea how to find the description box. Help! Found it, thanks!
Thank you for this video that shows us how to use soft pastels as a background. The problem I had was that the pastels wanted to bunch up on the Q-tips and it would only leave one dark spot on the paper and then quit while the rest of it stayed caked on the Q-tip. I had the same problem when I tried to use a dry powdery eye shadow. Is it because I applied the cotton tip directly to the pastel stick instead of scraping the pastel off onto a plate first? It really seemed to want to stick firmly to the cotton, and also to the dry eye shadow applicator. I think I answered my own question. No skipping the scraping the pastel onto the plate, right? Wonderful video for those of us who obviously don't know a thing about what we're doing when it comes to using soft pastels. Your picture was very beautiful, and all your instruction was really, really appreciated. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this video! I learned a lot and I may get up the courage to do a background by Thanksgiving. You have a very light touch which I need to learn. Thank you for the fun video.
I appreciate the video. I know I mentioned backgrounds about a week ago and here u are demonstrating! You have given me more information on how to apply the chalk. The blending stump seems to work quite well. I've been looking at the mungo pastels to purchase as well. Thanks again!!
Thank you for this video on how to use soft pastels for backgrounds. My problem was that if I tried to rub a Q-tip onto a pastel it would clump up in the cotton and just put a tiny dark spot of pastel on the paper. Is that because I tried to take the color directly from the pastel instead of scraping the pastel into a powder on a plate first? The same thing happened when I tried to substitute powder eye shadow for the pastel.
Messy is the funnest! I like to either shave the pastel onto the coloring page or even draw on the page with them. For instance , I'd draw a small circle then blend it out, as a gradient, for a radiating star effect or waves in the water. I hadn't thought of using a blending stump nor stencils!
Beautiful! I know I’m a little late to this but searched pastel backgrounds and yours was the top video and it was very helpful! Quick question though, do you use fixative after? And if so, which one? Many thanks
Great tutorial. I use the pastels a lot, but you gave good ideas. I like the blender stump - I don't really use it with gamsol so glad to find a use for them.
Linda, if you use any oil-based colored pencils (like Polychromos), the stumps will blend them to a degree just dry. They work well for my Polychromos once I have several layers down. No chemicals needed!
Thank you. Love using pastels. I tried the stumps, but they didn't move the colors well in the book I tried. But can see they move good with that book. So I'm going to have to give them another shot in a different book... would love to use my stumps for them, as I don't use them for anything else at this point. That book had real rough paper, which may of prevented the pastels from moving.
Sometimes it's the paper, and sometimes it's the pastels. Different ones have different textures. These Mungyo ones get REALLY fine when you shave them. But I agree.... it is definitely a pain on really rough paper.
Your awesome ! I love the way you teach us tools and technics .. this would take months of trial and error to figure out ill be going to Micheal’s this week for my soft pastels and the tools i need .. cant wait to start adding these colors to my charcoal drawings .. 😊👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for showing this technique. Looked at several techniques and I think I am going to try this one first. An art company sells just pastel tools if I decide to venture into this more.
Thank you for sharing this technique. Question: What type of fixative did you use to seal the page. Also, did you use wax based colored pencils or oil based colored pencils?
A kneaded eraser is great for picking up pastel dust and getting rid of errant smudges.❤️ I love that scritching sound of the stump, though.🤷🏻♀️ Also, about the smearing of pastels: you can get a workable-fixative (kinda pricey, and kinda toxic, though) to put on before your colored pencils, or you can lightly spray hairspray on the page after. Make sure it’s a light spray, or the alcohol could dissolve the pencil. Probably 18”-24” away from the paper is good. I love the varied application of color! Makes the background light more interesting. The cage looks like it’s glowing. Just beautiful.❤️
Pastels don't really stick to oil based pencils, so you can go over them. Prismacolor will smear though! I would still test them before you use it on a page, specifically by using a dark pastel color over a light colored pencil like a dark blue over yellow etc.
Hi Shilpa. I used Polychromos on this page and it smeared the black around the butterfly, so I was trying to be careful elsewhere. I will put the pastel down first if I'm using wax pencils; the pastels do stain the wax. I've used pastels a million times.
