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How to Draw Figures in Landscapes with Pastel Pencils

Colin Bradley School of Art

In my 30+ Years of Teaching Experience I have found that Pastel Pencils is the by far the easiest art medium to pick up and learn.

In this course you will learn how to use a range of pastel pencils to create 3 beautiful rural scenes.

  • Autumn Mist Scene

  • "A Country Walk" Landscape

  • "Ploughing a Field" Scene

I believe these 3 subjects are a great combination of learning techniques for drawing country landscapes. You will learn how to draw foliage and trees, people and create stunning effects.

Read more

In my 30+ Years of Teaching Experience I have found that Pastel Pencils is the by far the easiest art medium to pick up and learn.

In this course you will learn how to use a range of pastel pencils to create 3 beautiful rural scenes.

  • Autumn Mist Scene

  • "A Country Walk" Landscape

  • "Ploughing a Field" Scene

I believe these 3 subjects are a great combination of learning techniques for drawing country landscapes. You will learn how to draw foliage and trees, people and create stunning effects.

There are elements in all 3 pictures that I feel a student will learn so much from and be able to apply the same techniques to their own work.

For all pictures I use Sand Coloured Fabriano Ingres Paper, this is a great neutral tone and works so well for all kinds of subjects. It is ideal for someone fairly new to pastel pencil work as you can erase so easily on the paper. I also use Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils and refer to these throughout the course. You can of course use any materials that you wish to use.

I would recommend this course for intermediate level artists. Perhaps you have tried my free courses and want to venture into the next level up or have already used Pastel Pencils before.

If you are just starting out with pastel pencils let me not discourage you from giving this subject a go, you will certainly learn a lot from the lessons and hopefully enjoy it as you do.

I provide you with an outline drawing for each subject so that you do not have to draw free hand. Trace this through to your paper or print it straight out using your printer.

I walk you through step by step with Video instruction how to draw each stage. You'll learn techniques behind drawing rural landscapes and create pictures you can be proud of.

I have broken the course down into bitesize chunks that you can follow and return to with ease.

If you love drawing and want to discover easy techniques to create stunning art that you can transfer to your own pictures then this course is for you.

Enroll now

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.

Read more

In this video I show you the brands of pencils and paper that I work with. In this course we only use the Ingres and the 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.

Autumn Mist

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.

This is Part 2 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 3 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 4 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 5 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 6 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 7 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 8 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 9, the final part of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

Ploughing a Field

This is Part 9 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 10, the final part of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

A Country Walk

This is Part 10 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 11 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 12 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 13 of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

This is Part 14, the final part of the course. If you have any questions please let us know.

