How to Draw Animals, Landscapes and Portraits in Pastel from Udemy

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Please see the Article for the introduction to the pencils and materials recommended for this course.

In this general introduction video I talk about the basic materials - the Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils, colour shaper, double ended eraser and sharpening your pencils.

I show the Fabriano Ingres Paper that is used for the courses.

I also show how to transfer our line drawing onto your pastel paper using a Tracedown Carbon.

In this video I show you the brands of pencils and paper that I work with. In this course we use the Ingres and Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils.

We are not allowed to provide direct links to purchase the materials however you can find the materials on either our store ("Colin Bradley Art Store") or Amazon.

Pastel Pencils used for each project:

All the pencils that are used in this course can be found in the Colin Bradley Special Selection Box of 24 PITT Pastel Pencils. Please note this is different from the standard set of 24 PITT Pastel Pencils. We do sell the special selection on our online store "Colin Bradley Art Store" and you can also find it online.

Longhaired Cat

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils

101 white
103 ivory
273 warm grey IV
175 dark sepia
199 black
143 cobalt blue
131 medium flesh
191 pompeian red

Galleon Sunset

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils

101 white
103 ivory
106 light yellow glaze
109 dark chrome yellow
131 medium flesh
191 pompeian red
194 red-violet
192 indian red
273 warm grey IV
143 cobalt blue
119 black

Irma Brumer Portrait

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils

101 white
103 ivory
191 pompeian red
131 medium flesh
187 burnt ochre
273 warm grey IV
233 cold grey IV
194 red-violet
192 indian red
199 black
182 brown ochre

This is Part 1 of the course. I have included the outline drawing and my finished picture in the resources section (indicated by the folder icon if viewing on a computer). There is a PDF and JPG version of the outline drawing.

We hope that you have enjoyed this course and have learnt pastel pencil techniques that you can translate to your own pictures and artwork.

If you would like to share your artwork with us or get in touch please drop us a message in the Q & A section or via the Udemy messaging tools. We would love to hear from you.

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Uses pastel pencils, which are known to be an accessible medium for beginners due to their forgiving nature and ease of blending

Provides outline drawings for each subject, removing the initial barrier of freehand drawing and allowing learners to focus on pastel techniques

Recommends specific materials like Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils and Fabriano Ingres Paper, which may require learners to purchase these specific brands for optimal results

Breaks down the drawing process into small, manageable parts, making it easier for beginners to follow and return to lessons as needed

Focuses on drawing animals, landscapes, and portraits, offering a diverse range of subjects that can appeal to a wide range of artistic interests

Teaches techniques that can be applied to learners' own pictures, encouraging creativity and the development of personal artistic styles

Reviews summary

Step-by-step pastel drawing for beginners

According to learners, this course provides a clear and easy-to-follow introduction to pastel drawing, making it suitable for beginners and improvers. Students appreciate the structured, step-by-step approach across three different subjects: animals, landscapes, and portraits. Many found the instructions and demonstrations helpful, leading to excellent results they were proud of. The guidance on materials is also considered valuable.

Offers a good range of subjects to draw.

"I enjoyed tackling the different subjects – the cat, the landscape, and the portrait."

"Drawing three distinct types of images gave me a broad introduction to pastel techniques."

"The variety keeps the course interesting and shows how techniques apply to different textures and forms."

Advice on pencils and paper is useful.

"The instructor's recommendations for specific pencils and paper were very helpful in getting started."

"Good tips on sharpening pencils and using different tools like the colour shaper and eraser."

"Knowing exactly which pastel pencils were used for each project was incredibly useful."

"The explanation of how to transfer the outline drawing was a lifesaver for me."

Instructor is patient and encouraging.

"The instructor is calm, patient, and easy to listen to throughout the lessons."

"His encouraging approach made me feel confident even when trying something new."

"The commentary during the drawing process is insightful and helps you understand the 'why' behind each step."

Course is highly accessible for newcomers.

"As someone completely new to pastels, I found this course incredibly welcoming and easy to dive into."

"Perfect for beginners! The instructor assumes no prior knowledge and explains everything thoroughly."

"I had tried pastels before and struggled, but this course made it finally click for me."

"Even if you haven't drawn much before, the outline drawings and clear steps make it possible to succeed."

