Most pastelists utilize some form of an underpainting technique to mass in the large areas of a composition. In the end, major portions of the underpainting may show through providing a partnership and added dimension to the final painting.Getting the Values Right: No matter which underpainting approach (utilitarian or creative) you embrace, there is one factor that can’t be ignored: if the general value (degree of lightness and darkness) is not represented in the major spaces of the painting’s underpainting, no matter how beautiful the colors are, it will ultimately have to be covered.

Painting from Photographs with Pastel — Do It WiselyMelissa Breault uses pastel on an intimate scale. She creates marvelous precision of form with an exquisitely light touch. In her portraits, she tracks every nuance of light and color to give a complete account of her subjects.At the same time, the dramatic use of lighting and well-chosen poses combine to elicit a strong sense of presence and life from the subject.

Amy Mann converted the living room in her Virginia homeinto a studio with generous shelving for her still life props.I remember the first time an artist invited me into his studio. It was truly a reflection of his personality and experiences—full of memorabilia from his travels in and around his childhood hometown in the Deep South, and neat as a pin, just like him.

One of the most rewarding moments of any painting is reaching the point where we feel satisfied enough to place our signature. While the purpose of the signature is basically that of authorship, its placement and appearance can also play a significant role in the overall design of a painting’s composition.

Have you ever been deep in the throes of a drawing and suddenly found yourself desperately trying to figure out how to unclog technical pens? Rest assured you are not alone.Many artists prefer technical pens for drawing because they’re easy to use and provide smooth movement. This is especially true if they haven’t been used in a while.

This five-minute drawing of a turpentine potcould benefit from a larger range of values.All work from students of Sigmund Abeles.You know how life can sometimes speed by and at other times crawl along at a snail’s pace? Well, drawing is that way too. There are pencil drawing techniques that are incredibly labor intensive and deliberate, then there are others that are quick and unplanned.