How to Paint the Beach...New Pastel Demo PDF

'Tropical Dreams'           8x10          pastel           ©Karen Margulis
purchase painting $155

It was 17 degrees below zero when I saw the billboard. It was an ad for a Caribbean cruise.  Now this was a well placed billboard!  I could definitely see the allure of a Caribbean beach. After this harsh winter many of us are having dreams of spending some time by the sea.

It is time to paint the beach!  Even if you don't have a beach trip in your future (or maybe you are fortunate to live by the water) learning techniques for painting the sea and sand and sky can come in handy. You can even apply these ideas to painting other landscapes that include these elements.

I like the challenge of painting a seascape or beach scene because it has it all....water, sky, sand and foliage. Now that is a landscape challenge!  I decided to take the challenge for my next downloadable demo/lesson. I am releasing it just in time for late spring and summer vacations.

screen shot of my latest demo download

The latest demo is available in pdf format so you can view it on a computer or tablet or print it out and make a booklet.  This demo has 44 full color photos of each step of my painting and 23 pages which include text on each step. These demos are what I would share if I was painting in front of you with even more information because I can take my time and write down all the details of each step. For this painting I have used a Dry Underpainting technique. I share tips on painting clouds, sky, sand and foliage. 

The demo is available in my Etsy shop . Click here for details.  I have 8 demos available and they can all be viewed in my etsy shop here. 

A few sample photos of my painting in progress

How to Paint a Mini Pastel ...new pastel demo

'Across the River II'          2.5 x 3.5       pastel        ©Karen Margulis    
sold

 It is the most satisfying way to paint. Instant gratification.  Using scraps of paper, a few pastels and sitting down at a table I can finish a painting in a very limited time.  Painting minis allow me to play with color and composition without the worry of wasting a bigger piece of paper.They are not always successful but it is so easy to put the bad ones aside and keep on painting.

'Across the River'            2.5 x 3.5        pastel         ©Karen Margulis
sold

I have a method that I follow when painting these minis. I don't use pastel pencils or even hard pastels. I don't use tiny pieces to get the small details. I use regular soft pastels. Practice helps!  I have been asked to share my technique and tips for minis so I thought it would make a good addition to my PDF Demo collection.  This demo download is now available in my Etsy shop for $5 or as a free bonus with the purchase of one of my mini originals also in my Etsy shop. Click here to see all available minis

My step by step demo on painting very small

Displaying a mini pastel

'Through the Sunflower Meadow'      2.5x3.5      pastel    $15

A sample page of the demo

Did you recognize the painting at the top of the page? This was the mini that inspired my larger 18x24 version that I posted last week!

How to Paint Daisies in Pastel...New Demo

'Daisies Make me Smile'             9x12              pastel            ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $165

Daisies make me smile!  I love to paint them but I wasn't always successful. In fact anytime I tried to add wildflowers to a painting they would look childish and sweet. I didn't want that! I wanted my wildflowers to look authentic ...to look like they belonged in the landscape and not just an afterthought. I wanted them to look as wild and free as I saw them.  But they always looked stiff and boring.

I didn't give up.  I just practiced and observed and tried different techniques.  I am still learning but at least now my daisies don't look like they were painted by a preschool child!  I have discovered ways to help me paint them better.  I am excited to be able to share my discoveries with you in my latest demo.

The demo is available as a pdf booklet in my Esty shop for $6. Click here for details 

The cover of the pdf booklet

This demo is my biggest one yet!  It is 30 pages filled with 60 color photos. I have documented each step of the painting from the watercolor underpainting all the way through the layering of the pastels.  I extensively cover the watercolor underpainting stage....something I didn't always have great success with!  Through the many photos and my description you will be able to see how I work through the addition of pastel while preserving the underpainting. Here are a few sample photos:

close up photo of watercolor underpainting

sample from the pdf demo

This demo is a PDF file so you can either print it out and staple the pages into a booklet or just save it and follow on your computer or tablet. I know several artist who like to follow and paint along on their iPads.
I would love for you to take a closer look and consider giving this demo a try. I have 6 other demos available as well. They can be found in my Etsy shop.
Here is a link to the demos.

