Jeanne Rosier Smith
A Pastel Painter’s Playbook
This video library gathers the pastel lessons tips and techniques I’ve developed over twenty years of painting and teaching pastels in weekly classes and workshops, to share with you in one place.
Most people come to pastel from another medium, and fall in love with its tactile qualities and banquet of color. That’s what happened to me over twenty years ago, and I’ve never looked back. I love their velvety texture and vivid colors, and I find the medium flexible, forgiving and exciting to work with. There is always more to learn.
In this paragraph I explain how to use my section of Epiphany Fine Art. First, the Basics section contains introductory information every pastelist needs, plus questions on cleaning, organizing, lighting, fixative, framing, that come up in every demo and workshop. Secondly are the Workshops, based on years of in person workshops, we have fully developed multi-lesson explorations of specific topics, often with exercises designed to enhance your understanding and ability, and are intended for all levels of painters. Lastly, subject demos offer in-depth instruction on a wide range of subject matter.
The collection will grow monthly, as I record new lessons and demos. See the sidebar at right for a list of what’s to come, and a link to send us feedback. I welcome your requests and suggestions.
Happy painting, and Welcome!
If we haven’t yet covered a topic you’d like to see let us know and we’ll add it to the list Thanks! Send us an email
Materials
SPECIAL EVENTS:
November 14, 6:00-8:00 eastern
Jeanne Rosier Smith
2 hour live demo:
2 hour live demo:
Bon Appétit
It’s always important to paint what you love. Jeanne’s recurring still life theme has been and continues to be delicious, appealing, appetizing foods. Pour a glass of wine, tear a good hunk of bread and get ready to enjoy an evening of tasty painting. Learn how to compose and paint food from life in this 2-hr live demo.
Price: Active Subscribers $20 Non-subscribers $40
Date: November 14, 6:00-8:00pm eastern
Access: One month access to archived video after the event
Indefinite access to archived video for subscribers with a currently active account
Date: November 14, 6:00-8:00pm eastern
Access: One month access to archived video after the event
Indefinite access to archived video for subscribers with a currently active account
NOTE: If you have registered with Epiphany in the past you must log into your Epiphany account prior to signing up for any new events or subscriptions hosted by Epiphany Fine Art. Additionally, event discounts apply only to Epiphany members with a currently active recurring subscription
VIEW THE DEMO: A link to the live demo will be posted at the top of this page and at the top of the Epiphany Fine Art home page on the day of the demo
A recording of the demo will be available for one month to non subscribers and indefinitely for members with a currently active subscription.
VIEW THE RECORDING: the archived demo video will be located in the Archived Demos section of Jeanne’s page on Epiphany Fine Art
Sample Videos
What to do with those snowy but nearly colorless photo references? This sample of Jeanne's demo shows how to convey depth and color to create an atmospheric and moody snow scene.
584 views
This sample clip is from my Color Fundamentals section below. This simple exercise using a black and white photo reference shows how deepening our understanding of value can expand our flexibility with color.
1091 views
This sample clip is from my Color Fundamentals section. Here I look at the vital relationship between color and value, with a challenging color exercise.
1211 views
Recently Added Videos
The last segment in this demo shows how to choose highlight colors and create the sparkle to make your painting shine, including the wet
20 views
This useful video takes you through everything you need to consider when preparing to sign your work: placement, tools, color, size, name choice, design aspects, even mindset.
21 views
Archived Live Demos
Coastal marshes carry their own quiet beauty, and capturing the rich texture and varied light where the grasses meet the waterline is the subject of Jeanne’s next live demo. Join her to explore the challenge of creating believable marsh grass and ...
157 views
As spring blooms with a burst of color, Join Jeanne for an evening of reveling in the luscious colors and textures of flowers. Learn how to compose without cliché, create specific blooms without tightening up, and create vibrant, living color with ...
122 views
No matter where you are on your art journey, those aspects of art NOT related to pigment and paper have surely crept in from time to time. In this 2-hour zoom seminar Jeanne talks framing, marketing and social media, galleries, exhibitions, and ...
72 views
Like seafoam in the crest of a wave, fallen snow is beautifully reflective and challenging to paint. Shadows are where the magic happens, revealing form and texture. Jeanne’s snowy landscape demo will also reveal what she’s learned from painting ...
138 views
Alluring and elusive, moonlight on water is among the most difficult sights in nature to paint. Paint it live and you’re in the dark, and yet moonlight is next to impossible to capture well photographically. In this demo, Jeanne will share how you ...
126 views
Foliage season is coming soon: be ready for it with this live demo on handling nature’s most glorious show with subtlety and sensitivity. Learn to balance the brilliance of fall color with just the right neutrals, and create depth and a strong ...
139 views
Early morning light passing through waves infuses translucent seawater with dawn’s distinctive atmosphere. In this live demo, Jeanne takes a special look at how the color pallet of ocean water changes due to lighting conditions, and in particular she ...
