The Artist Magazine

Ten steps to painting flowers in pastel

There is so much joy in painting flowers! In this demonstration I would like to share with you how I go about painting a floral still life in soft pastel. Pastel is one of my favourite art materials and I have been painting with it ever since I was a teenager. It is an incredibly direct material to work with, that does not require any other tools or preparation. Simple as a pastel stick may seem, however, it's not always easy to paint with, and a few tips and tricks will help you conquer this beautiful medium.

For this still life I picked some flowers from my garden: a branch from the cherry tree and some freshly picked daffodils. If you have a garden, why not have a nose around for some suitable flowers to paint, or else head to a florist or garden centre to get some inspiration. Have a play around with different vases or pots, try different backgrounds and lighting situations (change room, or angle, use paper or fabric for

DEMONSTRATION Cherry Blossom

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