Painting a Pet Portrait in Pastel

Goldendoodle Portrait          8x10         pastel      ©Karen Margulis        sold

 It all began with a pet portrait. It was 9 years ago and I was feeling an urge to paint.  I had not picked up a brush since high school. While my kids were young I stayed creative with sewing and photography but I was ready to paint.  The first medium I tried was colored pencil. I thought they would be an easy portable medium. (not easy)  I did pet portraits in colored pencil. It was fun but only whet my appetite. Next came watercolor (a disaster) and finally pastel (heaven)

I loved pastel but never really painted any pets. My teacher Marsha Savage, is primarily a landscape painter so I learned to paint landscapes which I love.  But every once in awhile I get the urge to return to pet portraits. In this post are a few of my recent portraits.  I have some tips if you want to paint your own pet in pastel.

cat portrait     8x10       pastel  sold

•  Photos: try to use photos taken in natural light with strong light and shadow patterns. I like to find natural poses with interesting light. Not always possible but if you are taking the photos, take time to get good ones!

• Paper: My favorite paper for pets is Sennelier LaCarte. It has a softness that I love for animals. I recommend trying several kinds of paper even if you are a die hard fan of a particular brand. I wouldn't think I would prefer a paper for a particular subject, but I do!

• Pastels: This depends on your style and level of detail you want. You may love the detail you get with pastel pencils. I prefer using small pieces of soft pastels..Terry Ludwig,Diane Townsend and Great Americans.  I like to suggest fur rather than painting every piece and the chunks of pastel work best for me.  I will use a Nupastel for whiskers but no pencils.

• Background: Plan the background and put it in at the start of the painting. If you want until the end you may not have success....the color and value relationships change and your animal may look pasted on.

• Color:  Black is not black....get the values correct and you can use unexpected and interesting color in your fur!

Special Offer for my readers

Would you like to commission a pet portrait or paint your own?  I am accepting a limited number of commissions at this time and offering a 10% savings. If you would like to paint your own and would like to see my process in a step by step demo consider my Digital Download pdf also at 10% savings this week only.

Commissions accepted through my Etsy shop here:https://www.etsy.com/listing/163134031/original-pastel-pet-portrait-custom?
Demo pdf available in my Etsy shop here:https://www.etsy.com/listing/157439997/pastel-painting-lesson-demo-pdf-how-to?
Be sure to use coupon code LUVPETS for the 10% savings

'His Royal Highness'      8x10     pastel

*****WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!  I have a winner in my drawing for a painting. If you purchased a mini pastel during january you were entered to win an enlargement of your min. The winning ticket # is 3938119  If you have this number I have already emailed you! If you didn't get it please contact me kemstudios@yahoo.com
Thank you to everyone who entered! I appreciate your interest in my work!

How to Paint a Winter Landscape...New Pastel DEMO Download

'Winter Silence'              8x10             pastel             ©Karen Margulis         SOLD

I like to paint winter landscapes in the winter. Some prefer to paint them in the heat of the summer. A bit of respite from the heat. I can understand that. I like to paint a warm summer beach to take the chill off a cold winter day.  But I still prefer to paint winter when it is cold.  I feel like I can relate to the cold iciness of the snow when I actually feel cold. And it helps to be able to observe the snow and the bare winter trees live and in person!

It was cold outside when I painted this demo. It has been cold everywhere including Georgia!  I enjoyed painting it and I am excited to share the detailed demo notes in my latest download available in my Etsy shop.  I love sharing my mini demos here on the blog but these monthly demo downloads allow me to go in depth and share step by step my thoughts and techniques.  