204 views
Regardless of what we’re painting, working with photos carries specific challenges: bad cropping, unreliable color, too much information. In this seascape demo, Jeanne Rosier Smith shares how she uses photos without being tied to them. She’ll show ...
289 views
New growth and lush blossoms, brief and beautiful, create a tantalizing challenge for painters. Join Jeanne for an evening demo on approaches to finding and capturing blossoming trees at their best. We’ll cover tips for scouting great references, ...
115 views
Snow is crystalline and reflective just like clouds or seafoam, creating wonderful color opportunities. Painting well is learning to see. The rules for painting snow change drastically depending on the weather and the light. In this demo, retune your ...
227 views
Floating on the surface, reflecting the sky, suggesting depths below, waterlilies have captivated artists for centuries. Join in while Jeanne shares approaches for composing a lily pond scene, creating the illusion of reflections and suggesting ...
355 views
Are you a studio painter who feels guilty about not going out plein air more often? This demo is for you. I’ll share my plein air practices with you, and tell you exactly how I use them to help inform and enliven my studio paintings. Don’t get me ...
213 views
Every Painting tells a story. The painter always has to choose: is it about the sky or is it about the land? In this demo we’re looking up, focusing on sky drama. How to compose a sky for dramatic affect, how to build soft, billowy clouds, control ...
372 views
How do we work with the reference photos we have to create the best painting possible? In this demo, Jeanne has shared how to work with less than perfect photos to compose beautiful paintings with a strong visual impact. Part 1
371 views
How do we work with the reference photos we have to create the best painting possible? In this demo, Jeanne has shared how to work with less than perfect photos to compose beautiful paintings with a strong visual impact. Part 2
206 views
The Basics
A quick, easy way to clean your pastel trays and see your colors better
159 views
Don’t throw away those tiny shards of pastel, crush them up and make new ones! For this activity you need a mortar and pestle, a small spatula, an eye dropper bottle and a piece of plexiglass or wax paper.
72 views
A step-by-step guide to using fixative on your finished paintings—how to apply it without changing the color, and why it’s useful.
202 views
This short demo on applying pastel to paper shows how to create a simple still life starting with a toned, sanded paper
168 views
This video reviews all the supplies you’ll need to gather to successfully frame a pastel painting yourself.
72 views
With Jeanne’s clear instructions, learn step-by-step how to beautifully frame a pastel painting, from start to finish
63 views
This useful video takes you through everything you need to consider when preparing to sign your work: placement, tools, color, size, name choice, design aspects, even mindset.
21 views
Jeanne Rosier Smith The Basics: Pastel lessons tips and techniques
Here you’ll info on how get started for beginners, plus find answers to the burning questions that always come up at demos and workshops: How and why I use fixative, framing tips and practices, mounting paper, what kinds of pastels and papers to use. Have a question that’s not answered here? Send it to me and we’ll try to cover it
Here you’ll info on how get started for beginners, plus find answers to the burning questions that always come up at demos and workshops: How and why I use fixative, framing tips and practices, mounting paper, what kinds of pastels and papers to use. Have a question that’s not answered here? Send it to me and we’ll try to cover it
WORKSHOP: Color Fundamentals
This segment looks at the vital relationship between color and value, with a challenging color exercise.
211 views
This simple exercise using a black and white photo reference shows how deepening our understanding of value can expand our flexibility with color.
184 views
This simple exercise using a black and white photo reference shows how deepening our understanding of value can expand our flexibility with color (Part 2).
149 views
This start-to-finish demo video highlights a vibrant bosc pear against a neutral backdrop, with emphasis on value and chroma choices. Bonus tip: how to fill and organize a pastel box according to color and value (Part 1).
132 views
This start-to-finish demo video highlights a vibrant bosc pear against a neutral backdrop, with emphasis on value and chroma choices. Bonus tip: how to fill and organize a pastel box according to color and value.
91 views
This short video explores color temperature, and especially how the quality of light effects local color. A brief challenging exercise analyzes light and shadow in terms of temperature.
143 views
This short demo shows how to ‘turn on the light’ in a painting, conveying sunlight and shadow through shifting color temperatures.
164 views
This segment introduces the challenges with greens, and shows how to underpaint to create rich, complex greens
161 views
This exercise shows how to expand your range of greens, using layering techniques to create the right greens from the colors you have on hand.
100 views
This Demo shows how to create a rich, realistic summer landscape painting, using underpainting strategies and layering techniques to make your greens more dimensional.
172 views
This Demo shows how to create a rich, realistic summer landscape painting, using underpainting strategies and layering techniques to make your greens more dimensional.
