The largest pastel painting I’ve ever created

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“Lake Burton Majesty” is the largest pastel painting I’ve ever created. 
In celebration of this moment, I’d love to share some of the creative process with you.

Lake Burton Majesty, 74x56" pastel on board

From Vision to Reality

The commission began with dear friends Joel and LeAnn Nickelsen, who purchased a Lake Burton home in 2022. What started as a conversation about a 3x5-foot painting evolved into an extraordinary challenge—a massive 56" x 74" landscape to hang in their two-story foyer.

Their vision was deeply meaningful: capture Lake Burton's awe-inspiring beauty—the shimmering waters, majestic mountains, and glowing sunset—as a tribute to God's creation.

Design Sketch of Lake Burton

The Research Phase

Rather than work solely from photographs, I knew I needed to experience Lake Burton firsthand. In August 2023, I spent a beautiful weekend with the Nickelsens on the lake—kayaking, boating, photographing, and stargazing from the dock. This immersion was critical to understanding the light, scale, and essence of the place. The view of the mountains surrounding the lake is a breathtaking sight. 

Back in my studio, I created multiple sketches and color studies, collaborating closely with the Nickelsens on key elements like the layered mountain ridges that would bring depth and majesty to the composition.

Early Color Study, 11x14” pastel

Technical Challenges of Scale

Creating a pastel painting of this size brought many unique challenges:

Materials: I was able to source a giant Ultra Board locally and mounted UART 400 sanded pastel paper onto it. The 56” width of a UART sanded paper roll became the maximum width for the painting.

Transportation: I rented a moving van to transport oversized materials to my studio, and then to the framer once completed.

Support: I didn’t have an easel that could handle this size, so I mounted the piece directly to my studio wall.

Process: Building up the painting layer by layer— from charcoal sketching, to pastel application, alcohol washes, pastel primers, further layers and workable fixatives to secure the pigments along the way. 

Each layer of soft pastel helped bring further depth and dimension to the work. I worked for two months, carefully building up the vibrant landscape, letting Lake Burton's majesty slowly emerge from the surface.

Sanded board mounted to my studio wall with sketches and studies surrounding the work.

Collaboration and Completion

Throughout the process, the Nickelsens and I maintained close communication, refining details and ensuring the final piece would capture their vision. By spring 2024, the composition was locked in. Two months of intensive work later, in July 2024, "Lake Burton Majesty" was completed.

The painting was professionally framed with Optium Museum Acrylic glazing due to the size of the work. It was shipped via art courier from Connecticut to Georgia—bringing this year-long creative collaboration to fruition as it now hangs in it’s forever home.

Final framed painting in the Nickelsen’s Lake House

Creating this painting of Lake Burton Majesty was an epic journey taking well over a year from start to completion. The final result is a moving description of the majestic beauty of Lake Burton’s layered mountain ridges and coastal pines, and a celebration of the heavens above as they shimmer over the waters, reminding us of the breathtaking beauty of Creation.

I did not know how to create a pastel painting of this size and scale at the start of the project. Yet step by step with curiosity, humility and openness to new solutions, I was able to uncover the path that would bring it to life.

Be encouraged that you can accomplish greater things than you ever thought possible if you are willing to take the leap and trust the process. 

I’d love to help you get there.

Keep painting! 

Alain 

Looking for support with your pastel paintings? Be sure to check HERE for updates on mini-courses and to join the waitlist for The Painterly Landscape Course coming this fall!

Pastels vs. Oil and Acrylics Paints: Mastering Hair Drawing

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In the world of art, one of the most captivating and challenging subjects to master is drawing realistic and expressive hair. Whether it's the cascading tresses of a portrait subject or the windswept locks of a landscape figure, achieving lifelike hair can be a true test of an artist's skill. While various mediums offer their unique strengths, Pastel Pigments or Sticks stand out as the ultimate choice for capturing the intricate beauty and emotion of hair when compared to Oil and Acrylics.

