10 PAN PASTEL MISTAKES to Avoid. (Improve your Pan Pastel + Colored Pencil Artwork) 

I had a couple of pieces entered into the state students contest in 1966. Both placed. One first and the second 4th. I was not aware when my teacher entered them that they became property of the state. Unfortunately, I never saw them again. They are in the state archives. Anyway, my art teacher was wonderful. One thing I learned from him and have used my entire life since he gave it to me really works. Turn the picture upside down and stand back and look at it. It will tell you if the picture is balanced in composition or if something needs to be altered or removed. Works every time for me. Your artwork is beautiful. I hope that this tip is helpful. I am in my 70s and I am still learning. I learned a few things from you today. By sharing, we all get better at what we love. Thank you for your sharing.

Like so many of your viewers, I prefer the artwork without cropping. I feel it balances out the very busy area with the bananas. Thank you for your tutorial as I am an absolute beginner with the Pan Pastels.

I can’t believe you haven’t got more subscribers.. you are awesome xx

I love how you said mistakes *WE* make, including yourself. Usually it’s “number” mistakes you are making with such and such medium.

I like your piece as it is, w/o cropping. I love that color in the background, even though it is just empty space, I find it very pleasing, and would keep it the same.

I’m about to embark on my first attempt at Panpastels. Your video was very I formative and you are easy to listen to . Thank you.

Keep it as is. The turquoise color really gives the eye some relief.

I prefer the uncropped version. I have a good easel, but I keep forgetting to use it for pastels. I will pull it out again, and use it - I did like it whenever I remembered! I just discovered your videos a week ago, and I love them. You explain things so well.

Hi Lana, I came across your channel while looking for Pan Pastel tutorials after biting the bullet and getting a set of Pans. Thank you i found this video and others i watched of yours very useful and informative. I am also a colour pencil artist and when I found out that i could use them with the Pans I was very happy and excited. My subject matter at the moment is still life and i think the combination is going to work perfect for me. I think you should keep the full painting because when people say that the background looks different, for me it would be a talking point to describe what happens when you make a mistake or decide not to include it. Thank you again. Les

Wow! I bought pan pastels without knowing anything. I am going to watch this over and over again.Thank you!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Thank you - very helpful and much appreciated

Thanks so much for another great video Lana, I like the background/composition as it is, it looks lovely!

Thank you for all the helpful information!

I use a very small vacuum cleaner to suck up dust at various times during pastel work.

Your tips are so valuable….thank you so much.

I love it the way it is.....gorgeous!

Love it! Leave it as is, I love the background, all those shades!😊

I love the uncropped version. It adds a beautiful color that goes so well with the greens and it adds interest. Thank you so much for your information!! I will put it to good use.

I have not enough adjectives to describe your Job , I love it !

This is very helpful, thanks.

Great information! Really appreciate the time you spent advising about mistakes.

Love the way it is. This is all great for me. I have just started using it

Uncropped version is a better composition in my opinion. Also a word on fixative. People need to be aware it will darken the painting. I avoid fixative as much as I can for that reason. Another tip I found helpful is if you don't like the painting, you can wash off the pastel. Be careful though because some papers don't tolerate being washed off as well as others, so experiment to understand how the paper will behave. Another great tip is to do an underpainting if not working on toned paper. I do underpaintings with the pastels themselves, but also with watercolor. You could actually make a whole video on underpaintings. :)

I’m a new subscriber and very much like your easy-to-understand explanations. Look forward to seeing your channel! Thank you so much, Rosemary

Wow, this was a great video, I am going to have to watch it again and take notes! Just found you today and am anxious to watch your other videos! I better pop some popcorn - I see a binge watching session in my future!

excellent video. Thanks for all the information and help!

I am learning so much from your videos! I’ve ordered new supplies and can’t wait to get started. I prefer the original to the cropped version. Having an area with little detail sort of relieves my eyes and allows contrast with and more focus on the more detailed part of the drawing.

You are a fantastic teacher🎉

Definitely use the cropped version. Another informative video. Thanks

I just bought my first set of pan pastels so your video was very helpful. I'm ready to slay dragons now. Thank you.