130 views
Jeanne Rosier SmithColor Fundamentals: Value, Chroma, Temperature
An essential guide to color mixing for pastelists. Painters speak in the language of color. Whether you are a native speaker or need a guidebook, these video lessons are designed to up your fluency and confidence, with a mix of structure and play
WORKSHOP: Composition and Design
Learn to see design more abstractly—and be able to choose compositions based on how they work as designs rather than for the subject or photo, in this series of exercises.
99 views
Learn to see design more abstractly—and be able to choose compositions based on how they work as designs rather than for the subject or photo, in this series of exercises.
66 views
In this video we’ll look at some classic tools for designing landscapes, using space (foreground, middle ground & distance) and line to direct the eye to a focal point and around the composition.
58 views
In this video we’ll look at some classic tools for designing landscapes, using space (foreground, middle ground & distance) and line to direct the eye to a focal point and around the composition
37 views
In this forest demo, Jeanne uses rich textures and patterns anchored by strong lines to organize a tree composition
58 views
In this forest demo, Jeanne uses rich textures and patterns anchored by strong lines to organize a tree composition.
46 views
In this demo Jeanne shows how to crop and simplify for maximum impact. Â Learn how to identify and play to the strengths of your composition
58 views
In this demo Jeanne shows how to crop and simplify for maximum impact. Learn how to identify and play to the strengths of your composition
40 views
Jeanne Rosier SmithComposition and Design: Sharpen Your Skills
A workshop that will strengthen and refine your composition skills by focusing on the abstract elements underlying every good design. Special focus on the landscape and trees
WORKSHOP: Underpainting
Discover the why’s and how’s of underpainting and sharpen your skills and strategies by using three different approaches (warm, value only, and local color/warm complement) to one scene.
81 views
Discover the why’s and how’s of underpainting and sharpen your skills and strategies by using three different approaches (warm, value only, and local color/warm complement) to one scene.
42 views
Discover the why’s and how’s of underpainting and sharpen your skills and strategies by using three different approaches (warm, value only, and local color/warm complement) to one scene.
31 views
A prequel to the Archived live Demo: Flowers, this video takes you through the initial steps of that painting, a unique start on toned PastelMat paper.
29 views
Expand your underpainting repertoire and ease with water, exploring three foundation strategies (cool, local color, black paper) for the same scene.
62 views
Expand your underpainting repertoire and ease with water, exploring three foundation strategies (cool, local color, black paper) for the same scene.
10 views
Expand your underpainting repertoire and ease with water, exploring three foundation strategies (cool, local color, black paper) for the same scene.
14 views
Discover the special tips and tricks needed to enhance your seascapes. Learn how to create luminosity, lift out color to create light, enhance a sense of motion through brushwork and build wave form in your underpainting.
46 views
Discover the special tips and tricks needed to enhance your seascapes. Learn how to create luminosity, lift out color to create light, enhance a sense of motion through brushwork and build wave form in your underpainting.
37 views
Jeanne Rosier SmithUnderpainting
Discover the why’s and how’s of underpainting and sharpen your skills and strategies
WORKSHOP: Loosen Up!
Jeanne outlines the origins of the workshops, plus 5 lies that lead to overworked paintings and 10 tips for loosening up.
160 views
An exercise for expanding your marks and freshening your work.
160 views
A simple exercise to help you get into the flow of your painting, and stop second-guessing your process
146 views
A clear step by step guide to creating better thumbnails, the GPS for your paintings
105 views
In this demo Jeanne shows how a clear plan allows for fresh, intuitive, looser painting (part 1)
76 views
In this demo Jeanne shows how a clear plan allows for fresh, intuitive, looser painting (part 2)
75 views
How much do you need to simplify? In this demo, learn to vary the degree of development, with the focal area being most defined.
106 views
How much do you need to simplify? In this demo, learn to vary the degree of development, with the focal area being most defined.
69 views
Get in the zone with these stress buster exercises to loosen up your style as you create small gems with boldness, confidence and a sense of fun
78 views
Get in the zone with these stress buster exercises to loosen up your style as you create small gems with boldness, confidence and a sense of fun
61 views
Jeanne Rosier Smith
Loosen Up: Pastel lessons tips and techniques
Do you long to loosen up? Bold, graceful strokes looks easy, but anyone who’s aspired to them knows otherwise. There are significant steps we can take to make our paintings bolder, looser, and more assured. This self-directed video workshop will help you shake off that tendency to meticulously describe, tightly render, or overwork your paintings, and learn to paint boldly, loosely and with more assurance. Enjoy, play, practice, and paint more boldly and confidently with these exercises and demos. I have arranged them in order for you to follow as a workshop.
Workshop: Making Waves
Learn how to capture the movement and power of an ocean wave in pastel. Understand the wave’s moving form, and explore special underpainting and layering strategies to make your seascapes come alive.
