Realistic Pastel Drawing for Beginners

In this video, you will learn how to best prepare for this course.

In this video, we will cover the materials you will need in this course:

Pastels (If you're buying pastels for this course, try to get NuPastel brand, so that we have the same type. This will be especially helpful if you wish to adhere strictly to what I'm doing, because I will be specifically naming off the colors I'm using as we work. If you already have pastels, just use yours and improvise with the colors choices).

For NuPastel 96 Color users, here is the list of colors you will use in this course. Download the attached color guide for examples of colors.

• 324-P (dark purple red)
• 216-P (purple red)
• 206-P (raspberry red)
• 336-P (fire engine red)
• 296-P (cantaloupe orange)
• 298-P (dark forest green)
• 305-P (dark blue green)
• 257-P (yellow-orange)
• 212-P (bright yellow)
• 217-P (light yellow)
• 211-P (white)
• 333-P (beige)
• 353-D (dark brown)
• 276-P (ivory)

Additional Supples:

• Paper with frame on it (any kind as long as it is meant for chalk pastel)
• Pencil and eraser
• Drawing board
• Reference photo taped up on drawing board
• Spray fixative (optional)

To Start:

• Use a rule to draw a frame on your page to match the size of your printed image (ex: the image should print 8x10", so draw a frame of 8x10" on your paper to match. If you print your image at a different size, just match that when making your frame).

Sometimes you'll get a pastel color that doesn't lay down color well, in this video you will see what that looks like. When this occurs, you can try to smooth it out, or substitute a color for something similar.

Welcome to the world of measuring and drawing!

Here you'll learn how to accurately measure distances and angles from your reference photo, and transfer them to your paper.

In this section, you'll learn how to make your basic line drawing for the pear.

Here we'll apply our first layers of red for the background.

• 336 P - Fire Engine Red

In this lecture, we'll add our first subtle shadows We'll also discuss how to circumvent potential flaws in the pastel medium itself, which may create a roadblock.

• 324 P - Dark Purple Red
• 336 P - Fire Engine Red

Here, we'll enhance and darken the foreground shadows.

• 298 P - Dark Forest Green
• 336 P - Fire Engine Red
• 305 P - Dark Blue Green

Here we'll be finishing the foreground coloring and putting in the dark background.

• 296 P - Cantaloupe Orange
• 324 P - Dark Purple Red
• 336 P - Fire Engine Red
• 305 P - Dark Blue Green
• 298 P - Dark Forest Green

In this lecture, you'll learn how to apply the first layer of colors for the pear.

• 257 P - Bright Yellow
• 324 P - Dark Purple Red

Here, we'll use scratch paper to practice blending techniques specific to the pear and we'll explore fearlessness!

In this lecture, you'll put in the main stem color and add more layers of shading to the pear body.

• 333 P - Beige
• 217 P - Light Yellow
• 257 P - Bright Yellow
• 212 P - Yellow/Orange

Now you'll get to darken shadows, add reflected light and refine the form of the pear to create a real sense of space and three-dimensional shape.

• 336 P - Fire Engine Red
• 324 P - Dark Purple Red
• 305 P - Dark Blue Green

Here I'll talk about things we will do to enjoy wrapping up this drawing and getting it frame-ready!

In this lecture, you'll add more detail to the stem and do some "nearly done" touch ups.

• 353 P - Dark Brown
• 333 P - Beige
• 276 P - Ivory
• 336 P - Fire Engine Red
• 298 P - Dark Forest Green

Here you'll refine the background and edges of the pear, and you'll add the shadow at the base of the stem.

• 305 P - Dark Blue Green
• 336 P - Fire Engine Red
• 296 P - Cantaloupe Orange
• 333 P - Beige
• 257 P - Bright Yellow

In this section, you'll learn how to add the speckles on the skin of the pear as well as the brightest highlights. We'll also discuss how to sign your drawing.

• 333 P - Beige
• 276 P - Ivory
• 324 P - Dark Purple Red

Here we'll talk about how and when to use spray fixative to protect your drawing.

In this video, we'll revisit what we got to do in this course, and what you got to learn! You learned how to:

• measure and draw a simple image from a photo

• apply and manipulate chalk pastel

• use various types of shading to replicate three-dimensional form

• create both hard and soft edges

• use different blending techniques

• create a few different textures: cloth, slick surface, speckles, wood

And I hope you had a fantastic time doing it!