The Magic of Mark Making with Pastels: Floral Demo 

I am so glad I found you Karen! You are my inspiration. I had not done any art work since high school , 1977 graduate. Picked it back up in October 2021, and you have elevated my skills so much I am thrilled. I am having the time of my life, this is what I always wanted to do since I was a little girl. Thank you!

I'm not a flower guy but I loved the abstraction on this one! I'm gonna try my 2 fave flowers, wild peonies and hydrangeas! Love to see you paint those BIG FLOWERS, BIIIIGGGGG MARKS💥

What an excellent lesson! I learned so much and can't wait to try this demo. Thanks,,Karen

You are an absolutely extraordinary teacher. I adore you and your art!!!! Very very very inspiring! Keep going and pet Heidi for me 😊

Karen, as always, your videos and talent are amazing. Thank you so much. I get so easily frustrated and leave multiple pictures undone because I get lost in the process. You make it so easy! Bless you and stay healthy.

Soooo..... happy I found your channel! Just love your style of painting and the way you explain what you are doing.

Absolutely beautiful 💗🌿

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for your in depth tutorials. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite art teachers!

Each touch of pastels finally shows a beautiful picture. I like the fullness of the flowers, the light and the juicy background of the picture. Karen, thank you for these exceptional master classes, thanks to them we can learn and see beauty with you

Loved watching this. Thanks Karen. :)

You are the Harriet Potter of pastel! It’s magic!! I feel like a little mouse looking up in a field of poppies. Thanks Karen.

Sooo pretty!! I'm still binge watching and liking all videos!! 😘😘

Love, love, love what you share and how you share. Gracious lady! Your teaching is so appreciated. Love the painting. Getting comfortable with marks is so important.... as well as the when, where and why of it all. Thank you! You are very appreciated!

This is so beautiful. I love the mark making. It has inspired me to push myself and try some painting. Thank you for your online demonstrations.

Just gorgeous!

Hi Karen, I just tried this one. I must say, you make it look much easier than it is! I love this painting of yours.

Very instructive, can't wait to try this.

Amazing you are ..Thank you Karen .

I learned so much about mark making. The painting is beautiful.

Beautiful painting! And yes, so painterly. Thanks for an uplifting presentation - so appreciated in these times. Excellent instruction, as always! Take good care of your cough. Bless you and yours.

I absolutely love your videos on flowers. I painted the sunflowers this morning and am really pleased with the result. Please, please can we have more flower tutorials, I understand your teaching which is so helpful. Many thanks.

I love the way you play with your pastels. This gives a dynamic style and leaves your eyes free to travel through your paintings. I will start pastel and see you inspire me a lot. Thanks for sharing all of these great videos. Friendships of France

Just stunning. I will try this lesson myself. 😊Thank you. You are such a clear and organised teacher.

Thankyou for your generosity sharing these lessons. It’s hard to speak and paint at the same time and yet you manage to keep a logical conversation to help your students. Well done you. For the petal edges were you thinking -ruffled, serrated, feathered, toothed or maybe jagged?

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you very much 🌸

Karen, your art is beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

As awesome as always is! Thank you Karen!

Beautifully done...I really feel like giving pastel painting a go.. I always thought it was for kids 😁 but I see it gets lovely effects...Thanks

I tried this with my Granddaughters sidewalk chalk I loved it. so I ordered some real art chalk i going to do this again when its delivered . Thank you soooo much for sharing and teaching .

This demo was great - so many valuable points.

Thank you! We are in quarantine now and you give me inspiration to go pastel.

Absolutely beautiful painting. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. This is definitely an area that I've needed help with as I do draw flowers and colour them in and have been longing to create them in a more painterly way.

👋 Karen wow this helps a lot. Beautiful job, I love it. Thank you. 👏👏👏👍👍👍❤👋

Wonderful painting and tutorial 👍😍 Thanks so much!

Love love love

Thank you Karen, this was a superb tutorial.

Thank you....Thank you. Another informative video. ❤❤

Thank you Karen! I love your videos - would be very interested in the class you mentioned in the video. I am new to pastels and am loving them!

So many really good ideas and techniques in your videos and this one is chock full too! Thank you for sharing your expertise. I am still striving to make my marks readable and I am enjoying watching your videos and learning from your experience. Quite lovely flowers and lovely petals as well. Be sure to take care of that cough and be well!

Beautiful and great instruction. I'm mainly a watercolorist so this is new to me. Struggling somewhat but learning. I can't really afford the paper so I put clear gesso on watercolor paper. But not sure I would do better on your paper. Maybe later when I improve. Might be too much waste of money while I'm learning.

Beautiful Karen!!!

Absolutely beautiful!!!

Thank you ! Beautiful !

I haven’t painted flowers up close, but now I really want too. I’m painting a lot these days, so thank you Karen with keeping us involved. Your reminders about mark making are so timely. Ps. Did you know you have become my new best friend?

Really Beautiful

Haha you are welcome! Best wishes from California!

Beautiful

Excellent!

Thank you this is beautiful..Im trying to get inspired in readiness to lots of free time Im expecting due to Self Isolation !!! in the UK

Prachtig, beautiful 😀🌸

Thanks for sharing your mark making techniques here. I like that shout and whisper and press and release. Karen do you tend to use fixative or not? Thanks

Hi Karen! Amazing work! Can you please tell me the right paper type to use?? And what gsm should it be?

You have made your poppies sing!!! I have a question about pastels. I have a Unison Landscape set, a set of Grumbacher pastels. I would like to purchase a set of Terry Ludwig pastels, but I can only splurge on one set. I work on flowers, outdoor yard scenes and some landscapes. I, especially like the burgundy pastel you used today. Which set would you suggest?

Thank you! I'm at home, and now, I can get my art materials out and do some work!! (Edit) My dogs say "woof" to your dog.

So magnificent

Beautiful and informative,What do you think of pan pastels? Do you use them?

YOU ARE SO GOOD!!!

Hi, Karen. Saw you on youtube for the first time yesterday and went on to watch a whole string of your excellent videos. They really inspired me to get out my pastels. I usually work in watercolour. I thought I'd sign up on your patreon, also. However when I attempted some work in pastel they were so soft it was like trying to paint with loose face powder! I was SO disappointed. I couldn't get any definition and dust went everywhere. I work at home in a carpeted study/studio which I share with my husband, so conditions aren't ideal as far as dust is concerned. I wondered if you had any comment/advice.

Love this video! Does the same technique apply if you are using cream UArt?

Superb

I just discovered your painting tutorials. and love what you do. I have taken a couple of classes using student grade soft pastels and Canson pastel paper. It seems that I need better supplies to try the work you are showing. Do you have or would you consider a tutorial on supplies for beginner pastel students? I tried with the materials I have with less than satisfactory results.

Words of wisdom

Hello , what brand do you use please ?

This is a child's level of mastering pastel

KAREN, Thank you for this video. I just purchased inexpensive Mungyo pastels, because you have inspired me to try painting with pastels. I am worried about how much dust is being created by this material which is considered toxic. I was so overwhelmed by how much stayed on my fingers and on my easel, etc. what do you do to protect yourself? I worry about this dust getting into your lungs and mine! Please be well and safe.

Which paper you are using please tell me

So basically background with side of pastel but with a light touch?

Ragged edged petals

Do you sell your demo paintings?

I can hear that person whisper to you. :)

Are you related to the woman on Queen of Kings??? Thank you. :)