Hi, and thank you so much for this brilliant video! ❤️ So glad I found you - I have never used Pan Pastels and Coloured Pencils together before, but now I can hardly wait! ✨️ I like the uncropped version best (both gorgeous), because the background makes the fruit really pop. Wonderful contrast! 🎨 Look forward to see more of you - you are a great teacher! 🙏 Greetings from Sweden, and Happy New Year! 🇸🇪💥

Thank you so much for this informative video. It is very useful! I like the original version. It is beautiful as it is.

I love your piece before you cropped. I actually liked the background after the solvent before you completed it with pastels. It gave it a beautiful quality. Love your work. Thank you for your generosity 😊

Keep the piece the way it is !

I like it the way it is without cropping. I would probably bring in some soft background suggestions in that area that you softened and colored with a colored pencils.

Hi Lana, I like the cropped version. Love your videos.

very good , thanks for all the great info. my daughter does a lot of art, I got her some. she loves it.

What a wonderful tutorial. I purchased some pan pastels 7 or 8 months back and have not done much with them. Most of the time regular soft pastels are my medium. This was great to see. Btw, I prefer the original. Just something so wonderful about the contrast of the peaceful aqua and the harsher edges of the bananas.

I like it as is. Allows a place for the eyes to rest

Don't be afraid of empty or "dull" spaces. Your work is already quite "buzy" and information densed in the lower left area with all the budding bananas, so it feels good for the eyes to have calm spaces to rest on. It also brings balance and harmony into your painting. So don't crop it, if you ask me. It's perfect as it is. In fact very beautifully rendered. Thanks for the great tips. 👍❤🙏

I started using pan pastel with colored pencil so I have had to watch your video several times as there is a lot of good information and I need reminding. One question I have about using an easel to hold your work is - how do you fasten the art you are working on to the board so it stays 🙂

Hi Lana! 🤝 Just found your RU-vid channel and have already binged several videos. You are just what the doctor ordered! I have the full set of PP and have been using them in conjunction with all my other mixed media supplies with some success, but I am hoping to save some steps/learning curve by watching your videos. I have already made all 10 mistakes! HAH! 🤓That's ok -- I have made some progress, so it was worth it, as the pieces weren't a commission etc. I am getting the hang of pencil over PP, but in all fairness, I am using Strathmore Bristol 300 Smooth and not the pastel-mat. I am not able to use as many layers of course, but I am figuring it out. I have already sketched my entire children's book I'm working on, so changing it now after months of sketches, isn't an option. (insert big sigh!😵‍💫) I have decided that the PP will be for the girl's skin and the sky. I just can't figure out how to make the grass, meadow, trees ( a huge expanse) to match the detailed scene. I will be pouring through your videos to see if I can find that information, and maybe it can save me a LOT of time, if Im able to find the look I'm after. You asked which of the 2 options for your finished piece we liked better. I would like to see another large leaf in that area, but I also think you can't go wrong. It is a STUNNING piece!! You have mastered your craft for sure! (As for me, I'm the one on the frozen lake trying to stay upright wearing slippers! 🤣) One video I would 1000% love to see how you set up your color families, by name, so I can have a more successful palette.I have kept them in the order they each came in their organizer.. shades, tints, etc. And how you set up your workspace when you get ready to work. Other's studios, art spots, nooks, etc fascinate me! I am so delighted I stumbled upon you. Blessings to you from the great Pacific Northwest, Lakewood, Washington! (Think Seattle but wayyyy nicer and cleaner!) 💛🖤💛

So funny-- when you were talking about the particles' fallout-- I immediately said, "Blow it off" and that is what you said first. I LITERALLY JUST did that a few seconds before watching this video!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very helpful. Straightforward teaching. Love the "mini series" concept, it gives opportunity to practice without taking on too much with large pieces. Your advice here has really helped. The easel use for fall out is challenging for me, but I will give it a go. The fixative advice gave me that "ahhh" moment and really explained well why I have struggled with how to do this. Thank so much

I got pan pastel as a present with the best intentions yet i have never used pastels in my life, your videos have been very informative and useful! Thank you very much! Im learning a lot! Im still very doubtful about mediums and papers since i have only used watercolors but i think is only about practice. Thank you so much

Mistakes I’ve made? Can we say…all of them! I’m so glad I found you! Being very much a beginner, I put away my pan Pastels shortly after I got them for my birthday last year. I have the whole set, so you can imagine the frustration! Seeing the ease of others’ work, I thought “eh, I can do that”! Ummhmm, yep, that’s me! So, I’m a new subscriber, and I’ll be eating up your videos for the next however long it takes! I do have a question: have you tried Pan Pastels on canvas? (Er, am I making mistake #11?)

