How to Set your Colors Ablaze

Do you want to know how to use bold, expressive color in your paintings that is full of freshness and excitement? 

I’ve got two words for you…Color Studies. 

I just returned from Kelowna, BC after enjoying a landscape workshop with a delightful group of artists. What a blessing to be able to gather together and learn from one another again, inspire each other, provide encouragement and gain motivation to keep sharing the beauty of pastel with the world.

During my stay, I had the joy of sharing painterly techniques with the group, including the transforming power of risk-free color studies. I’m a full-fledged color addict at this point. These little paintings are an amazing opportunity to explore your color concept without all the pressure of a finished work of art. They invite us to take risks as well as give us permission to just play for a little while. 

But in order to see results, we’ve got to hold true to the two cardinal rules of risk-free paintings:

Hovering, 6x6” Color Study

Keep it Small

No bigger than 6x8.” Bigger studies will tempt us to get overly invested in the work and treat it like a precious painting that needs refinement. As soon as that happens, risk-taking is out the window!

Make it Quick 

No longer than 30 minutes. A time limit is essential to give you the urgency to be bold and suggestive. After all, you’ve got to create an impression of the entire scene in a half hour or less. 

Think of it this way, William. How long does it take you to do the dishes? That’s right, about 30 minutes. How long does it take you to watch an episode of your favorite show? 30 minutes. Surely you can allow yourself 30 minutes of creative play on a small sheet of pastel paper! Keeping it small gives you permission to take chances because it’s only a scrap of paper after all. 

These risk-free color studies have changed the way I paint, altered my approach to color, and transformed my mark-making over the years. I can’t say enough good things about them. 

When you create a color study that speaks to you, try scaling it up to a larger work so you can spend more time developing the painting. I’ll warn you though, there is some strange magic that occurs in these little color studies, and you just might end up falling in love with them just like me. 
I dare you to try a risk-free color study. Remember to keep it small and make it quick in order to see the results you're after. This tricks your inner artist critic into thinking you’re just washing dishes, and you can get away with all sorts of illicit adventures in color!

Would you like my help with exploring your risk-free color study join one of our upcoming courses where we explore colors in different types of work like portraits and landscapes.

Enjoy the rush,
Alain

P.S. I would love to see the color studies you create! Share your work on social media and tag me @alainpicard on Instagram and @picardstudio on Facebook.

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VIEW OTHER BLOG POST

• 5 Tips to Better Color Part 1 https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2017/3/10/5-tips-to-better-color

• 5 Tips to Better Color Part 2 https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2017/3/15/5-tips-to-better-color-part-two

• Exploring Fresh Color 4 in Simple Steps https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2018/9/27/exploring-fresh-color-in-four-simple-steps

How to create Portrait Backgrounds

Earlier this year, I invited questions from my newsletter subscribers regarding topics that they would like more help with. (Join the list today to take part in this wonderful creative community!) The responses I received contained one specific theme that kept showing up time and time again:

·     “Do you have pointers on what you think about in deciding what to do for the background of a portrait?”

·      “I want to get more creative with backgrounds.”

·     “I have difficulty dealing with the background. I’m unsure about how to make the background integrate well with the subject and enhance it.” 

·     “What colors and composition are best for the background?”

·      “I need help knowing what to do with backgrounds! Have you had other requests for this type of help?”

Absolutely! The theme of backgrounds is clearly resonating as an area where further guidance is needed. And I’m here to help. 

In this video, I’ll reveal four principles to strengthen your portrait backgrounds and enhance your work. Watch the video now, and give these four pointers a try on your next portrait!

Portrait Workshops

Imagine yourself at an upcoming live portrait workshop growing creatively during multiple days of encouraging portrait instruction that is personalized to your needs. Think of how much confidence you could gain in just a few short days! Sign up today to secure your spot in one of my upcoming Painterly Portrait Workshops this fall. Let’s develop your creative potential together.

How to Paint Trees Part 2

You know, eating burned food is just not enjoyable. No one savors an overcooked meal, and neither do we enjoy an overcooked painting!

Part Two of, “How To Paint Trees” has arrived, and I’m here to show you how to take your coastal tree painting to the finish line while keeping it fresh and savory at the same time. 