This demo focuses on how to paint the colors in snow and snow shadows and how I create the illusion of detail without really putting in a lot of detail....suggestions of detail is what I try to do.  Bare winter trees are the perfect subject for minimizing detail.

This demo is 22 pages with 40 color photos. It is available as a PDF download for $6. You can view or on your computer or print it out. Here is the link to the Winter Demo

.https://www.etsy.com/listing/177060853/pastel-painting-lesson-demo-pdf-winter

If you haven't tried my monthly pastel demos I have the last 5 available in a bundle for $24 here.

The front of my Demo PDF

suggesting bare winter trees

shapes and colors = suggested detail

Planning a Painting Series with a Worksheet

'Winter Memories'            12x12           pastel           ©Karen Margulis
sold

 I love a plan.  I can't help it.  I like to know in advance what I am going to do.  I actually enjoy the planning process. Take a vacation for example.  You pick a place to visit and in anticipation you make your plans....pick out lodging and potential attractions and restaurants and activities.  Part of the fun of a vacation comes in the planning.  When you get there you have some idea of what to expect and things to do. Sure you might be spontaneous and go 'off the plan' but you will get a lot more from the experience with some advance planning.

A painting is like a trip.

If you know what you want to paint and why you want to paint it you will have a better idea of what you need to do to get there. I remember Richard McKinley saying "If you don't know WHY , you won't know WHAT."  I love that!  Making a plan for the painting will help us clarify our ideas. And like a trip you can deviate from the plan but at least you had some guidance.

My problem is I can never remember all I should do for a good painting plan.  So I designed a worksheet to help me remember.  It is my PAINT with a PLAN worksheet.

Paint with a Plan Worksheet

This is a two page worksheet that I use whenever I want to get serious with a painting and make a solid plan.  It includes questions to ask yourself before starting a painting and blank places for your thumbnails, value studies and color studies.  You can decide what format best expresses your idea as well as work out values and colors....all your plans all in one place!

Taking a few minutes to fill in the worksheet  before picking up the brush or pastel can prevent a lot of potential problems.  The bonus is you end up with several possibilities for  paintings which can easily be used for a series.  I used my planning worksheet to come up with the compositions for several winter sledding paintings.....one plan....four paintings!

Would you like to try a planning worksheet?  I am making them available as a PDF file in my Etsy shop for 99 cents. Download and print them out for your own personal use.  I use these handouts in my pastel classes and I am happy to share them with you! Click here for the worksheet information

color study for 'Up the Hill'     3x3    pastel  sold

'Up the Hill'    11x14  sold

New Demo Release...A Simple Landscape

'Early Morning Impression'            9x12             pastel           ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $125

 All you really need is a piece of paper and a few pastels.  Sometimes you just want to keep things simple.  I love the versatility of pastels. I love all of the wonderful techniques we have. Who would have believed we could paint with vodka and pastels!  But we can...and it is a lot of fun.

Our choices can be overwhelming. And sanded pastel paper can be expensive. Wouldn't it be great to sometimes just take out a piece of Canson paper and a few pastels and paint a quick painting?  No big plans. No messy underpaintings. No big expense.  Just pure expression on paper.

I like to go back to basics sometimes. I like to do quick studies on Canson Mi-Teintes paper. Just for fun and for practice. I am always trying to get in my Miles of Canvas!  In my latest digital Demo Download I share my approach for a quick study on Canson.   The demo is available in my Etsy shop for $6. You can view in online as a PDF or print it out and follow along.

a screen shot of the Demo download

Here is an excerpt from the demo:

Like many artists new to pastels, I first started with Canson Mi-Teintes paper, someNuPastels and some Rembrandts. And like many I struggled with this combination. Icouldnʼt get the rich colors that I admired in so many pastel paintings. Mine were muddyand dull. Once I discovered sanded papers and softer pastels I didnʼt buy any more.Canson paper. I decided I didnʼt like it. I am so glad that I decided to give it another tryafter seeing the work of several artists who do beautiful work on Canson.  