Share your work

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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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 Figures in Landscapes with Pastel Pencils with these activities:
Practice Basic Drawing Techniques
Reviewing fundamental drawing skills will help you better understand and execute the pastel pencil techniques taught in the course.
Browse courses on Line Drawing
Show steps
  • Practice basic shapes and forms.
  • Experiment with different shading techniques.
  • Work on creating depth and perspective in your drawings.
Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'
Reading this book will help you develop your observational skills and understand the fundamentals of drawing, which are essential for pastel pencil work.
View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and complete the exercises.
  • Focus on the chapters related to perception and form.
Color Mixing Exercises with Pastels
Practicing color mixing will improve your ability to create realistic and vibrant landscapes with pastel pencils.
Show steps
  • Create a color chart with your pastel pencils.
  • Experiment with blending different colors together.
  • Try to match colors from reference photos.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Small Pastel Landscape Study
Creating a small landscape study will allow you to apply the techniques learned in the course and develop your own artistic style.
Show steps
  • Choose a simple landscape photo as a reference.
  • Sketch the basic composition on pastel paper.
  • Apply pastel pencils to create the landscape, focusing on color and value.
Explore 'Alla Prima II' by Richard Schmid
Studying this book will give you a deeper understanding of painting principles that can be applied to pastel landscapes.
View My Still Life Art on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the sections on color, value, and composition.
  • Analyze the paintings in the book and try to understand the artist's choices.
Share Your Work and Provide Feedback
Sharing your work and providing feedback to others will reinforce your understanding of the course material and help you develop your critical eye.
Show steps
  • Share your pastel landscapes on online art forums.
  • Provide constructive feedback to other artists.
Create a Series of Landscape Drawings
Creating a series of landscape drawings will help you solidify your skills and develop your own unique style.
Show steps
  • Choose a theme for your series, such as 'Seasons' or 'Local Landscapes'.
  • Create a series of 3-5 landscape drawings using pastel pencils.
  • Experiment with different techniques and styles.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Draw Figures in Landscapes with Pastel Pencils will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Landscape Painter
A landscape painter specializes in creating artwork that depicts outdoor scenes. Landscape painters may work with art media such as charcoal, pastel, oil, pencil, and acrylic. This course, which focuses on drawing figures in landscapes with pastel pencils, is directly relevant to this role. The course's emphasis on creating rural scenes, drawing foliage and trees, and adding stunning effects may help a Landscape Painter refine their skills. The instruction may help them create visually compelling artwork. A Landscape Painter may draw inspiration from the course's focus on Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Painter
Environmental Artist
An environmental artist creates art that focuses on natural environments and often promotes environmental awareness. Environmental art may be temporary or permanent. The course may be useful for environmental artists looking to develop their skills in depicting natural landscapes using pastel pencils. The course's emphasis on creating rural scenes, drawing foliage and trees, and adding stunning effects is relevant to this role. The step-by-step video instruction and focus on easy-to-learn techniques may help an Environmental Artist create compelling and impactful artwork. An Environmental Artist may learn by trying to draw Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Artist
Scenic Artist
A scenic artist creates backdrops, scenery, and props for theatre, film, and television productions. They are skilled in using various painting techniques to create realistic and immersive environments. The course focuses on drawing figures in landscapes with pastel pencils, which directly relates to the work of a scenic artist. The course's emphasis on creating rural scenes, drawing foliage and trees helps a Scenic Artist to create visually stunning sets. The Scenic Artist may draw inspiration from the Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Scenic Artist
Fine Artist
A fine artist creates original artwork for galleries, exhibitions, or private collections. Fine artists commonly work with art media such as pastel, oil, pencil, and acrylic. This course, which focuses on using pastel pencils to create rural scenes, may be quite valuable. Learning to draw foliage, trees, and people using the techniques taught in the course could help a fine artist expand their skillset. The step-by-step video instruction and emphasis on easy-to-learn techniques are particularly relevant for an artist looking to refine their craft. The course focuses on Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist
Botanical Illustrator
A botanical illustrator creates detailed and accurate drawings or paintings of plants for scientific or artistic purposes. Accuracy to detail is important in this art form. This course, which teaches how to draw foliage and trees, may be particularly helpful for an aspiring botanical illustrator. The course's focus on creating rural scenes and adding stunning effects may help a Botanical Illustrator develop their artistic skills. The step-by-step video instruction and emphasis on easy-to-learn techniques may also be beneficial. A Botanical Illustrator may hone skills by drawing Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Botanical Illustrator
Illustrator
An illustrator creates images for various media, such as books, magazines, and websites. This may be useful for developing skills in drawing figures and landscapes, particularly with pastel pencils. The course focuses on creating rural scenes using pastel pencils. By learning techniques for drawing foliage, trees, and people, a student can apply these skills to their own work as an illustrator. The step-by-step video instruction and the use of Fabriano Ingres paper, ideal for beginners, may help build a foundation in creating visually appealing illustrations. An aspiring Illustrator may be able to draw inspiration from the course's focus on Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator
Art teacher
An art teacher instructs students in various art techniques and concepts. This course may be valuable for art teachers looking to expand their knowledge of pastel pencil techniques. Many art teachers are also skilled artists. The course's focus on drawing figures and landscapes, as well as its step-by-step video instruction, may help an art teacher better instruct their students in these areas. The course covers Autumn Mist, "A Country Walk," and "Ploughing a Field," and it should help an art teacher learn to create stunning effects. The art teacher may also use the course to learn the techniques behind drawing rural landscapes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher
