How to Paint Greens with Pastels

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“High Country Summer Meadow” (pastel, 12 x 12 in.)

Greens are a source of trepidation for many artists, especially when painting a verdant landscape. All that green can be overwhelming!

In this demo, Xenia Sease explains her approach for tackling a predominantly green landscape, from honing in on her focal area to creating convincing atmosphere.

Painting a Verdant Landscape with Xenia Sease

Establish Your Intent

Before diving into a painting, Xenia encourages artists to pause and absorb the environment. She emphasizes the significance of connecting with the scene emotionally. Determining the intent behind the painting helps in choosing the right adjectives to describe the feeling elicited by the landscape. For her, a sense of vibrancy paired with a soothing warmth is what she aims to convey.

Focus on Focal Areas

Identifying strong contrasts within the scene is crucial. In her demo (above) Xenia discusses how to decide whether the painting will be high-key or low-key based on the lighting conditions. In her case, the bright sunlight creates a high-key painting, where the light areas dominate the dark.

Understand Color Temperature

Temperature plays a pivotal role in landscape painting. Xenia explains how she perceives the dominant temperature of the scene, whether warm or cool, and how this understanding influences her color choices. For her painting, she opts for warmer tones to reflect the sunny environment, contrasting them with cooler tones of distant trees.

Layer Colors for Depth

As Xenia begins painting, she layers her colors to create dimension. She starts with the darkest areas and gradually builds up to the lightest. Her aim is to create a more interesting green by incorporating subtle shifts in color temperature and value, which adds depth and realism to the landscape.

“A Front Range Summer” (pastel, 8 x 10 in.)

Observe Your Subject in Person

Being outdoors while painting provides invaluable experience. Xenia shares that her best lessons come from direct observation of the scene. Comparing the colors seen in person with those captured in photographs often reveals a wealth of detail that might be lost in a snapshot.

Utilize Simultaneous Contrast

Understanding simultaneous contrast is essential for manipulating colors effectively. Xenia demonstrates how the same green can appear differently based on the colors surrounding it. This concept of relativity is vital in ensuring that greens do not become flat or dull.

Create Movement in Your Painting

To enhance the painting’s dynamic quality, Xenia suggests incorporating elements that guide the viewer’s eye into the landscape. By carefully placing shapes and colors, she creates pathways that invite the viewer to explore the scene further.

Make Final Touches and Adjustments

As the session draws to a close, Xenia reflects on the importance of stepping back to assess the painting. This practice helps in making necessary adjustments to ensure that the warm and cool colors are balanced appropriately throughout the piece.

Engage with the Landscape — and Your Community

Xenia’s approach is not just about technical skill; it’s about connecting with the emotional essence of the landscape. By sharing her journey and techniques, she inspires fellow artists to embrace their unique perspectives when faced with the challenge of greens in landscape painting.


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