Erin, I'm a little late commenting but thank you so much for showing more ways to use the pastels for backgrounds... now my unloved blending stumps have found a purpose...lol...beautiful!
Love this! I've always been stumped (hee hee) on how to get into the tight area and a qtip just wasn't doing it. I never thought of a stump. Great video. 😊
So if using a blending tool how do you switch colors with a blending tool without using the previous color ? Like how do you get it ready for the next color?
Good stuff, Erin. Thanks for doing this one, these pointers are going to be very helpful. Now my blending stumps can collect chalk dust instead of the airborne flotsam swirling around in my house. Woo!
Haha! Someone else in the comments pointed out that the stumps don't work well on all types of paper, so I'd probably check it in a "tester" page beforehand. I know what you mean about flotsam. I think the air in my home is probably 1/4 pencil dust. Hehe.
Thank you for these tips. I have soft pastels and love working with them and using them in a colouring page background is a great idea! I will definitely play with this idea once my official art area is set up. Right now my art supplies kind of travel all around my apartment with me. LOL We are going to set up my craft/art area soon. I am saving the Premiere Prismacolours for then.
Great video I have one question. What is that plastic oversized sheet that you use to put between the sheets of your coloring book. I am try to find it but I don't know what it is called. I would really appreciate your help so that I can get my hands on one. Thank you and you have one more subscriber :)
Not sure what plastic mat she is using exactly. I have seen people using a flexible kitchen cutting mat/chopping mat which can be found at some dollar stores.
Too funny, yes, I was born in ‘62 so I get it.I bought a bunch of loose eye shadows from the Dollar Tree. I bet that would work well too. I’ll have to try it.
Not sure what plastic mat she is using exactly. I have seen people using a flexible kitchen cutting mat/chopping mat - this item can be found at some dollar stores in the US, not sure where you would find it elsewhere.
Thanks, I just started with pastels and I learned alot from this video.
Here is a little TIP: If you would like to save the sharp side of your X-acto knife, scrape the pastels with the dull side of the blade. It works just as well and does not dull your knife.
Oooh! Thanks, Eugene! I never would have thought to do that! I've learned something new today. :) Many thanks!
Little late to add this but if you have trouble with using the exacto knife or are nervous using something so sharp, I use the diamond painting pans. If you drag the pastel across the ridges you can create the dust and you can wipe out the tray and reuse.
Thank you! I’ve just started using pastels, and I’ll have more success after watching this!
I absolutely love all of your Tutorials! You explain things so well that anyone can understand and learn from you! My coloring has improved so much from watching you! I subscribe to many others but you take the cake!!! Keep it up please!
I’m just so happy that Johanna hasn’t run out of ideas. Great, inspiring video. I love the museum theme, so creative. Lovely
Thank You For Sharing. Looks Beautiful.
Thank you so much for this! I've only been coloring for about 8 months and backgrounds prove to be my Achilles Heel. May I tell you how many backgrounds I have done in my completed pictures? None. Zip. Nada. Zero. Goose egg. All of my pictures have one thing in common though -- white backgrounds! Ha! At least I am consistent! So this video will lift me into the stratosphere of art!
23:13 What do you call the plastic sheet you use under the paper? I want one but I don't know what it is called 😂
Dude. This helped me so much. The circle thing you did and then you flip it to the side to overlap the circles and mix the colors.... such a common sense thing and yet I've never thought of that lol
What an awesome idea ... I color a lot of fairy and nature scenes and it takes a long time to create soft, magical backgrounds with pencils, so this is perfect 😊
yes, youre right!
Great tips - many thanks for sharing! I just started using pastels to hand-color my black and white photographs and these techniques will work great!
Fantastic demonstration of how you use your pastels for a background. Thank you so much for showing us Erin. ❤️
Thank you, Shari!
Thanks for sharing the background techniques, Erin!
Thanks for watching!
Pastels add so much to a picture and I love using them. It’s amazing what can be done with them.
Great tutorial! Do you use a fixative spray to set the pastel? If so, which one?