Students are happy with their finished artwork.

"I was amazed at what I could achieve by following these lessons! I never thought I could draw like this."

"The finished pictures look professional, and I'm so proud to display them."

"Following the course step-by-step resulted in artwork that far exceeded my expectations."

"It's incredibly rewarding to see the final picture come together piece by piece thanks to the clear guidance."

Followable guidance leads to great results.

"This course provides very clear instructions, making it easy to follow along and achieve impressive results even as a beginner."

"The step-by-step approach is brilliant; the instructor breaks down complex drawings into manageable parts."

"I love how each section builds on the last. It's easy to pause and pick up exactly where you left off."

"The demonstrations are very clear and easy to replicate, which is essential for learning a new medium like pastel."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Draw Animals, Landscapes and Portraits in Pastel with these activities:

Practice Basic Sketching Techniques

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Improve your foundational drawing skills before starting the course. Practicing basic sketching will help you translate what you see onto paper more effectively.

Browse courses on Sketching

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Practice drawing basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles.
Try contour drawing exercises, focusing on outlines.
Experiment with different pencil grips and pressures.

Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'

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Gain a deeper understanding of the perceptual skills needed for drawing. This book will help you see shapes, lines, and values more accurately.

View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain on Amazon

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Read the book and complete the exercises.
Focus on the techniques for seeing edges, spaces, and relationships.

Value Scale Practice

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Improve your understanding of value and shading. Practicing value scales will help you create realistic and dimensional drawings.

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Create a value scale using pastel pencils, from light to dark.
Practice blending the values smoothly.
Experiment with different pastel pencil techniques for creating values.

Four other activities

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Create a Color Chart with Pastel Pencils

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Familiarize yourself with your pastel pencil set. Creating a color chart will help you understand the range of colors and how they blend together.

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Create a grid on paper with each square representing a color.
Fill each square with the corresponding pastel pencil color.
Blend adjacent colors to see how they mix.
Label each color with its name or number.

Explore 'Pastel Painting Techniques' by Sandrine Maugy

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Deepen your understanding of pastel painting techniques. This book offers a broader perspective on pastel art and can inspire you to experiment with new approaches.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key techniques.
Try out some of the techniques demonstrated in the book.

Recreate a Master Pastel Drawing

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Improve your skills by studying and replicating a master's work. This project will challenge you to analyze and apply the techniques you've learned.

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Choose a pastel drawing by a renowned artist.
Analyze the drawing's composition, values, and colors.
Recreate the drawing using pastel pencils, paying attention to detail.
Compare your recreation to the original and identify areas for improvement.

Create a Series of Pastel Drawings Based on a Theme

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Develop your artistic voice and explore a subject in depth. Creating a series will allow you to experiment with different techniques and styles.

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Choose a theme, such as 'animals in motion' or 'sunset landscapes'.
Create a series of 3-5 pastel drawings based on the chosen theme.
Experiment with different compositions, colors, and techniques in each drawing.
Reflect on the series as a whole and identify what you've learned.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Draw Animals, Landscapes and Portraits in Pastel will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Portrait Artist

A portrait artist specializes in creating portraits of people. This course is particularly relevant for portrait artists due to its focus on drawing portraits in pastel. The course specifically teaches how to draw Eduard Manet's Irma Brummer, providing a practical example of portraiture. This specific instruction on portraits will directly impact the skill set of one who seeks to be a portrait artist. The course instruction will help build technique.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portrait Artist

Animal Artist

An animal artist specializes in creating artwork featuring animals. This course is directly beneficial for animal artists given its specific instruction on drawing animals in pastel. The course specifically focuses on drawing a longhaired cat, providing a practical example of animal portraiture. The course could give an animal artist a better understanding of animal anatomy and fur rendering techniques, making their artwork more realistic and appealing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animal Artist

Landscape Painter

A landscape painter creates paintings of natural scenery. This course directly applies to landscape painters because it includes instruction on drawing landscapes in pastel. Completing the course can help landscape painters refine their techniques and create more detailed and expressive landscape art. Aspiring landscape painters can learn about color and composition, and this instruction helps them create finished works in the pastel medium.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Painter