Concept Artist
A concept artist develops visual representations of ideas for use in games, film, and other media. The course may be useful for learning how to effectively use pastel pencils to create compelling landscape art. The course, which teaches how to draw foliage, trees, and people, fits well into this career path. The detailed video instruction and emphasis on creating stunning effects are particularly useful. The focus on rural scenes in the course, including Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field, may help a concept artist. A concept artist typically needs to learn the fundamentals of drawing and the elements of art. It's a plus to know various art media.
See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist
Background Artist
Background artists create the settings and environments for animated films, television shows, and video games. These artists make the settings in which certain action takes place. The course focuses on drawing figures in landscapes, which may be useful for creating visually appealing backgrounds. The course's emphasis on creating rural scenes, drawing foliage and trees, and adding stunning effects should help a Background Artist. The detailed video instruction and focus on easy-to-learn techniques may help a Background Artist develop their skills. A Background Artist may draw inspiration from the course's focus on Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Background Artist
Muralist
A muralist creates large-scale artwork, often painted directly on walls or other surfaces. The skills learned in this course, focusing on drawing figures in landscapes, may be translated to larger formats. Muralists should have strong skills drawing with various media. The course focuses on creating rural scenes using pastel pencils, which should help a muralist. Focusing on drawing foliage, trees, and people, the muralist may apply these skills to their own work. Muralists could benefit from step-by-step video instruction, to aid in creating visually appealing murals.
See salaries and explore the career path for Muralist
Storyboard Artist
A storyboard artist creates a sequence of drawings to visualize the scenes in a film, television show, or commercial. The storyboard artist works with the director to make sure the scenes come to life. While storyboards are not known for being finely drawn, this course, which focuses on drawing figures in landscapes, may be useful for refining drawing skills. This course, which focuses on drawing figures and landscapes, should help a Storyboard Artist develop their skills. The detailed video instruction and focus on easy-to-learn techniques may also be useful. Storyboard Artist may draw inspiration from the course's focus on Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist
Art Director
An art director oversees the visual style and images for various projects, such as advertising campaigns, magazines, and film sets. The course, which focuses on drawing figures in landscapes with pastel pencils, may be useful for refining an art director's understanding of visual composition and artistic techniques. Knowing how to draw foliage, trees, and people using the techniques taught in the course could help an Art Director better guide their team. The detailed video instruction and emphasis on creating stunning effects may also be beneficial. Art directors will likely need a bachelor's degree.
See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director
Exhibition Designer
An exhibition designer creates visually appealing and informative displays for museums, galleries, and trade shows. These designers are skilled in creating art that also conveys information. The course, which focuses on drawing figures in landscapes with pastel pencils, may be useful for exhibition designers looking to create engaging and immersive environments related to nature or rural themes. Knowing how to draw foliage, trees, and people using the techniques taught in the course could help an Exhibition Designer develop unique installations. The Exhibition Designer may draw inspiration from Autumn Mist, A Country Walk, and Ploughing a Field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Exhibition Designer
Production Designer
A production designer is responsible for the overall look and feel of a film or television production. Production design is a combination of art and design that helps to create the world of the story. The course focuses on drawing figures in landscapes, which may be useful for a production designer looking to develop visual concepts for outdoor scenes. The course's emphasis on creating rural scenes, drawing foliage and trees may help a Production Designer. The Production Designer may also learn the techniques behind drawing rural landscapes.
See salaries and explore the career path for Production Designer
Textile Designer
A textile designer creates patterns and designs for fabrics used in clothing, upholstery, and other products. Textile design is a very specialized art form that helps determine the look and feel of products made from fabric. The course may be useful for textile designers looking to improve their drawing skills and create unique patterns inspired by landscapes. The course's emphasis on creating rural scenes, drawing foliage and trees, and adding stunning effects may help a Textile Designer find inspiration. Textile designers usually need to understand the properties of fabric.
See salaries and explore the career path for Textile Designer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Draw Figures in Landscapes with Pastel Pencils.
Cover image
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Save
Classic guide to learning how to draw by tapping into different cognitive processes. It focuses on perceptual skills crucial for artists. Reading this book can significantly improve your ability to see and represent forms accurately, which is essential for pastel pencil drawing. It provides a solid foundation for understanding visual perception and translating it onto paper.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Paperback
Check
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Kindle Edition
Check
My Still Life Art
Save
While primarily focused on oil painting, Richard Schmid's 'Alla Prima II' offers invaluable insights into color theory, composition, and capturing light. These principles are directly transferable to pastel pencil work. serves as excellent additional reading for those seeking to elevate their understanding of painting techniques. It is commonly used by art students and professionals alike.
My Still Life Art
Paperback
Check
My Still Life Art
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
8.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Colin Bradley School of Art
Language
English
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