A photo from my demo

If this painting looks familiar to you from my recent YouTube video it is the same scene!  I painted two versions. The first was for the YouTube video and the second one was done as a Time Lapse video for my digital demo download.  You can see the time lapse video at this link:

http://youtu.be/bQNk7tqmpHI

The pastels I ised for this painting

I am excited to share these demos with you. I never have enough space on a blog post to share all I would like so these mini lessons allow me to share even more! Thank you!

New Digital Demo Available...Painting an Autumn Marsh

'A September to Remember'           8x10         pastel        ©Karen Margulis
sold

The Autumn Marsh inspires me. Visiting the Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in September was one of the highlights of my recent trip to NJ.  It inspired the painting that I used for my latest digital download.  I am pleased to share my latest detailed demo in PDF format now available in my Etsy shop. 

This demo has it all....Autumn marsh grasses, blue sky with clouds, wildflowers, water.  I use 35 photos to illustrate my approach from an alcohol wash value block in to the finishing touches. I include a larger reference photo and floe up photos of my pastel palette if you'd like to follow along.

 Click here to see more details or to purchase the PDF demo $6

a screen shot of the booklet

If you haven't had a chance to try one of my digital download demos I invite you to have a look at them in my Etsy shop. They can be viewed on your computer or printed out and stapled into a booklet. I am excited to have found a way to share a more detailed demo with you. I have shared mini demos here on the blog but these PDF booklets give me room to share more photos and more detailed step by step narratives.

I offer a the following demos: Painting animals, Using a turpenoid wash underpainting, A landscape with Green. See them all in my etsy shop here.

I share some of the techniques I use for painting grasses

My easel and pastel palette for this painting

Now I am off to Pawleys Island for a week of painting the marshes! Stay tuned for my trip reports!

Underpaintings for Pastels:Turpenoid Wash Demonstration

'A Moment of Tranquility'         8x10       pastel       ©Karen Margulis
click here to purchase $145

One of the best ways to loosen up your paintings is to use a wet underpainting.  Once you wet the pastel or use a wet media you are no longer in complete control.  Colors mix and mingle. Wet pastel or paint drip. Happy accidents can occur. And you are left not with plain blank paper (which can be intimidating) but an exciting mix of colors and shapes that you could never have planned exactly.

When I am in the mood to be surprised I will choose a wet underpainting. Also certain subjects like marsh grasses and water lend themselves to a wet underpainting. It gives you a head start!

You have many choices for a wet underpainting from using wet media to simply wetting down your pastel layer. One of my favorite and easy techniques is a Turpenoid Wash Underpainting.  Sure you can use water or rubbing alcohol but there is something really cool about the way the turpenoid washes dry that makes them my favorite.

I have just finished my 3rd digital demo download and this one is a full demo of the painting in this post from the turpenoid wash through the various steps in building the painting. This demo has 19 pages and  33 color photos.  The demo is in PDF format and can be read on your computer or printed and stapled into a booklet. It is available in my Etsy shop for $6. Click here to see more.

Here is a preview page from the demo:

close up of the drips and spider webs of the turpenoid wash

• Look at the photo above for an example of drips and webs. After the painting is wet down you can go back and dab on some more turpenoid in areas you want to drip....just not too much at once!)

• Wet the pastel with the brush as if you were painting with the brush. You are making liquid paint so take advantage of this. Move the pastel around and try to describe the object with your brushstrokes. Don’t just brush straight across or up and down...PAINT!

• Take your time! Enjoy this process. Slow down and watch what happens as the turpenoid liquifies the pastel. You are working towards creating and interesting underpainting to respond to with pastels. Don’t rush through it!  The more time you spend developing this underpainting the more interesting it will be!