In the video, you’ll Discover the secrets of creating rich colors and textures in your pastel paintings using layer pastels for stunning effects. Unleash your creativity with sculptural marks and add depth to your tree paintings, artist and master instructor Alain Picard shows you how to master the techniques to develop form and suggest details in your pastel artworks

and see firsthand how to:
·      refine your pastel painting without overworking it
·      layer pastel for rich color and texture
·      use sculptural marks to develop form and suggest detail
·      add sparkle and freshness to dull, muddy areas
·      harness the power of suggestion by letting a few key elements tell the story

How About Your Trees?
So, how are your tree paintings shaping up? Could you benefit from a personalized critique of your work? In our classes and membership, we give personalized feedback to help you perfect your pastel painting techniques and build positive momentum in your own artistic development. Sign up for a critique today, and let me help you grow! Join the waitlist to receive updates and learn about our next live class.

Here’s Part Two of, “How To Paint Trees.” 

What Pastels Should I Use?

If you are anything like me, you love a rich painterly buildup and bold mark-making style. In order to achieve this in your work, you'll need to use good quality soft pastels. Yet it can be downright overwhelming to know what to buy with all the materials on the market. I completely understand, because so many of you continue to ask me what pastels you should use. 

Don’t worry! I’ve created a pastel supply list just for you. This will give you confidence, knowing what tools will help you accomplish a painterly style. Simply watch this video to see my full explanation, and click the link below to download your pastel supply list to follow along!

PS. Do you need fresh insight and encouragement? Don't put it off another day. Check out the list of live workshops below, and register for the one that works best for you! I would love to help you develop your creative potential, and can't wait to work with you!

5 Ways to Cultivate Your Creative Voice

“How do I develop a unique style? Is there an effective way to do this?” 

Recently, while I was setting up for a morning workshop demonstration, a student asked me the following question; “How do I develop my own unique style? Is there an effective way to do this?” 

I responded to her while arranging my art materials for the morning with a handful of ideas. I want to share them with you now.  Here are five ways to cultivate your creative voice. 

1.    Establish a Rhythm. When you are working toward the development of your own artistic voice, the first pillar to establish is regular working habits. Consistent work will bring you both confidence and momentum in the development of your artistic voice. Take out your calendar and schedule weekly studio time. This is a critical step in the process that should not be ignored. Otherwise, you may end up feeling like a phony and spending valuable energy second guessing yourself. Regular work cultivates the confidence and momentum you need to continue growing.

2.     Gain Inspiration. Discovering your own creative voice requires an understanding of what inspires you. So be sure to fill up your inspiration tank! Who’s your favorite artist? What moves you about their work? Describe it, write it down. What is your favorite painting? Do you remember the way you felt when you first saw it? I remember viewing an exhibition by John Singer Sargeant at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston when I was 25. It permanently altered my creative journey. Why not try copying a favorite painting, just to understand the artist’s mindset and methodology in the work. This is a process of sensitizing yourself to your own artistic tastes, and then moving toward the subjects, textures, colors, shapes, designs, and even finish quality that moves you. Describe how you want to make others feel when they view your work. It can also be helpful to articulate what kind of art you don’t like, and stay away from it in your work! Try creating a mood board of your favorite colors and paintings, textures and surfaces, subjects and designs, and then hang it in your studio to keep you motivated. Get really clear about what you love, so you are moving toward this in your own personal work. 

3.     Be An Explorer. Your artistic voice needs space and time to engage in creative play that allows you to explore new territory. This is when you paint just for yourself. Not for the client or the exhibition or the accolades, but for the pure joy of creating. These other motivations can nurture a performance mindset that obscures our true artistic voice. Basically, we are trying to impress people instead of painting what we love. I don’t know about you, but when I’m performing for approval, I put on a mask. I hope you don’t make this mistake the same way I have. Instead, put on your favorite music, turn off Facebook Live, take off the mask and allow yourself to explore your creative passion. Be an explorer for a while instead of a performer. In time, amazing things begin to happen as you cultivate this type of creativity. Honest work emerges. Authentic expression develops. You discover your voice. 