Fine Artist

A fine artist creates original works of art for exhibition and sale. The focus of this course on pastel drawing techniques for animals, landscapes, and portraits directly translates to the skills needed by a fine artist who works in this medium. By completing the course, a fine artist interested in pastel drawing can improve their skills in these areas, leading to the creation of more compelling pieces. A fine artist will appreciate how this course provides instruction on creating finished art pieces in pastel medium.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Tattoo Artist

A tattoo artist creates permanent designs on a client's skin using needles and ink. This course helps a tattoo artist refine their drawing skills, particularly in creating detailed designs with shading and depth. The focus of this course on drawing animals, landscapes, and portraits helps a tattoo artist develop the skills needed to create tattoos of these subjects. This practice and training could assist an artist in designing amazing tattoo designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tattoo Artist

Illustrator

An illustrator creates images for books, magazines, and other media. This course may benefit aspiring illustrators who wish to develop their drawing skills, especially in pastel. The course focuses on drawing animals, landscapes, and portraits, which are common subjects in illustration. Learning to capture these subjects effectively can broaden your portfolio and appeal to a wider range of clients. This course also gives you experience creating finished pieces which an illustrator will need to do.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Art teacher

An art teacher instructs students in various art techniques and concepts. This course can be useful for art teachers looking to expand their knowledge of pastel drawing. By learning how to draw animals, landscapes, and portraits in pastel, they can incorporate these techniques into their lesson plans. This course can help an art teacher create engaging projects for their students. The step-by-step video format is a valuable tool for learning and demonstrating drawing techniques to students.

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Animator

An animator creates moving images for films, television shows, video games, and other media. This course may be useful for animators who want to improve their drawing skills, especially in pastel, although animation is more often digital. The course, by focusing on animals, landscapes, and portraits, provides a foundation for creating a wide range of animated content. Many animators have a fine art background.

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Concept Artist

A concept artist creates visual representations of ideas for use in video games, movies, and other media. This course may be useful for concept artists who want to improve their drawing skills, especially in pastel. The course, by focusing on animals, landscapes, and portraits, provides a foundation for creating a wide range of concept art. A background in fine art helps a concept artist in this process.

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Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist creates a sequence of drawings to visualize the scenes of a film, television show, or other media. This course may be valuable for storyboard artists who want to improve their drawing skills. The focus on drawing animals, landscapes, and portraits provides a good base for visualizing different scenes and characters. The course can help a storyboard artist become more versatile in depicting a range of scenarios.

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Art Director

An art director oversees the visual style and images for various projects, such as magazines, advertising campaigns, and film sets. While an art director may not be directly involved in creating artwork, understanding different artistic techniques is crucial. This course may help an art director broaden their knowledge of pastel drawing. This course will enhance an art director's eye for detail and composition, which are essential for creating visually appealing and effective designs.

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Muralist

A muralist creates large-scale paintings on walls or other surfaces. This course may be helpful for muralists who want to explore different drawing mediums as part of their planning and design process. Although murals are typically painted with acrylics or other paints, understanding pastel drawing techniques can inform their artistic style. The course will help develop skills that are applicable in a variety of mediums.

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Art Restorer

An art restorer, which sometimes requires a master's degree, specializes in repairing and conserving damaged artwork. While this course focuses on creating new artwork, it may provide some insight into the techniques and materials used in pastel drawings. This course may help an art restorer develop a better understanding of how pastel artwork is created, which can be beneficial when working to restore or conserve such pieces. This would also help them understand how to best conserve artwork.

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Textile Designer

A textile designer creates patterns and designs for fabrics. This course may be of some benefit to textile designers seeking to improve their drawing skills, especially when sketching out initial design ideas. The skills taught in the course can help a textile designer create more detailed and visually appealing designs, providing the foundation for incorporating animals, landscapes and portraits, into fabric.

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Fashion Designer

A fashion designer creates clothing and accessories. Although fashion design involves a range of skills beyond drawing, the ability to create detailed sketches is essential. This course may be helpful for fashion designers looking to improve their drawing skills, particularly in rendering portraits and understanding how to depict fabrics and textures convincingly. By completing this course, fashion designers may find that it helps improve their ability to communicate design ideas through sketches.

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How to Draw Animals, Landscapes and Portraits in Pastel

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Step-by-step pastel drawing for beginners

Activities

Career center

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