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From Wash to Wow: Horse in Pastel with Alcohol Underpainting
Art in Action: Live Class Replay
Course Summary
In this lesson, we begin with a bold alcohol underpainting to block in values, establish movement, and create an energetic foundation for this expressive horse at water’s edge. Once the wash dries, we build rich pastel color on top—layering, glazing, and refining to bring out glowing highlights, deep shadows, and shimmering reflections. This approach keeps things loose at first, then intentional and confident as we add color. It’s structured, but it still feels alive.
Course Takeaways:
How to create an alcohol underpainting for strong value structure
Choosing the right pastel pigments for a powerful wash
Letting the underpainting guide your color placement
Layering soft pastel over a textured surface
Creating believable water reflections with broken color
Balancing softness in the background with crisp focal detail
Lessons Learned:
Strong values underneath make everything on top easier
The underpainting does not need to be perfect—just clear
Color sits differently over an alcohol wash than over bare surface
Pushing darks early creates confidence later
Reflections work best when they echo, not copy, the subject
Course Curriculum