4.     Get Feedback (from people you trust) It is very difficult to both create and critique your own work toward the development of a unique personal style. As artists, we have a tendency of getting in our own heads. What we often need is the encouragement of others! A great way to do this is to connect with other artists that share your passion and get valuable feedback from them on your work. I joined the CT Pastel Society as a young artist and made wonderful lifelong friends who have encouraged my creative development in powerful ways. Early on, I connected with a few artists at my church. We shared our work with one another, spurring each other on to develop our potential. Not only was I greatly encouraged, but I was able to provide encouragement to others as well. You could be a fantastic source of inspiration to someone else in their own creative development! Here’s the truth, you’ll often be the last one to see the genius in your work. But others will point it out right away. You’ll discount that little painting you made during your personal studio time, thinking, “It’s not even finished, what a mess!” Then your friend will see it and say, “don’t touch it, I love it!” This feedback is invaluable, and creates a trail of breadcrumbs along the way to realizing your own unique style.

5.     Be Patient. Your inner creative voice is more like a dove than a peacock early on. It’s not audacious and showy. It’s sensitive, avoids attention and can get scared away easily at first. You need to give yourself time and space to develop naturally, and trust that consistent, honest work will encourage the dove out of its cage. Forcing it is never a good idea. Give yourself permission to research, explore, create, copy, share, review, revise as well as rest and renew your senses. Before long, you’ll find yourself soaring with a unique creative voice of your own. 

I hope these five points will encourage you in the development of your own personal style. Don’t give up, keep on painting, and keep pursuing your passion!

Exploring Fresh Color in Four Simple Steps

Are you looking to bring some fresh color and visual panache to your next painting, but aren’t sure how to accomplish it? Try this four-step method to break out of your color box and break new ground in your work. 

Step 1: Choose Your Scene

The first step is to decide what you’d like to paint, and consider the color pitfalls that may be inherent to the scene. When using reference photographs, look for an image that has fairly clear shapes of dark, middle and light values. I’ve chosen a scene that was captured during a paddle boat ride with my family in Holland. It was a beautiful midday view from the river. I love the big trees and point of view from the paddle boat, but there is a lot of green! Ask yourself how you might shift the color palette away from the local colors presented in the scene, and reimagine it entirely. 

Reference photograph from the river in Holland

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Small 4x4” thumbnail sketch using hard pastels on Strathmore Toned Gray paper

Step 2: Create a Thumbnail Sketch

The best way to begin this process of reimagining your scene is to create small thumbnail sketches that allow you to explore shape, value and design options. Try to clarify the big shapes of your scene into abstract forms that generalize the large value masses. Simplify the values down to just three values of dark, middle and light shapes. Finally, make sure you get clear on the overall design of your scene, making any necessary changes to the format of your painting. I chose to interpret my river scene as a square composition instead of the horizontal view presented in my reference.

Use whatever drawing materials you are comfortable with to thumbnail sketch, but make sure to develop strong dark, middle and light shapes in a simplified design. As a pastel artist, I enjoy using small broken pieces of neutral-toned hard pastels for sketching. Black, gray and white hard pastels were used to create this neutral thumbnail on Strathmore Toned Gray paper.

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Underpainting with alcohol wash over soft pastel on UART 400 Premium Mounted Board

Step 3: Activate Your Scene with an Underpainting

Now that you’ve developed a clear plan for your painting in the thumbnail sketch, decide what size you will paint your color study. For my painting, I chose a UART 400 Premium Mounted Board, and cut it to 9x9” square. Keep your color studies fairly small to explore color ideas without being overwhelmed with scale.

Allow the basic value shapes of dark, middle and light to provide direction to your underpainting, choosing with an entirely different color than the local colors of your scene. Is it green? Use red! Would you like to explore a golden hour feeling? Choose warm golden ochres. Feeling moody? Try violets! The values and shapes of your thumbnail sketch will provide you with the necessary guardrails to allow your exploration into new frontiers of color. I chose to activate my scene with a warm red-ochre underpainting, leaving all those troublesome greens behind me.

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Step 4: Develop your Color Study with a Limited Palette

Once your underpainting is established, interpret the values of the scene with a color zone to develop your unique palette of color. In this case, I chose to keep all my colors warm and move toward the orange/red/ochre color zone. Using a color wheel to identify a preferred color zone is a very helpful way to accomplish this. I used reds, oranges, and ochres in the trees instead of greens, and interpreted the blue sky and water into warm pinks and golds.

Don’t allow yourself too much time on these color studies. Just explore and experiment, trying other variations if you aren’t crazy about your initial results. It’s great fun to reimagine the landscape in new and fresh colors using this simple painterly technique. Be playful and explore!

River’s Edge, 9x9” one hour color study in pastel

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Check out many opportunities to develop your creative potential!