Loved your video! Very helpful tips indeed!! Prismacolor pencils are super waxy if you haven’t tried them!

Thank you very much for sharing these mistakes with us. I as just set to start using my pastels in a project when I was given 90:days notice to leave my home. Darn it all!!! I so dislike packing and moving and now at nearly 79, it is even worse lol.. rents have risen, so, I may not be able to afford a 3 bedroom house using one bedroom for me. One spare bedroom for grandchildren or family or friends and this third bedroom is used for my workroom. I’m also a textile artist you see, so having a third bedroom has been very important. So I’m trying not to become anxious as I pack and LABEL very, VERY carefully. I feel as lon* as I have a garage, I can store my crates of materials there instead of a third bedroom. How do you store YOUR supplies. A shelf or a draw please or just in those large plastic crates with clock on lids. Great for textile art supplies. My large work table my husband made me before he suffered from Alzheimer’s and needs to live in a locked ward in a Nursing Home is marvellous. He built all my storage into its base, clever chap that he used to be. So that can be stacked in a garage too. I will be interested in storage ideas please, When my mother passed a while ago, I got her spare not marching sets of drawers. Now they can slot in between my bedroom furniture or even in my Livingroom and probably drawers are a good storage area for pencils, brushes and ART paraphernalia for other than TEXTILE ART paraphernalia. Maybe I’ve answered my own question for me at the moment. Empty drawers in my garage can be slotted in between furniture I guess and there I have storage for everything. However I’d still be very interested in how YOUR own Art paraphernalia is stored, or also those who watch like I do please. I’m really enjoying your video’s and have subscribed thank you Lana!!! Margot New Zealand.

Fantastic 👍

Thank you for such an informative tutorial. I feel your original, non-cropped version is better, as the cropped one becomes too busy looking. The splash of open blue sky gives a sense of place.

Leave it as is - the negative space balances the composition and the colours provide some contrast / interest. Great video btw! Stumbled on this one and have subscribed.

Uncropped version best. Thank you for info, I decided to investigate pan pastels first before buying yet another medium.

Hi Lana, I was just about to ask you how much pastel to use so I could still apply pencil over when you answered the question 😀 thank you for the video.❤️

Hi Lana, thank you for posting your videos, I've learned so much from you! My question is how do you choose your background base color? You used red in this painting, was that because it's the complimentary color to the warm greens? The cropped version. Have a great day!

very interesting!

Very happy to find your channel Lana, thank you for the excellent tips, I've subbed and I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. I'm sure it's too late now as this video was uploaded a year ago, but I liked the uncropped version, I think the aread of quiet space gives a nice balance, but it's a very personal thing I guess :)

What fixative do you prefer? Love your videos. Thank you

I like the original version. I’m new to pan pastels having used pastels for a couple of years. I like how it feels like painting. Your tutorial was just what I needed and it really helped watching you work at the same time. I have been working on my first pan pastel painting of a fall forest scene but have been using pastel pencils for the details. Your video talked of coloured waxy pencils. What are your thoughts on that?

I just got a set of pan pastels and am anxious to give them a try. I was wondering about using colored pencils and not pastel pencils for the detail work. I didn't know you could use colored pencils with pastels.

I like the uncropped version!

I prefer the original too. I like the resting place of the background. Its a nice contrast to the fruit shapes. You mention solvent. What exactly are you referring to and should a working fixative be a consideration for using it or avoiding it? Great video, thank you!

Hi Lana, it feels great that I found your channel! It’s so informative 🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️ So, I am a Live Caricature artist and looking forward to pick up pan pastel medium for its colouring process. It would really helpful if you kindly can suggest a way to fix the medium in a faster way, as in Live sessions I need to deliver the artwork as quickly as possible.

I quite like the blue patch.. It balances our the rest of the painting which is full of something or other.. 😀

Hi Lana, another great tutorial. When you blended the background out and you had got to the point of a very soft effect of what was there I personally thought that looked good....well on Camera anyway. Of course that's easy to say sitting here but when you are doing it you don't always see it do you....been there done that lol

Love your videos! Question: Do you ever use a workable fixative over your pan pastels or just Textured fixative?