The Pastel Advantage:

comparing pastel pigments and oil and acrylic paint when painting hair in a portrait with Alain Picard

Pastel Pigments (you might call them paints) are revered among artists for their unrivaled ability to bring hair to life on paper or canvas. Let's explore how pastels stack up against other mediums like Oil and Acrylics when it comes to drawing realistic and expressive hair:

1. Velvet-Like Texture:

Pastels offer a luxurious, velvet-like texture that closely mimics the softness and complexity of human hair. This unique quality allows artists to create intricate details, subtle transitions, and a range of textures that are challenging to achieve with other mediums. In contrast, Oil and Acrylics can sometimes result in a smoother, less textured appearance, making it challenging to achieve intricate hair details.

2. Rich Color Variations:

Hair isn't just one color;  it is a complex interplay of hues and tones. Pastels provide an extensive palette of rich, vibrant colors that can be easily layered and blended [link to a post that mentions blending] to capture the depth and complexity of hair. Whether it's the warm highlights of auburn locks or the cool shadows of silver strands, pastels allow artists to achieve astonishing realism. Oil and Acrylics may require more effort to achieve the same level of color variety.

3. Expressive Mark-Making:

We often talk about the importance of mark-making this is where Pastels far exceed other mediums enabling artists to make expressive marks that mirror the natural flow and movement of hair. Whether you're working on flowing waves, tousled curls, or sleek straight locks, pastels excel in conveying the dynamic nature of hair with each stroke. Oil and Acrylics, while versatile in their own right, can sometimes result in less dynamic and detailed mark-making when it comes to intricate hair details because they must be applied with a brush and can't create the same level of direct and intimate connection with your marks that sticks of pastel held in the hand can convey.

4. Layering and Blending:

Another key advantage of pastels is their exceptional layering and blending capabilities. Artists can gradually build up layers of color, allowing for a seamless transition from shadows to highlights. This flexibility is essential for capturing the multidimensional aspects of hair. Oil and Acrylics require careful layering techniques to achieve similar results, making pastels a more forgiving choice for capturing the multi-dimensional aspects of hair and enabling even beginner and emerging artists to achieve advanced painter results. 

5. Instantaneous Feedback:

Pastels provide artists with immediate feedback, allowing them to see colors and textures develop in real-time. Oil and Acrylics may require longer drying times and changing values when dry, making it challenging to make on-the-fly adjustments, a crucial aspect when rendering the intricacies of hair.

6. Versatility Across Surfaces:

Pastel pigments can be used on various surfaces, adapting to the artist's preference. In comparison, Oil and Acrylics often require specific surfaces or priming, limiting the artist's choice.

In the world of art, the choice of medium plays a pivotal role in bringing your creative vision to life. When it comes to drawing realistic and expressive hair, pastels emerge as the ultimate choice, offering a tactile advantage over Oil and Acrylics. Their texture, color versatility, mark-making capabilities, and responsiveness make them the preferred medium for artists seeking to capture the intricate beauty of hair. Join us on a journey of pastel mastery and discover why it's the unrivaled choice for lifelike hair drawing.

example of drawing hair with pastels

Glimmer 12x18” soft pastel

Join Us in Exploring Portrait Painting Mastery:

If you're passionate about honing your skills in drawing realistic and expressive hair with pastels, we invite you to join our Painterly Portrait Course. In this comprehensive course, we delve deeply into the art of capturing various hair and skin tones with pastels, providing you with a unique advantage over other mediums.

While Oil and Acrylics certainly have their merits, pastels shine when it comes to the intricate art of drawing hair. Join us on a journey of pastel mastery and unlock the secrets to creating hair that truly comes to life on your canvas (or paper which is what we use with pastels, surpassing the capabilities of other mediums.

