Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Step by step soft pastel painting - Road to Spiti

 “The important thing is to create. Nothing else matters; Creation is all.” Pablo Picasso

The Spiti holidays ( Himachal Pradesh ) happened in 2013. But the memories are so fresh. By painting a landscape scene from my travel journey, I make it all the more memorable. The winding roads, high up in the mountains, carved out by cutting through the mountains, so people like us can enjoy the beauty of the unseen wonders of this part of the world. So grateful to all those who worked so hard and made it happen.

We were so overwhelmed by the landscape around the roads, that we took frequent breaks to soak in the lovely atmosphere and of course to capture few photographs for reference ( For my future artworks). I still haven’t painted them all. Each one being very close to my heart. 

A soft pastel painting of Road to Spiti, on Canson Mi Teintes paper

Road to Spiti
A soft pastel painting on Canson Mi Teintes paper
Size 5” X 7”

Step 1. I lightly draw the outline using a white pastel pencil on a medium toned Canson Mi Teintes paper
             ( Used Twilight shade here ). Using  Mungyo and Kohinoor Toison Dor soft pastels, I then use 
            Very light touch to fill in the respective colours keeping in mind the tonal values and perspective.      

Step by step soft pastel painting of Road to Spiti

Step 2. Once I have covered the entire surface of the paper with the respective colours as per my 
             interpretation ( The photo captures all the colours. Whereas in reality the distant objects are
             dull in colour and do not have any details or sharp outlines ). I lightly blend at places using
             my finger.

Step by step soft pastel painting of Road to Spiti

Step 3. In the final layer I add more colours to create depth. I also use pencils at this stage to put in 
            details at several places as required. That about completes the painting. I normally do not use any 
            fixative as I personally feel that it dulls the colours. I use a butter paper on top and staple it at
            one end and then keep it in the folder until framed.

Step by step soft pastel painting of Road to Spiti

My art studio
With my collection of soft pastels
And pastel pencils

Kohinoor Toison Dor soft pastels

Kohinoor Toison Dor 
120 soft pastels ( Foldable box )
Purchased from Art Lounge

Sennelier 120 half stick pastel collection

Sennelier extra soft
120 half stick 
Paris Collection 

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