In this demo I talk about supplies, my techniques for doing the turpenoid wash, the steps I take in developing the painting, how I paint the sky, painting reflections in the water, how I preserve parts of the underpainting as I paint and more! I also provide my reference photo should you wish to follow along and paint your own version.
If you would like to try a turpenoid wash underpainting or just work on your technique consider my digital download!

Available demos:
How to Paint an Animal in Pastel
Painting a Very Green Landscape
Underpaintings for Pastels: Turpenoid Wash Underpainting

New Pastel Demo Available...A Very Green Landscape

'Deep in the Hollow'             8x10        pastel         ©Karen Margulis
purchase painting $145 with Paypal

I like to paint demos. I really don't mind painting in front of a group and sharing what is going on in my head as a painting develops. I don't mind being interrupted with lots of question. The more the better. Sure not every demo is successful but I always try to make sure that the group learns something. I find that for a shy person I have a lot to say when it comes to talking about my passion.

I have been posting mini demos on my blog for the past two years. But they are condensed versions and don't quite compare to a real live demo. I have been wanting to find a way to share my demos with others without doing a video. I don't have the equipment for that. So when I discovered that Etsy offers sellers the ability to offer digital downloads I thought it would be the perfect way to share a more detailed demo in PDF form.

I put my first digital download mini lesson on painting animal in my Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago. It has been successful and it was fun to put together. I decided I would try to offer a detailed painting demo each month. So after a couple of weeks of work I am pleased to announce my new digital download Demo. This one is on Painting a Very Green Landscape.

Value Thumbnail

Block in

 The demo shows the development of 'Down in the Hollow'. From value study through block -in to the finishing details, this 14 page demo features 30 full color photos with detailed commentary. Under each step of the painting I share exactly what I would talk about in a live in- person demo. The benefit is that you can follow along and spend as much time as you want looking at each step. I cover tips for dealing with a green landscape and how I create distance in a landscape.  If you enjoy the mini demos on the blog I think you will enjoy the expanded PDF demo.

I will still plan on posting mini demos on the blog but I am excited to have a way to share longer more detailed demos with you!  If you would like to give a lesson or demo a try visit my Etsy shop. They are just $6 each and you download the PDF to either print out or read online.
I am offering a discount code for my readers. Use coupon code TRYDEMO for $1 off.

Click HERE to see more about this demo download in my Etsy shop

Introducing My First Pastel Lesson Download....How to Paint Animals

'Siamese Beauty'      5x7          pastel         ©Karen Margulis  SOLD

I finally did it!  I have put together a complete pastel lesson and demo in booklet form.  I do post mini demos on the blog but I have been wanting to find a way to share a more in depth lesson. When I saw that Etsy had a category to share Digital Downloads I thought it would be a perfect way to share my lessons.  It was just a matter of finding the time to put the lesson together.  Here it is!  

Download the PDF lesson $6 in my Etsy shop

I chose 'Painting Animals' as my first lesson. It is based on a class I teach on my approach to painting animals with pastels. I posted an abbreviated version of the demo on the blog but I have expanded my descriptions and added some extra thoughts and details. The demo photos are in full color.  The lesson is available in PDF format in my Etsy shop for $6.  You can download the file and view it on your computer or print it out and staple it to make a booklet. 

 The subject of the demo is my Siamese Cat Toblerone. Tobi makes a great subject to illustrate my approach.  I use the same approach for any animal I paint. I even use the same steps when painting an animal in oil or acrylic. So you don't have to be a pastelist to follow along.

If you aren't familiar with Etsy....it is a wonderful online venue for fine art and crafts as well as vintage items. It is clean and easy to navigate and is a wonderful place to browse for unique items. I have been selling some of my small paintings on Etsy . A couple of weeks ago I came across a digital download of knitting patterns and I thought hmmmmm now this is how I can share my lessons!

If you enjoy my blog demos think of this booklet as an expanded blog post that you can print out and save. If you know of anyone that might be interested please share this post. AND I welcome your suggestions for future lessons!