How To Draw Portraits with Dramatic Light & Shadow

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Your excellent questions have led us to take a closer look at the subject of the portrait. In this lesson, we’ll explore methods for creating dramatic light and shadow effects in the portrait using only a few pastel pencils on toned paper to capture the likeness in a monochromatic approach. This timeless technique has been used by great artists throughout the ages from Michelangelo to Caravaggio. You can take advantage of this wonderful technique as well!

Enjoy this full portrait demonstration, as I answer many of your questions on the subject of portraits while we create a dramatic light and shadow drawing together. 

How To Mount Your Pastel Paper

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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received questions from artists asking me how to mount sanded pastel paper to board. While delegating the assignment to your local framer is a valid option, there is a DIY approach.

Sanded papers like UART are produced on rolls and have a tendency to curl up at the edges over time. It’s definitely no fun to fight those curls while you’re trying to paint, not to mention the problem of buckling the paper during washes! 

Well, get ready for buckle free bliss, because I’m about to show you my personal method for mounting pastel paper to board right in the studio without the use of an expensive dry mount press. By the end of this video, you’ll be empowered to mount your own pastel surfaces like a DIY pro. 

Want to create stable, buckle free boards that can take the abuse of wet underpaintings, and frame up beautifully?  Then be sure to sign up for the DIY MOUNTING GUIDE below, because it’s time to conquer the curl together! 

Let’s do this. 

What Pastel Paper Should I Use?

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Believe it or not, the paper you use has a dramatic impact on the overall look and finish of your work. Yet it can be overwhelming to figure out what to buy with all the materials on the market. The truth is, not all papers are created equally! 

Don’t worry though, I’ve developed this video and the accompanying pastel paper supply list to help you understand which surfaces I recommend in order to accomplish a painterly style.

Simply watch the video to see my full explanation, and click the link below to download your pastel supply list and follow along! 

A Solution to Your Studio Chaos

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Admit it... you have a problem, and it's gotten out of control. Your studio has become infested. It's as if these little critters have multiplied overnight, and now you can't seem to get a handle on them. Know what I'm talking about? Your pastels! 

In all seriousness, organizing your pastels can be overwhelming. Developing a simple system to access all those colors, brands and sizes so that you can paint with confidence and focus is not only important, it's critical to your next painting's success. Don't worry, I'm here to help. 

Just sit back, grab a peppermint mocha and watch this video. You'll be organizing your pastels in no time!

Traveling with Pastels

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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.

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5 Tips To Better Color

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Are you wondering how to get better color in your work?

I have been asked by many of you for help with color. I certainly want my paintings to sparkle with fresh color, and I bet you do as well! This new video shares five tips that you can use right now to improve the color in your work!  I'm confident that if you do these five simple things, the brilliance of your paintings will shine through with newfound freshness.  

Once you finish watching this short video, clear a pathway to your easel and start practicing these five tips to better color! Then, look out for part two of this video, as I share the results of my own color exercise with you.

In addition to the video, we've created a worksheet that you can print out and tack up next to your easel. This way you can put these five tips to work for you right away! Click the link below to download the worksheet.

Looking for even more inspiration and creative support? Check out my workshop schedule to find a workshop near you! Now have some fun with color.

Capturing Light Pastel Set

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With the success of the "Capturing Light" instructional videos, I teamed up with Terry Ludwig Pastels once again to develop a sumptuous set of 14 warms and cools that pair perfectly with the DVD series. I had such fun hand selecting each color to suit this beautiful set of soft pastels. The picture below shows me engaged in the rewarding challenge of choosing just 14 perfect colors. Until now, this exclusive pastel set was only available by purchasing the Capturing Light Kit from North Light Shop. The Capturing Light Pastel Set is now available for purchase in our online store! 

Alain Picard hand-selecting pastel colors.

How To Sharpen Hard Pastels

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Sharpening Hard Pastels can be an art in itself and make a difference in your mark-making. Many have contacted me, asking how I sharpen my hard pastels. This video will show you how! Learn my simple technique for sharpening your hard pastels and improving the details of your pastel paintings.

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