It was a 3 year long dream and definitely worth the effort it took to keep working on the road. A fantastic experience that comes with a lot of logistical difficulties, but I loved it. I now appreciate the simple things like water that comes out of your tap, toilets that flush and that's that done, and floorspace in my new studio. But I'm so glad I toured for a while!
This is fantastic, Emma! Thank you so much for making that video. I would never have guessed so many layers went into it. This is very useful indeed and the result is just brilliant. I can't wait to try though I have no doubt it takes a lot and lot of practice. Thanks again. Please keep these videos coming. They are invaluable!
Thanks for the encouragement Sandra! It's hard to show the technique in time lapse, so I'm really enjoying being able to slow things down and give real insight to the methods. I have many ideas for future videos so I will continue! I will do a more simplified blurry background soon as this one was really big and quite complicated. An effect like this can be achieved with less if working on a smaller scale. Thanks for visiting and supporting!
Very nice Emma. I just started painting in pastels and other media after nearly 20 years of not painting or drawing. I have forgotten a lot of techniques, so it is exciting to rediscovering art. I enjoy learning from others that I see far better than me. Thank you for sharing your technique.
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. This tutorial is just what I've been looking for. I love the way you explain everything and the pace is perfect, your a brilliant teacher. It's really useful to have the photo on screen at the same time too. Excellent.
Emma, Every video I learn more and more and the patreon vids are the BEST! I feel so dumbfounded that I learn more and more each time. I believe I have watched Harry McClarys painting 2 1/2 times now...still in the middle and I just now am getting to the point where I can 'SEE' when your hand goes soft on the paper. I have a real hard handedness b/c I couldn't get the full number of colors on a portrait on Pastelmat. I knew something was wrong when you said it can take many layers. I got some Canson Touch and it seems a bit more grainy so maybe I can practice the light touch with that. People, those of you that are serious about doing animals and human portraits [now and then a car or something similar], really need to check out Emmas Patreon for just 1 month at least. The $4 subscription will get you going. I'm sure of it!!!! Mirahbel
Mirahbel, thanks so much for this glowing recommendation/review. Many can't afford to support on Patreon which is why I add so much here. But it's you guys supporting me there that makes all the videos possible so thank you! I wouldn't be able to devote so much time to it otherwise.
Thank you Emma. I have been holding back from going too dark, with multiple layers whilst working on velour. It just looks so right. I'm going to have a go !
You're not alone there! That is the most common thing to say to people, go darker on your first layers! If there isn't the depth there to begin with it won't work when you add the midtones and then highlights. Trust that your pastel paper will allow the lighter tones to go on top. Make sure to rub layers well in on velour to ensure they stick well. For more velour tips check out www.emmacolbertart.com/2016/04/15/pastel-tips-using-velour/ Also lots of work in progress on my blog posts which may help. Use the categories at the side to find what you're looking for. Best wishes, Emma
I always love your backgrounds so to see this is great. I'd love to see the ' sparkle' background being created, where there are lots of fuzzy circles...if you know what I mean. You are a real inspiration to us keen amateurs.
Thank you for your kind comments. I will get around to demoing that type of background. I have footage of it, just a matter of editing it. Takes quite a lot of time to edit but I have a lot of videos in the pipeline. Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for a very enlightening video Emma! I have lots of heavy, super soft pastels (Ludwig and Sennelier) which I had found to be too heavy for velour. Now I know better. Thanks again! (would love to see the completed painting btw)
Hi Emma... Thanks for providing such excellent instruction. Your works are stunning and so very informative. You have an incredible talent that has no doubt been honed by thousands of hours of practice. Looking forward to more of your videos. Also, your accent is so pleasant to listen too. Thank you.
Brilliant! Just a joy to watch and learn. I'm guessing since the velour paper inhibits ready blending a bit, that it is also ideal for more detailed work. Is that true?
Thanks Christopher! That's exactly right. What I first found offputting about the paper turns out to be a great thing as you can control the detail without it getting too messy. Thin layers and some elbow grease is required for creating large smooth areas of colour.
Hi Emma I loved your vids from your motor home have you left it now? I love your tutorials you go into so much detail and have a great way of teaching x
Thank you Carol! I'm so glad you find my videos helpful. I'm not a trained teacher but I hope I can explain things the way I wish they had been explained to me! I'm currently renting as our weather has been so bad all winter. But back on the road in the summer...can't wait!
I bought a pad of velour paper about a year ago which was recommended for pastel from an online art site but have been afraid to use it and ruin it as so expensive but you have now taken that fear away and I feel more prepared to have a go thanks x
Have you ever tried using make up blending sponges, the dense type you use for foundation etc. I saw graphite artist use them and wondered if it would work for this, whilst avoiding sore fingers. I’ve not tried it yet but wondered if you had experimented with them?