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VIEW OTHER BLOG POST

• 5 Tips to Better Color Part 1 https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2017/3/10/5-tips-to-better-color

• 5 Tips to Better Color Part 2 https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2017/3/15/5-tips-to-better-color-part-two

The Painterly Portrait on Black - PART TWO

Part two of "The Painterly Portrait on Black" is here! I hope you enjoyed the first video. Now it's time to refine our portrait and develop the features as we bring this little African Princess to life. Enjoy!

If you would like to try your hand at the UART Dark Pastel papers and boards, you can find them here. Give it a try, I think you'll love this wonderful, rich dark surface for pastel. Now get out to your easel and create something lush and painterly today!

Painting Trees in Pastel

Happy spring! The tree blossoms have just decided to bloom this week here in Connecticut, so I must confess to being pretty excited. It's a perfect time to answer a lingering question that many of you have asked me in previous workshops:

"How do you paint trees?"

I thought the most effective way to answer your question would be to actually demonstrate my approach to painting trees in pastel for you. So here's a free video demonstration to help you tackle this exciting subject. As you do, remember this creative tip: suggestion is often more powerful than a literal description when it comes to handling foliage. 

Enjoy the video!

If you found this video helpful, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel! And be sure to post a comment or reply to this email with any other questions you may have. I'll do my best to address them in future videos.

Check out my list of live workshops below, and come join me at a workshop near you!

• Art Instruction 101
• Media 11
• Pastel Materials 16
• Reflections of Hope 2
• Skin Tones 4
• Workshops 24

Developing A Game Plan

If there was a secret weapon to creating better paintings, would you want to know what it is? What if I told you that great artists for generations have deployed just such a weapon to hit the mark and raise the bar in their work. I really believe it's possible that one critical tool can hold the power to single-handedly elevate your work from average to amazing. 

Yet artists are often resistant to putting this tool to work for them. Why? I think one reason is because we think it will slow us down. We want to get to the real business of painting. You know the old adage, fools rush in. We confuse our initial burst of inspiration for preparation, and rush right past this critical stage of development. So, would you like to know what it is?

The secret weapon to better paintings is (drumroll please...) thumbnail sketching.

Thumbnail sketches are quickly executed, small problem-solving exercises that serve three specific goals in the planning of your next painting. These three goals are so important to pursue if you are to correctly deploy this powerful tool and gain maximum results.

Value sketches in charcoal by Georges Seurat

1. SIMPLIFY THE VALUES.

Attempt to simplify the complex scene before you into large masses of dark, middle and light values, arranging them into a pattern of value shapes. If you haven't done this before, try creating a simple tonal key of three values with a pencil, to help you identify and limit your values to just three. This is challenging at first, but very rewarding once you get the hang of it.

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Thumbnail sketches by Edward Hopper for the painting, "Nighthawks" reveal simple shapes

2. CLARIFY THE SHAPES.

The natural world before us abounds with subtlety and complexity. Even the reference photographs that we use can have far more subtlety than we need for our paintings. Attempt to reduce the dizzying array of subtlety and detail in your subject down to just five to seven simple shapes, then organize your shapes in an interesting and appealing way to communicate your vision. Become the director of your scene, putting every member of the cast to work for you in achieving your vision. Remember, there should be only one star of the show, so choose your lead wisely!

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Thumbnail design with ink pen for "Nighthawks" by Edward Hopper

3. DESIGN THE COMPOSITION.

Sketching small and quickly, experiment with your scene in both vertical and horizontal rectangles, square, and even panoramic to discover which approach will bring your concept to life most effectively. Push past your first impression of what is possible with the composition to explore new approaches. Don't ignore this critical stage, just because you are inspired and want to press forward into the "real thing!" No amount of detail will save a poorly designed painting, so try to get it right from the start. Your investment of even 10 minutes to develop a strong design will improve the resulting work tremendously.

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There you have it, the three essential goals of thumbnail sketching. Putting them to work for you is indeed a secret weapon for better paintings. 

Would you like to work with me in person alongside a group of motivated and encouraging artists that will spur you forward? Consider joining a workshop near you by reviewing the 2018 Workshop list below. 

It would be my honor to help you develop your creative potential this year!

Would you like to host a workshop with Alain in your area? Please call 203.297.1399 or email alain@picardstudio.com

Looking for Inspiration?