Do you recommend any particular fixative? Several people here have asked, but I have not seen a reply. :) Thanks!
Thanks Erin for the video on how to use the pastels different ways. I have had the Mungyo pastels in my save for later cart forever. I really need to jump on the bandwagon and get them.
You will be glad you did. They come in so useful for things, and they're very inexpensive. They also last for-ev-er. I've used mine a LOT and they still look new!
This video is awesome! I’ve been looking for tips to colour my backgrounds with pastels for a long time and haven’t found one as helpful as yours!,,, and what are the chances that I have exactly the same pack of pastels! Thank you for the video and I am ready to colour now!
Do you use any fixative after you have finished pencils or pastels to preserve it?
Thanks so much!!!!! Perfect!!! But where do I get a blending stump? Where are those cut out patter sheets at Wal-Mart please? THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
Terrific tutorial. I've kept away from using my pastels but now I feel confident thanks to your instructions. 😊
Beautiful picture. .. I agree with you leaving the birdcage alone draws the eye...love your coloring book☺
Just bought these same pastels, looking forward to trying this!
really nice,looks better than distress ink,wow,never thought of this,love it
Love this idea. Do you spray a fixative on when you are done? How about after the pencil and before the pastel to keep it from smearing the pencil? Thank you so much!!
I think fixative before the pastel might be a good idea, but honestly, I don't worry about it too much. The transfer is so slight (if any at all) that I can just erase it if need be. I'm a bit lazy when it comes to fixative - it smells bad. Haha. I try to avoid it if at all possible. You absolutely could use it, though!
Color Shapers...Thank you! I've been looking for that product name for months. Now I can finally order some! 😊
Thank you for your help I have some I did not know how to use them
Now I just need to find my hemostats. They are also used in dollmaking that's why I bought them. Your video is super helpful thanks for sharing 😁.
Great tips, I really enjoyed your video. I would like to know the brands of the blending tools you used. I have no idea how to find the description box. Help! Found it, thanks!
Glad to hear! I'm also really glad this is helping you!
What a valuable video, Erin.
Thank you very informative I have never used pastels because I didn’t know how. You are a great teacher. Thanks again
Thank you for this video that shows us how to use soft pastels as a background. The problem I had was that the pastels wanted to bunch up on the Q-tips and it would only leave one dark spot on the paper and then quit while the rest of it stayed caked on the Q-tip. I had the same problem when I tried to use a dry powdery eye shadow. Is it because I applied the cotton tip directly to the pastel stick instead of scraping the pastel off onto a plate first? It really seemed to want to stick firmly to the cotton, and also to the dry eye shadow applicator. I think I answered my own question. No skipping the scraping the pastel onto the plate, right? Wonderful video for those of us who obviously don't know a thing about what we're doing when it comes to using soft pastels. Your picture was very beautiful, and all your instruction was really, really appreciated. Thank you!
I really enjoyed this video! I learned a lot and I may get up the courage to do a background by Thanksgiving. You have a very light touch which I need to learn. Thank you for the fun video.
These pastels are new to me. Interesting.
Wondering if you could use eye shadow that I have so so much of instead of pastels.
Just try :)
I appreciate the video. I know I mentioned backgrounds about a week ago and here u are demonstrating! You have given me more information on how to apply the chalk. The blending stump seems to work quite well. I've been looking at the mungo pastels to purchase as well. Thanks again!!
You're very welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Thank you for this video on how to use soft pastels for backgrounds. My problem was that if I tried to rub a Q-tip onto a pastel it would clump up in the cotton and just put a tiny dark spot of pastel on the paper. Is that because I tried to take the color directly from the pastel instead of scraping the pastel into a powder on a plate first? The same thing happened when I tried to substitute powder eye shadow for the pastel.
Messy is the funnest! I like to either shave the pastel onto the coloring page or even draw on the page with them. For instance , I'd draw a small circle then blend it out, as a gradient, for a radiating star effect or waves in the water. I hadn't thought of using a blending stump nor stencils!
Thanks for the tips! I need to get some stencils.
Stencils are FUN!
