Majestic Perch: Pelican Portraits in Pastel
Enjoy this replay of one of my live classes from my weekly Zoom class!
Course Summary
In this pastel tutorial, learn how to bring a majestic pelican to life as it perches gracefully against a soft, atmospheric background. Using the rubbing alcohol technique, we’ll lock in our base layers, allowing for dynamic layering and vibrant color without muddying the tones. This method ensures that shadow pockets and subtle color variations shine through, creating depth and realism in the feathers and wood textures. Perfect for artists looking to elevate their understanding of layering, light, and texture in wildlife art.
What You’ll Learn:
Base Layers & Fixing:
Learn to establish a strong foundation by fixing the first layer with rubbing alcohol, ensuring smoother layering.
Layering for Texture:
Explore how to build layers of color without muddying, allowing vibrant shadow pockets and highlights to emerge.
Feather Details:
Techniques for capturing the intricate texture of feathers, balancing sharp lines with soft blending.
Atmospheric Backgrounds:
Use pastel layering and blending to create a subtle background that highlights the subject.
Contrast & Light:
Develop your ability to observe and recreate contrast and light for a three-dimensional effect.
Takeaways:
-How to use the rubbing alcohol technique to fix initial layers, enhancing depth and color clarity.
-Strategies for capturing the unique texture of feathers with dynamic strokes and blending.
-Techniques for creating subtle, atmospheric backgrounds that enhance the subject.
-Tips on balancing light and shadow to emphasize structure and form.
-How to layer pastels for realistic textures, from smooth wood grain to soft plumage.
Course Curriculum
Andrea Gianchiglia