Workshops are such an inspiring time of collaboration and growth for all involved. I just hosted a portrait workshop sponsored by our friends at UART Premium Sanded Paper. We thought you would enjoy a window into our creative experience, so we made a video to give you a taste of our time together! What a fun and talented group of artists came together to encourage one another in their creative development and learn with me. 

Are you looking for some further inspiration yourself? Don't miss out on upcoming opportunities to grow! View our 2018 workshop schedule here.

P.S. Just listen to what Pam had to say about her workshop experience:

"This class was extremely well planned. There was optimum time for thorough and masterful demonstrations, and yet ample time for individual studio work.  It was a perfect balance.  Alain met each of us at our own level and made us feel comfortable.  I learned so much in just a few days!" -Pam

Pastel Study of a Scottish Loch

I've already been dreaming of the upcoming Scotland Paint Away Workshop in July, 2018. I couldn't help myself, and created a quick pastel video of an inspiring Scottish loch to spread the wonder with you. I hope you enjoy this short demonstration painting. Register now to join me next July and create your own inspiring paintings in Scotland!

The Joy of Painting Outdoors

The summer is such a wonderful time to travel, paint outdoors and respond to the beauty of the world around us. I recently returned from two European art workshops in Croatia and Holland. It was such a joy to gain inspiration from our surroundings and encouragement from one another. 

Watch this video to get a taste of our workshop experience in Croatia. It is a stunning country.

Many of us would love to paint more outdoors, but there are many challenges to getting out there. From setting aside the time to paint to overcoming our own insecurities about the process, these hindrances can cause us to be paralyzed instead of painting! Joining a group or workshop to paint outdoors is a wonderful way of ensuring that you will be developing your creative potential and achieving your goals. 

Come paint outdoors with me on September 23, 2017 at the beautiful Hillstead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut! This one-day workshop is a perfect way to gain inspiration with trusted guidance. Listen to what one workshop student had to say about her experience, 

"Great demonstrations with good explanations. Thank you for such great support in beautiful surroundings." -Stefani

Paintings That Tell A Story

Everyone loves a good story. Are your paintings communicating clearly and purposefully with a unique voice that speaks to your viewer? As visual artists, we are storytellers. We have a desire to express ourselves through our work. We do this by communicating with pictures to engage the viewer's imagination. This video will give you four tips to telling a compelling story through your art.

Traveling with Pastels

It's travel season here, with a number of art workshops in different areas throughout the country and abroad. Many of you have asked me what to bring and how to pack for a travel art workshop, especially when going abroad. In another post, I talked about what pastels you should use, but in this video, I'll show you how to pack your carry-on luggage with all the pastel painting supplies needed for an efficient, portable painting setup. 

As an artist, it’s important to not only select the best materials but to protect your materials whether you are working at home or on the go. I use these simple techniques to ensure my pastels aren’t chipped or damaged as I travel around the world teaching and working with fellow artists.

Simply click here for the Travel Supply List with a lot of products that I recommend.

Would you like to join me in an upcoming workshop? Are there obstacles to your creative growth that you'd love to overcome in an inspiring and encouraging environment? There are some amazing opportunities just around the corner. Check out my workshop schedule, and find a workshop near you, or join one of my online courses and you can leave the traveling behind. I'd love to encourage your creative development.

View other blog posts

• What Pastels Should I use: https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2019/2/5/what-pastels-should-i-use

• Art Competitions: Your Roadmapt to Artistic Grown that success https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/list-of-art-competitions

• We Are All Students

  https://www.picardstudio.com/blog/2023/10/25/we-are-all-students

5 Tips To Better Color - Part Two

As promised, the followup video to last week's lesson, "5 Tips To Better Color" is here! I did my color exercise, and I hope you tried one as well. In this video, you'll see the results of my color study and the painting that emerged from this unique color approach. Enjoy! 

So...did you take a crack at a color exercise? Please leave me a comment and let me know. I'd love to find out how you did, and whether you got a color breakthrough!

Want to learn more in an inspiring and encouraging environment? There are some amazing opportunities just around the corner to join me in a workshop, all the way from California to Croatia! Check out my workshop schedule, and find a workshop near you.

View Older Blog Posts

• Art Instruction 101
• Media 11
• Pastel Materials 16
• Reflections of Hope 2
• Skin Tones 4
• Workshops 24