Capturing a Likeness and More: Highlights from Pastel Live

A recap from Day 3 of the Pastel Live virtual art conference

We’d like to thank every single one of our attendees for being a part of this event – you are the ones who help us keep going, as we all continue to inspire each other to grow, learn, and connect in this incredible world of art. We hope to see you at the next online event, Realism Live along with more incredible teachers that we’re bringing to you.

For the last day of Pastel Live this year, we want to thank our wonderful sponsors once again! Today, our shout-out goes to Sennelier & Fabriano featuring Andrew Cook; Blick Art Materials featuring Joanne Barby; and Golden Artist Colors & Pan Pastels.

Highlights from Day 3 of Pastel Live

Andrew McDermott led us through a demo focusing on lights and reflections in an urban scene, including advice on how to build up your color and texture.

Breaking away from the “laborious” style of painting tight realistic scenes, Emma Colbert showed us how she takes a more fun approach that begins with a sketch of a dog in the landscape.

She said she works mostly from the background to the foreground, top to bottom with this style of pastel painting in small studies.

Isabelle Lim not only thinks outside the box, but she turns the box upside down, as we saw in her session on painting from a unique perspective.

Corey Pitkin walked us through his technique for “capturing a likeness” in a realistic portrait painting. He used a medium-toned paper, which he prefers for portraits after having studied Rembrandt’s work.

Floral artist Stephie Clark welcomed us to her happy place – her art studio, that is – with her “dusty little friends” to recreate the beauty that she sees in nature. In this paint-along, she worked from back to front, dark to light, guided by a photo reference she took of fuchsias while in Singapore.

Working from photo references and an oil study he created in New Mexico during the Plein Air Convention, Aaron Schuerr led us through the final demo of Pastel Live.

He says it’s important to anticipate quickly changing light conditions when painting on location, and helped us understand the passage of light during a sunset.

For a limited time, replays are available for this year; you can also join us live for next year’s Pastel Live virtual art conference! Simply visit PastelLive.com now and register for the best personal instruction and live interactions with artists from all over the world.

“This has all been a mind-blowing experience to be part of Pastel Live. Thank you to all involved. Staff, Tutors, and fellow participants. Have started my piggy bank for next year!!”

If you can’t wait until next year, join us in November for Realism Live (more details here!).