Pastel Podcast Episode 11: Clint Howard

This episode features rising pastel artist Clint Howard and focuses on landscape painting, capturing light and water, and fast-tracking skill development through disciplined practice. These show notes highlight the themes, practical tips, tools, and resources discussed—without giving everything away—so you can decide which ideas to try next at the easel.

Quick overview — who this episode is for

• Pastel painters seeking clearer strategies for light, water, and reflections.
• Landscape artists wanting better atmospheric perspective and composition.
• Artists exploring a shift from drawing or digital design into pastels.
• Anyone curious about consistent practice, mentorship, and building an art career.

High-level topics covered

• How disciplined, small-format practice accelerates skill development.
• Observation-first approach: seeing shapes, values, and subtle color shifts.
• Techniques for painting water and reflections realistically with pastels.
• Using neutrals and tonalism to increase the impact of bright colors.
• Working from reference photos and why phone photo editing can be a powerful pre-painting step.
• How digital tools (Procreate, photo apps) can support composition and color studies.
• Practical tips for plein air painting and substituting photo-based workflows when plein air isn’t possible.

Top actionable tips you can use immediately

1. Paint small, often : short, frequent sessions on 9×12 or smaller surfaces build “stick miles” far faster than occasional large pieces.
2. Observe before you mark : identify the main shapes, then ask “what color and value is this shape?” rather than naming the object (for example, “tree” or “water”).
3. Simplify in the reference : crop and adjust photos on your phone to lock down composition before you start—this reduces decision fatigue at the easel.
4. Use neutrals strategically : warm and cool grays or muted tones increase the perceived vibrancy of accents when used as a counterpoint to bright pastel colors.
5. Break water into distinct layers : reflections, transparent areas, and shadowed areas all have different values and color temperatures—treat each as a separate shape.

Techniques explained (concise)

Capturing light in water

Water is a record of light: reflections mirror the sky and surrounding objects, while transparent areas reveal the stream bed or underwater forms. Achieve realism by varying value and hue within the same horizontal band—don’t use one flat color. Add small, contrasting shapes for glints and ripples rather than overworking edges.

Atmospheric perspective for believable distance

As distance increases, colors compress toward cooler, lower-contrast values. Look for indigo, turquoise, or muted purples in distant ranges. Apply gradual shifts in value and reduce local contrast to push planes back convincingly.

Tonalism and use of neutrals

Neutral grays and subdued midtones form the backbone of a painting’s harmony. Use them to anchor bright accents. Tonal restraint can make a painting feel cohesive and let the highlighted areas sing.

Simplifying composition while keeping grandeur

To make a mountain feel tall in a small format: compress or lower the foreground, raise the mountain visually by adjusting cropping, and prioritize a strong value silhouette. Cropping a larger scene to a dramatic portion often produces unexpectedly strong compositions.

Tools and workflows mentioned

• Smartphone photography plus in-phone editing for quick composition and color tests.
• Digital sketch tools like Procreate or Infinite Painter for color studies and rough composition drafts.
• Small panels and 9×12 surfaces for daily practice.
• Pastel-specific papers and neutral pastel sticks for creating subtle tones.
• Mentorship and online workshop platforms for critique and structured learning.

Common mistakes and pitfalls

• Copying a photo blindly: phone cameras use wide-angle lenses and can distort proportions and exaggerate colors. Always combine photos with careful observation.
• Using one value for a whole reflection: reflections are rarely uniform—vary value and temperature across their width.
• Overloading on brights: neglecting neutrals makes a painting feel flat. Build a strong neutral base to support vibrant accents.
• Waiting for long studio sessions: infrequent practice slows progress. Short, consistent work sessions produce steady improvement.

Resources and next steps

• Look for pastel mentorship groups and forums to exchange critiques and receive structured lessons.
• Experiment with a daily small-format practice routine—track progress with a simple calendar or journal.
• Try photographing scenes on your phone, then immediately tweak crop, contrast, and color to match what you remember seeing in person.
• Test a digital color study app to quickly explore alternative palettes or compositions before committing to a final piece.
• Consider joining local or national pastel societies and entering juried shows when you have a cohesive body of work.

Why this episode matters

This conversation blends practical studio habits with concrete technique—especially for landscape and water painting—without promising shortcuts. The core message is simple: sharpen your observation, choose a repeatable workflow, and put in focused, frequent practice. For painters ready to commit to steady improvement, the ideas here translate directly into faster, more confident results.

Quick takeaway

Observation plus disciplined, small-scale practice will accelerate your pastel work more reliably than chasing flashy techniques. Start today with a phone reference, a 9×12 surface, and a 30-min

Related Links from this episode of the Pastel Podcast:

• Clint’s Website
• Lisa Skelly, Huse Skelly Gallery
• Debra Huse, oil painter
• Plein Air Convention & Expo
• Greg Stone, pastel artist
• Pastel Workshop YouTube 
• Tiffanie Mang, digital plein air sketching
• Anne Ward, ProCreate lessons
• International Association of Pastel Societies
• Pastel Today free e-newsletter
• Pastel Live Online Conference