Blue Tit
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just under 5 hours. The full painting is available with colour coding and narration for full guidance.
This piece was a joy to create and I hope many of you will enjoy working along with me. I took many photos of blue tits this year, one of my favourite birds. I paired this one up with the gorgeous blossoms of the quince tree blossoms to create what I think is a special composition.
I'll take you step by step through this whole piece showing how I create backgrounds with depth. Each stage is narrated and there are colour codes popping up on screen to guide you through the whole process.
This is a great piece to learn on and although the background has a lot going on, I'm with you each step of the way.
Then if you want to try out these techniques on another blue tit image, click HERE to access the bonus reference images. You're welcome to make use of these for your own compositions.
The main reference for the demo is at the link below.
Timelapse Video
Border Terriers in Bluebells
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just under 18 hours. There are key parts with colour coding and narration, and some extra parts which show footage only.
This piece was a total marathon to create. As well as being large in size, there were so many different elements to tackle. From the forest background, the bluebell carpet, the detailed dogs, and the foreground tree stump.
It was too much to edit absolutely every part of the footage, but I have released all of the footage here if you want to look at any part of this process.
The parts labeled 'with narration' are both narrated and colour coded giving you full guidance on certain elements. I chose which parts to show in detail based on the votes of the patrons.
While it's maybe not the best piece to paint along with, these parts can be valuable if you are painting something similar and you just want to dip in to one part for guidance with that specific thing. Whether it's trees, bluebells, long grass, tree bark, or border terriers, you'll find it all here!
The reference image is attached to Part 1 which you'll find at the link below.
Timelapse Video
Spring Lane
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just under 3 hours. The narration in this demo will guide you through the full project using a limited palette.
This month's Mini Demo is all about capturing the feel of a place even if the reference image is not so spectacular. Don't let the quality of the photos you take on your phone hold you back from capturing a special place or memory. The aim of this demo is to show you how to enhance flat reference images and bring them to life with colour and mark making.
A landscape does not have to take long to capture the essence of the place, and that's what I hope to share with you in this short demo.
Timelapse Video
Django
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just over 6.5 hours. The full painting is available with colour coding and narration for full guidance.
After my dog Django had an accident in my studio and wrecked many of my pastels, I decided to make the best of a bad situation and create some videos about salvaging the pastels and making some pastel sticks from the leftover pigment.
The colours I was left with actually looked a lot like Django's own colours, so I decided what better way to test these home made sticks, than to paint Django's portrait.
This demo is available to all members on my Patreon as a celebration of Django and his special colours. I chat all the way through explaining each decision. Although I use some of the pastel sticks I made, I have suggested alternatives so that you can work along with me.
Django has a great expression and presence in his reference image. This tutorial is a great way to learn how to really capture the essence of an animal, and a great demo if you're struggling with short coated animals.
Timelapse Video
Great Tit
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just 4.5 hours. The narration in this demo will guide you through the full project using a limited palette.
This Mini Demo was a delight to make from beginning to end. I have most of all enjoyed sneaking around with my camera and big lens to try and capture some references of these tiny creatures.
If painting nature appeals to you, birds are a great way to study something remarkable up close. You'll find a lot of bird tutorials in the library already, but this one also teaches you a lot about creating natural backgrounds.
I have provided the reference for this demo at the link button below. This includes several versions of the photo with varying amounts of branches. And then if you would like to work on a completely different image, you'll find a pack of bonus images of the Great Tit by clicking HERE
Timelapse Video
West Highland Terrier
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just under 5.5 hours. The full painting is available with colour coding and narration for full guidance.
This is one of the most interesting white dog portraits I have ever attempted. There is not one piece of pure white pastel used in this. It's a great experiment in colour theory and reflected colours on white fur. If you want a lesson that is all about value and temperature, this is the one for you!
As well as taking you step by step through this portrait, I also describe a lot of the techniques I use when I'm struggling with a painting. This still happens me! There are many times I find something very difficult, and that was the case with this piece. So rather than shy away from it, come and have a go with my guidance. And hear about all the ways I push through the more difficult pieces.
Timelapse Video
Lola the Terrier
Finished Painting
The following tutorial covers 1 hour 45 minutes. The narration in this demo will guide you through the full project using a limited palette.
If you are searching for a short tutorial packed full of information on capturing light and shade this is the one for you. I deliberately chose an image with very definite shadows and both black and white fur included.
Using the limited palette within my Unison 30 half stick Animal set, plus a few greens, I focused on some of my favourite colours for achieving these effects. If you don't have the animal set then try to substitute for colours that are close. It's not vital that you have exactly the same materials as me.
Timelapse Video
Iberian Wolf
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just under 10 hours. The full painting is available with colour coding and narration for full guidance.
This long series covers an abundance of skills required to create highly detailed animal portraits. Whether it's a wild animal or a domestic pet, you'll be able to apply the skills you learn to any future animal portrait. If you work on a large scale, this piece will take you a while, but I'm with you every step of the way in this series.
You can also choose to work on a different reference image of the wolf. Access a photo pack of bonus images which are very similar but will allow you to branch out on your own a little. A great stepping stone between working from tutorials, to creating pastel paintings by yourself. My aim is always to help you hone the skills that will see you creating work like this without my help eventually.
Access the bonus reference pack for extra wolf photos HERE
The reference you need to work along with me on the same face is available at the link below.
Timelapse Video
Tuxedo Cat
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just over 2.5 hours. The narration in this demo will guide you through the full project using a limited palette.
This small demo is a great way to learn how to paint both black and white fur among lots of other skills such as capturing the character of a cat. Without investing too much time, you will learn how to create the illusion of detail and convincingly soft and thick fur.
There are also some pretty useful tips for creating white whiskers at the end!
Come and join me for this fun little piece using mostly my Unison pastels Animal set. Whether you have the same colours or paper, or choose to work along on your own substitutes, you'll pick up lots of my best tips for painting animals.
You'll find the reference image for the demo at the link below. But you can also access my bonus reference pack of black and white cats HERE if you prefer to work on something different using the skills you have learned.
Timelapse Video
Yorkshire Terrier
Finished Painting
The following tutorial series covers just over 5 hours. The full painting is available with colour coding and narration for full guidance.
This tutorial has a lot of information not only about the painting process, but also about coming up with a pleasing composition from a tricky photo reference. I take you from the very start talking about how to apply artistic license to a background, right through to the detail in the dog's face and the soft focus effects used.
With the Yorkshire terrier being such a popular breed, I'm sure this will be a useful series if you find yourself painting a similar dog.