Hi Carole, Yes you can totally use any kind of sponge applicator or blender. I'd say lots of makeup brushes are just as good at the job. When I work on velour however, it's so soft it feels nice on your fingertips anyway. But other papers I use all sorts of blenders.
do you know if paint can go over pastel? i usually use an airbrush to do my backgrounds, but the problem with an airbrush is you have to wash it out between each color you use. it would be nice to do some in airbrush and some in pastel for convenience
Hi Emma. I want to join your Patron group next month, but was wondering if you do only velour paper? I do not own any velour paper and so was wondering if I would have a hard time using my MiTeintes Touch paper a/o my Uart 400 grit paper? Thanks, Renee
Hi Renee, I do use velour a lot but I also have a lot more tutorials available where I work on Pastelmat recently. Most of what I teach is transferable onto different papers anyway and many Patrons work along on their own preference of paper. I have used the UART 400 which you can find as a tutorial on my TH-cam here, but I do prefer the smoother textures in my end result. But none are right or wrong, just different preferences. :-)
@@EmmaColbertArt Thank you. I think I would like to try the velour paper some day. I like Pastelmat too but find it too costly for me as a beginner b/c I can't sell my work. lol I've tried nontextured paper for practice but the results were awful and the experience frustrating. So for now, I'm using MiTeintes Touch which I do not like as much as the Uart 400-600.
Touring Europe in a motorhome as an artist. My actual dream 😮❤
It was a 3 year long dream and definitely worth the effort it took to keep working on the road. A fantastic experience that comes with a lot of logistical difficulties, but I loved it. I now appreciate the simple things like water that comes out of your tap, toilets that flush and that's that done, and floorspace in my new studio. But I'm so glad I toured for a while!
This is fantastic, Emma! Thank you so much for making that video. I would never have guessed so many layers went into it. This is very useful indeed and the result is just brilliant. I can't wait to try though I have no doubt it takes a lot and lot of practice. Thanks again. Please keep these videos coming. They are invaluable!
Thanks for the encouragement Sandra! It's hard to show the technique in time lapse, so I'm really enjoying being able to slow things down and give real insight to the methods. I have many ideas for future videos so I will continue! I will do a more simplified blurry background soon as this one was really big and quite complicated. An effect like this can be achieved with less if working on a smaller scale. Thanks for visiting and supporting!
Thank you. There is something so magically soothing, to watch someone create such beauty.
What a lovely comment thank you! :-)
Very nice Emma. I just started painting in pastels and other media after nearly 20 years of not painting or drawing. I have forgotten a lot of techniques, so it is exciting to rediscovering art. I enjoy learning from others that I see far better than me. Thank you for sharing your technique.
No problem Joe! Enjoy creating. Editing more videos at the moment so more coming soon.
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. This tutorial is just what I've been looking for. I love the way you explain everything and the pace is perfect, your a brilliant teacher. It's really useful to have the photo on screen at the same time too. Excellent.
Thank you Chris! That's great feedback to receive!
Totally agree!
AWESOME, IT HAS GIVEN ME MORE IDEAS ON USING PASTELS. LOVE THE WAY YOU EXPLAIN EVERYTHING. THANKYOU
Thanks Lynda! Glad you found this helpful!
Thank you so much for this! I have such a hard time with natural backgrounds and want to start doing more than just animal portraits!
Thanks Susan, I felt exactly the same a few years ago but they get easier with practise like everything!
I am your new subscriber. It really help me to paint blury background. Thank you so much you done a great job 👍
Thanks for subscribing and glad my video was helpful. I have another full length tutorial on blurry backgrounds also :-)
@@EmmaColbertArt I'll watch it also. Best of luck.
Emma, Every video I learn more and more and the patreon vids are the BEST! I feel so dumbfounded that I learn more and more each time. I believe I have watched Harry McClarys painting 2 1/2 times now...still in the middle and I just now am getting to the point where I can 'SEE' when your hand goes soft on the paper. I have a real hard handedness b/c I couldn't get the full number of colors on a portrait on Pastelmat. I knew something was wrong when you said it can take many layers. I got some Canson Touch and it seems a bit more grainy so maybe I can practice the light touch with that.
People, those of you that are serious about doing animals and human portraits [now and then a car or something similar], really need to check out Emmas Patreon for just 1 month at least. The $4 subscription will get you going. I'm sure of it!!!! Mirahbel
Mirahbel, thanks so much for this glowing recommendation/review. Many can't afford to support on Patreon which is why I add so much here. But it's you guys supporting me there that makes all the videos possible so thank you! I wouldn't be able to devote so much time to it otherwise.