Thanks for the informative video. I like the uncropped version a little better. Which textured fixative do you recommend.

I really like how you give great advice. What fixative do you use? Do you use the same fixative on all other medias. Would you buy a pan pastels gesso and paint it on first like others medias. Thanks🌻

Also, this may have been a bit extra, however I make swatch books, the paper I use varies from medium to medium. For instance, I’ll have a section for alcohol markers, so I swatch all my colors on all the different papers I use, marker paper, Bristol, mixed media, xpress it cardstock, rendr paper, neenah cardstock (time consuming as I have majority of the copic collection of colors but find it valuable.) Same with watercolors, using a sheet of paper type for my watercolors, hot press, cold press, different brands and price points. When I tell you how helpful it is, I mean it. Even if you don’t swatch your entire collection, a few colors swatched on multiple media paper will absolutely work fine, as it’s use lies in just how preferred media reacts because trust me, different paper yields different results. Marker/rendr paper don’t layer/blend well passed 2+layers as marker paper has a coating on it. I’m rambling, sorry lol, but I thought I’d just share (I didn’t invent this btw, I did it just because, however Im very sure it’s been done by many artists. I’m not inventing the wheel here, as they’re just swatches, lol. Highly recommend this though.

Hey ther i got a question about how to Clean the Panpastel Sponges ? And i also want to let you know that all of you helpfull informations helped me to understand how to juse Panpastel. Realy great and enjoyable Video.

Hi Lana,thank you for your video. I learned a great deal from your tutorial tips. I love to work with Prisma Colors. Any good tips on Prisma Colors?

Thank you so much for this video, I know you used solvent to blend the background and I would leave this piece like it is because if I have learned anything it’s often the very flaws we see in our own art that others see as enhancements, my question is and sorry if this has been asked can pan pastels be laid down as a light base then pencil over the top then use pencil solvent? Or do the two not mix well when solvent is used? Thank you again can’t wait to dive into your other videos ❤

Hi Lana, I am a Live Caricature artist. Thinking of to incorporate pan pastel as my color medium. And for that I found your videos are really hepful! Thanks a lot for sharing the knowledge! Can you please suggest any quick process to fix the pigments, so that I can deliver the completed painting instantly to my client ?

Hi! I'm a brand new sub! I'm glad I found you. On the background of your banana picture, i think it would look great in a dark color! Like maybe the brown tones used in the background on the left hand top and bottom. Cheers! (dont crop it!)

Lana - as always, great information! Question: do you ever skip the step of applying fixative after the Pan Pastel layer before proceeding with colored pencil? I've been experimenting on sanded paper and on Pastelmat. Pastelmat seems to allow you to skip the fixative before proceeding with CP. Just curious on your take. As for the composition, I think I prefer the uncrossed version - I like that negative space at the top right of the piece!

You are so talented!!! What brand of fixative do you use to set the pan pastels?

Hi really like your videos . What fixative do you use? Is the fixative you use only for pan pastels?

This is the first time I have watched one of your videos and I’m glad I found you. I have used soft pastels for years and decided to try pan pastels. I have a set of 20. I have used Blair fixative, no odor on my pastel paintings. The colors are darker after spraying. I have never used textured fixative. I have an extensive collection of soft pastels and pastel pencils. I really like the luminous quality of the pencils you used. Can you order them from Amazon? Please tell me the name of the pencils. I don’t want to purchase more pan pastels at this time, until I’m familiar with this product. Sorry, this is so lengthy; I have been in an extended slump,and your video has motivated me to resume!!!

Love your videos and this one is no exception to that 😊 xXx

Hi, I have just enjoyed your pastelmat video. Is it possible to use coloured pencils over a background of regular pastels ?

I just discovered you I didn’t know you can use a colouring pencils on top of pastal, I just want to quickly say you’re doing incredible I’ve just started doing videos like you are and I respect you so much it takes a great deal to just sit down in front of the camera and talk you’re doing amazing keep it up! My question is have you tried pastel pencils I find them more brighter than colouring pencils because I’ve been drawing with colouring pencils for about 10 years now and I just started pastels three days ago so which brand is the best for pastel pencils? Thank you

In your opinion, what is the best board, paper, etc for pan pastels? For doing portraits. Thank you.