Beautiful! I know I’m a little late to this but searched pastel backgrounds and yours was the top video and it was very helpful! Quick question though, do you use fixative after? And if so, which one? Many thanks
Fabulous, enjoyed this page very much
Great tutorial. I use the pastels a lot, but you gave good ideas. I like the blender stump - I don't really use it with gamsol so glad to find a use for them.
Linda, if you use any oil-based colored pencils (like Polychromos), the stumps will blend them to a degree just dry. They work well for my Polychromos once I have several layers down. No chemicals needed!
I hadn't even though of that. I have a couple oil based pencils - time to experiment. Thanks.
Do you spray your work with a fixer after you finished. Your work is beautiful and your
Video very helpful.
Bettye Day Adams
Erin you channel is helping me so much lassy : ) THANK U !
Thank you. Love using pastels. I tried the stumps, but they didn't move the colors well in the book I tried. But can see they move good with that book. So I'm going to have to give them another shot in a different book... would love to use my stumps for them, as I don't use them for anything else at this point. That book had real rough paper, which may of prevented the pastels from moving.
Sometimes it's the paper, and sometimes it's the pastels. Different ones have different textures. These Mungyo ones get REALLY fine when you shave them.
But I agree.... it is definitely a pain on really rough paper.
Thanks for the video. Can you use a Fixatif to protect it without smearing the color pencil?
The best video I've watched on backgrounds. Thank you so much. I really learned a lot. Trust me. I needed help!😉
Glad you enjoyed it Sherry!
Your awesome ! I love the way you teach us tools and technics .. this would take months of trial and error to figure out ill be going to Micheal’s this week for my soft pastels and the tools i need .. cant wait to start adding these colors to my charcoal drawings .. 😊👍🏻👍🏻
Mungyo pastels are cheap on Amazon!!!
Thanks for showing this technique. Looked at several techniques and I think I am going to try this one first. An art company sells just pastel tools if I decide to venture into this more.
Thank you for sharing this technique. Question: What type of fixative did you use to seal the page. Also, did you use wax based colored pencils or oil based colored pencils?
She said it's done with Polychromos, and those are oil based.
I'm curious about fixatives, as well...
6
A kneaded eraser is great for picking up pastel dust and getting rid of errant smudges.❤️ I love that scritching sound of the stump, though.🤷🏻♀️ Also, about the smearing of pastels: you can get a workable-fixative (kinda pricey, and kinda toxic, though) to put on before your colored pencils, or you can lightly spray hairspray on the page after. Make sure it’s a light spray, or the alcohol could dissolve the pencil. Probably 18”-24” away from the paper is good.
I love the varied application of color! Makes the background light more interesting. The cage looks like it’s glowing. Just beautiful.❤️
I'm loving your channel. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Doreeen
Could you use a fixative on the color pencil before you added the pastel background?
Can I use a finger sponge
Pastels don't really stick to oil based pencils, so you can go over them. Prismacolor will smear though! I would still test them before you use it on a page, specifically by using a dark pastel color over a light colored pencil like a dark blue over yellow etc.
Hi Shilpa. I used Polychromos on this page and it smeared the black around the butterfly, so I was trying to be careful elsewhere. I will put the pastel down first if I'm using wax pencils; the pastels do stain the wax. I've used pastels a million times.
Erin, I'm a little late commenting but thank you so much for showing more ways to use the pastels for backgrounds... now my unloved blending stumps have found a purpose...lol...beautiful!
Yay! I'm glad I helped your unloved stumps get some love! :) Thank you!
Enjoyed this one thank you 😊 off to shop for pastels 💗
Just what i needed! Amazing tutorial !
Love this! I've always been stumped (hee hee) on how to get into the tight area and a qtip just wasn't doing it. I never thought of a stump. Great video. 😊
Thanks, Verna! The stump works wonders!
What are the two long sticks in the the soft pastels? (One black and one white)
So if using a blending tool how do you switch colors with a blending tool without using the previous color ? Like how do you get it ready for the next color?
Hi Erin, I have a box of crayola coloured art chalk , do you know if that can be used the same way as the chalk pastels?
