Try a New Pastel Technique...Stained Glass Pastels

'Desert Grace'          6x6        pastel             ©Karen Margulis
purchase here  $50

Sometimes you just want to color.  You know ... as in taking out a box of sharp new crayons and a crisp coloring book and color. Some of us like to outline our pictures. Some are careful to stay in the lines. But coloring is always a nice way to relax and play with color.  When I want to have fun with color and not worry too much about anything else I take out a piece of compressed charcoal and my pastels and do a 'stained glass' painting. Here's how:

Step one: Draw with charcoal

Step two:  Start coloring!

• All you need is a piece of paper, a piece of compressed charcoal and some pastels.
• Choose a fairly simple subject. You will be simplifying the subject with a simple like drawing (a great exercise)
• I start with a light pencil drawing to block in my composition. I then outline with the charcoal pressing hard for nice bold dark lines.
• Now I get to color!  I don't worry about staying perfectly in the lines.
• When I am finished with the color I go back with the charcoal or a charcoal pencil to darken the lines.

This technique of painting is not my usual style but I find it very relaxing and a good way to paint without having to think too hard.  Sometimes I just like the bold graphic look I can get.  Another fun exercise is to take a subject and paint it as a stained glass painting then paint the same thing in your usual style. You will see how you might simplify your subject by having to flatten it and make it into a line drawing! Try it! (I think I'll take my own advice and try it too)

'Aspens'   5x7  pastel