Thank you Emma. I have been holding back from going too dark, with multiple layers whilst working on velour. It just looks so right. I'm going to have a go !
You're not alone there! That is the most common thing to say to people, go darker on your first layers! If there isn't the depth there to begin with it won't work when you add the midtones and then highlights. Trust that your pastel paper will allow the lighter tones to go on top. Make sure to rub layers well in on velour to ensure they stick well. For more velour tips check out www.emmacolbertart.com/2016/04/15/pastel-tips-using-velour/
Also lots of work in progress on my blog posts which may help. Use the categories at the side to find what you're looking for. Best wishes, Emma
I always love your backgrounds so to see this is great. I'd love to see the ' sparkle' background being created, where there are lots of fuzzy circles...if you know what I mean. You are a real inspiration to us keen amateurs.
Thank you for your kind comments. I will get around to demoing that type of background. I have footage of it, just a matter of editing it. Takes quite a lot of time to edit but I have a lot of videos in the pipeline. Thanks for visiting!
Thank you for a very enlightening video Emma! I have lots of heavy, super soft pastels (Ludwig and Sennelier) which I had found to be too heavy for velour. Now I know better. Thanks again! (would love to see the completed painting btw)
Hi Emma... Thanks for providing such excellent instruction. Your works are stunning and so very informative. You have an incredible talent that has no doubt been honed by thousands of hours of practice. Looking forward to more of your videos. Also, your accent is so pleasant to listen too. Thank you.
Thank you Greg! That is inspiring to hear. More videos coming soon.
This will help, thanks! You are very talented!
Thank you Emma for sharing! I really need to work on my backgrounds and this video was perfect!!
Thanks for the feedback Carole, more videos coming soon!
You're welcome!
Excellent. Been looking for exactly this.
Excellent. Thanks.
Subscriber eleven thousand and thirty five here, helloooooo x
Haha! Brilliant and welcooooome :-)
Brilliant! Just a joy to watch and learn. I'm guessing since the velour paper inhibits ready blending a bit, that it is also ideal for more detailed work. Is that true?
Thanks Christopher! That's exactly right. What I first found offputting about the paper turns out to be a great thing as you can control the detail without it getting too messy. Thin layers and some elbow grease is required for creating large smooth areas of colour.
Hi Emma I loved your vids from your motor home have you left it now? I love your tutorials you go into so much detail and have a great way of teaching x
Thank you Carol! I'm so glad you find my videos helpful. I'm not a trained teacher but I hope I can explain things the way I wish they had been explained to me! I'm currently renting as our weather has been so bad all winter. But back on the road in the summer...can't wait!
I bought a pad of velour paper about a year ago which was recommended for pastel from an online art site but have been afraid to use it and ruin it as so expensive but you have now taken that fear away and I feel more prepared to have a go thanks x
@@natureandwildlife22 I'm in that same spot, just a few years out from you. I cut a small piece off to do a trial and still haven't done it.
great tutorial,very helpfull :-)
Thanks Udo!
Have you ever tried using make up blending sponges, the dense type you use for foundation etc. I saw graphite artist use them and wondered if it would work for this, whilst avoiding sore fingers. I’ve not tried it yet but wondered if you had experimented with them?
Hi Carole,
Yes you can totally use any kind of sponge applicator or blender. I'd say lots of makeup brushes are just as good at the job. When I work on velour however, it's so soft it feels nice on your fingertips anyway. But other papers I use all sorts of blenders.
do you know if paint can go over pastel? i usually use an airbrush to do my backgrounds, but the problem with an airbrush is you have to wash it out between each color you use. it would be nice to do some in airbrush and some in pastel for convenience
Hi Emma. I want to join your Patron group next month, but was wondering if you do only velour paper? I do not own any velour paper and so was wondering if I would have a hard time using my MiTeintes Touch paper a/o my Uart 400 grit paper? Thanks, Renee
Hi Renee, I do use velour a lot but I also have a lot more tutorials available where I work on Pastelmat recently. Most of what I teach is transferable onto different papers anyway and many Patrons work along on their own preference of paper. I have used the UART 400 which you can find as a tutorial on my TH-cam here, but I do prefer the smoother textures in my end result. But none are right or wrong, just different preferences. :-)
@@EmmaColbertArt Thank you. I think I would like to try the velour paper some day. I like Pastelmat too but find it too costly for me as a beginner b/c I can't sell my work. lol I've tried nontextured paper for practice but the results were awful and the experience frustrating. So for now, I'm using MiTeintes Touch which I do not like as much as the Uart 400-600.
what other paintings historically have the same effect?!