Thank you for the video. How do you pin the pastelmat to the board in your video? Tape?

Quick question! First, I just found your channel! Thanks for describing your points in such a clear and understandable way. Here's my question... When using your colored pencils over PanPastel, do you burnish them at any time to smooth them out? Or does this wreck the paper and the pastel beneath? Although I've only been using PanPastels a few times (just discovered them a little over a year ago), I am overloading the paper too soon, and running into that very problem you mention in Mistake #5... Thanks for the tip! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! ...And I agree with the tip on having the various sheets of pastelmat for testing on. It's VERY much of a help, but I have to fight the frugal side of me that has a hard time letting go of them due to the cost of art supplies! lol! 😝Of course, it's a necessary investment, so I totally get it. I'll just be keeping those in a separate folder to pull out as needed! Also, uncropped version! I prefer the warm blue of the corner giving some breathing room. 😊

i like the blue area in the background

I would say that because the top section of the leaf is more pronounced than the bottom section, cropping the background eliminates this situation and improves the overall effect

Thank you for this video. I like both versions but probably the cropped one a little better. Question - can I use pastel pencils over soft pastels, like Sennelier? I've seen some artists paintings that say they do this but it seems very difficult. Should you NOT use pencils if your painting is mainly soft pastels? thank you.

I am left handed and always smear. I never thought to put my work upright. Thank you! That should help some. Any other left handed tricks? I like the cropped piece better. 😊

HI Lana Just getting into Pans (have had them for awhile but been hesitant to use them) your video is very helpful and will now use them, thank you. What solvent do you use? I prefer the cropped version.

Great tips! I love the uncropped version. Question: If you want to leave broader more textural marks on top of PanPastels using Pastel Sticks, what level of pastel hardness works best (extra soft, soft, medium or hard)? Is there a brand of stick pastel that works better over PanPastels?

Keep it as is

I bought a small set of pan pastels which I’m using on Pastelmat paper. I struggle to get enough pan pastel on my soft tool to get even coverage let alone fill up the tooth on the paper, but more frustrating is the fallout which grabs onto the paper on its way down. I use a sheet of the protective paper that comes with the Pastelmat as a rest to avoid smudging my work, but when I remove it the fallout has gathered underneath and can be really hard to shift. I’m obviously doing something wrong but can’t figure out how to fix the problem. 🤔

Go with the uncropped version. It adds more interest to the composition even though it contains empty space (not necessarily a bad thing!

Thanks for the video! Very helpful. I am starting a painting, pan pastel for background and color pencils for subject. Should I do the background first? Have seen a few artists do this and then lay a sheet of wax paper down so not touching with your hands. Thoughts? Thank you 😊

I just stumbled onto your channel. What a great tutorial! I have one question. Can you use another solvent other than odorless mineral spirits? I am just curious. Thank you so much for the inspiration and instruction. Kit

I love the un-cropped

I'm so new to pan pastel that I accidentaly touched the pan pastels with nails and finger tips. I only have 7 colours : ultramarine, light ultramarine, yellow, red, magenta, black and white. I see that you have all the colours of every set. I can't afford all sets so I'll get the most important ones individually. I also do coloured pencil and I plan on using pan with my coloured pencils artworks. I'm doing an 18x24'' project on bristol with 2 layers of clear gesso (it feels like sanded paper because clear gesso is also used for pastel ground) and I have to finish it for Thursday. I'll try pan pastels on different paper to see if there's one that I prefer (luxuryarchival is super expensive so I might have to find an alternative for bigger papper format).

I ran into the last problem of too much detail in the background. I am using matte paper. Can I use a solvent? Your video is very helpful and extremely informative. I have subscribed. Thanks for giving me direction.

I'm obviously late to the party, but I think the uncropped version is better. So, what did you end up doing? This is the most informative video on pan pastel that I have seen to date. Excellent! I don't use pan pastels, and don't intend to at this stage, but I never know where my art practice will take me in the future so like to educate myself on all sorts of media. I've subscribed.

What you need is a calligrapher’s bridge its two felted blocks and a long thin wooden place tomrest hand much like a painter;s mahlmstick…