plate no. 2066
Pink Moon II
Piroska Szanto, 1947
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice blending pastel colors to create a soft, dreamlike atmosphere and develop their skills in drawing organic shapes and lines with expressive mark-making.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the moon, flowers, and background elements.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color with broad strokes of pastel.
- step 03
Blend the background colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
- step 04
Add darker values to define the shapes of the flowers and plants.
- step 05
Use lighter values to highlight areas and create depth.
- step 06
Refine the details of the flowers and plants with finer lines and shading.
- step 07
Add final touches and highlights to the moon and background.
- step 08
Use a fixative spray to protect the pastel drawing.
color palette
primary · white · blue-green · brown
secondary · yellow · black
Mix white with blue-green to create the sky and background. Use brown and black to create the darker areas of the flowers and plants. Mix yellow with brown to create the lighter areas of the flowers.
techniques
- ·pastel blending
- ·expressive line work
- ·value shading
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the pastels, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Making the lines too rigid and unnatural.
- →Not using enough fixative to protect the pastel drawing.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·pastel sticks
- ·drawing paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·fixative spray
- ·soft blending tools
- ·charcoal pencil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·workable fixative
Use a paper with a slightly textured surface to help the pastel adhere. Consider using a tinted paper to add depth to the drawing.
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