Could you do same with mica powders?
This video is too terrific so how old I am at how long can you keep your paper stump that clean
Can you use pastel pencils for this? How?
Good stuff, Erin. Thanks for doing this one, these pointers are going to be very helpful. Now my blending stumps can collect chalk dust instead of the airborne flotsam swirling around in my house. Woo!
Haha! Someone else in the comments pointed out that the stumps don't work well on all types of paper, so I'd probably check it in a "tester" page beforehand. I know what you mean about flotsam. I think the air in my home is probably 1/4 pencil dust. Hehe.
An even split of pencil dust and eraser particulate in my case. :P
How do you stop the pastels from transferring to the opposite page?
Spray with a fixatif such as Krylon workable fixatif
You can use hairspray as well. Way cheaper
Thank you for these tips. I have soft pastels and love working with them and using them in a colouring page background is a great idea! I will definitely play with this idea once my official art area is set up. Right now my art supplies kind of travel all around my apartment with me. LOL We are going to set up my craft/art area soon. I am saving the Premiere Prismacolours for then.
That'll be a nice way to celebrate having everything where you like it!
Do you use something to fix the pastels after?
Thank you, this has been a big help!
just now trying chalks, thank you for the informative video with demo and info on tools! Do you use a fixative when you are done? Is it necessary?
Thank you!!!!!!! Pretty pictures!!!!!!
Do you have to scrape color off with a knife? I would like to give my granddaughter some of these but I don’t want her using an exact knife.
Maybe she could use something less dangerous, like edge of a ruler or something :)
This was very informative. It gave me other tips on how to use my pastels
The pastels I have are chalk pastels are your pastels different ? I can’t seem to get my ones to produce any colour on the page ..
Hello where did you get the stencil ? Thank you
How do you clean the stumps after use. ☺️
This was a great video thank you! Can’t wait to try it out
Thanks. They make q tips that have a large flat end on one end.
I don’t understand what the bubbles look like finished. Bubbles all over the page? Or are they blended?
Is that just a paint brush that you are using right around the 32 min mark?
She is using a silicone tool for clay sculpting. I get mine from Amazon and they’re pretty inexpensive.
Great video!! Thank you for sharing😉
Great information, thanks!
Great video I have one question. What is that plastic oversized sheet that you use to put between the sheets of your coloring book. I am try to find it but I don't know what it is called. I would really appreciate your help so that I can get my hands on one. Thank you and you have one more subscriber :)
Not sure what plastic mat she is using exactly. I have seen people using a flexible kitchen cutting mat/chopping mat which can be found at some dollar stores.
so beautifull!
Too funny, yes, I was born in ‘62 so I get it.I bought a bunch of loose eye shadows from the Dollar Tree. I bet that would work well too. I’ll have to try it.
very well explained this is the best vid thanks for sharing
First time here and new sub.
I have been wanting to try pastels for backgrounds. Thank You so much. One question do you put anything on your picture to set the pastels?
Thank you for the tutorial!!
Hello ! Thank you for the video😉
Where can I found the plastic stencils please? Thank you 😊
I got the bigger ones (the white ones) at Walmart in the sewing aisle. The smaller ones were at Office Depot. Thanks for watching!
Simple Art for Adults thanks a lot😉have a nice day🌞
Pretty!!!
Can anyone please tell me what is the difference between blending stumps and tortillions?
Where do you find the color shapers, and how much do they cost? Thanks very much for this instructional video.
This is very pretty !
Thank you so much. This was very helpful.
Thanks, Shelleen! Glad you thought so. I'm about to go catch up on all your videos here in just a bit. I'm behind on two of them, I think.
What is the name of the plastic paper with design ( Im sorry i dont know to much English)
Not sure what plastic mat she is using exactly. I have seen people using a flexible kitchen cutting mat/chopping mat - this item can be found at some dollar stores in the US, not sure where you would find it elsewhere.
how do fix the pastel to the paper?
Pretty thank u!
HOW DO YOU CLEAN YOUR STENCILS FOR THE NEXT DRAWING?
Wash them.