150 views
As waves come ashore, both the design and technique of your seascape paintings become more complex. In this video Jeanne takes you through composing a shoreline seascape, handling wet and dry sand, foam, and underpainting strategies. Learn how to ...
90 views
Coastal landscapes present unique challenges: tricks of light and atmosphere seldom seen inland, subtle curves of sand and grass, light, reflective planes. This video takes you through the particular challenges posed by the coastal landscape. Learn ...
64 views
Jeanne Rosier SmithPainting Seascapes: the Essentials
These three demos are Jeanne’s foundational seascape lessons, beginning with a single wave, moving to the full coastline and adding the coastal landscape. These are the backbone of her approach to seascape
Seascape Elements Series
How do you create that special effect of sparkling light on water? This demo takes you through the special conditions which create this sparkle, how to underpaint and build layers to make light move and shine on the water’s surface.
37 views
How do you create that special effect of sparkling light on water? This demo takes you through the special conditions which create this sparkle, how to underpaint and build layers to make light move and shine on the water’s surface.
33 views
The last segment in this demo shows how to choose highlight colors and create the sparkle to make your painting shine, including the wet
20 views
In this series, learn tips and tricks for creating more realistic foam. This demo includes advice for handling all sorts of seafoam challenges and will sharpen your seafoam skills.
140 views
In this series, learn tips and tricks for creating more realistic foam. This demo includes advice for handling all sorts of seafoam challenges and will sharpen your seafoam skills.
116 views
In this series, learn tips and tricks for creating more realistic foam. This demo includes advice for handling all sorts of seafoam challenges and will sharpen your seafoam skills.
103 views
In this series, learn tips and tricks for creating more realistic foam. This demo includes advice for handling all sorts of seafoam challenges and will sharpen your seafoam skills.
89 views
Seafoam is full of information about edges, motion, direction, texture of the water. This demo shows how to use foam to tell the story of the water’s motion and activity, with more sensitive observation and mark making.
104 views
Seafoam is full of information about edges, motion, direction, texture of the water. This demo shows how to use foam to tell the story of the water’s motion and activity, with more sensitive observation and mark making.
86 views
Seafoam is full of information about edges, motion, direction, texture of the water. This demo shows how to use foam to tell the story of the water’s motion and activity, with more sensitive observation and markmaking.
62 views
Seafoam is full of information about edges, motion, direction, texture of the water. This demo shows how to use foam to tell the story of the water’s motion and activity, with more sensitive observation and markmaking.
71 views
This start to finish demo shows how to create the effects of sunlight on a curling wave. Special attention to underpainting strategies, and color and value choices to heighten atmospheric and lighting effects. (Pt1)
166 views
This start to finish demo shows how to create the effects of sunlight on a curling wave. Special attention to underpainting strategies, and color and value choices to heighten atmospheric and lighting effects. (Pt2)
131 views
This start to finish demo shows how to create the effects of sunlight on a curling wave. Special attention to underpainting strategies, and color and value choices to heighten atmospheric and lighting effects. (Pt3)
155 views
In this longer video I take you through the complete painting from selecting a scene to paint, through creating special light effects, to completing the painting (part 1)
178 views
In this longer video I take you through the complete painting from selecting a scene to paint, through creating special light effects, to completing the painting (part 2)
141 views
In this longer video I take you through the complete painting from selecting a scene to paint, through creating special light effects, to completing the painting (part 3)
147 views
Jeanne Rosier SmithSeascape Elements: Going Deeper
Once you’ve gotten the basics handled, dive into these special topics in seascape to refine your practice: the behavior of water, changing light effects, and subtle foam textures all get attention in these demos
Skyscape Series
Eager to paint that virtuoso sky for your landscape? Â These cloud studies will get you primed to handle any challenge in the sky, with exercises for practicing the forms, color variations, textures, and patterns that clouds can take.
154 views
Eager to paint that virtuoso sky for your landscape? Â These cloud studies will get you primed to handle any challenge in the sky, with exercises for practicing the forms, color variations, textures, and patterns that clouds can take.
92 views
Learn how to build the soft, subtle puffy forms of cumulous clouds through this start to finish demo of beautifully lit clouds at sunset. Judging values, layering, temperature shifts and edge control all covered.
71 views
Learn how to build the soft, subtle puffy forms of cumulous clouds through this start to finish demo of beautifully lit clouds at sunset. Judging values, layering, temperature shifts and edge control all covered.
53 views
Tackling a complex cloud-filled sky means understanding cloud patterns and perspective and how they translate to two dimensions. This start to finish demo covers how to underpaint for large clouds, judging subtle value shifts, orchestrating a complex ...
65 views
Tackling a complex cloud-filled sky means understanding cloud patterns and perspective and how they translate to two dimensions. This start to finish demo covers how to underpaint for large clouds, judging subtle value shifts, orchestrating a complex ...
42 views
After sunset, a landscape’s tone and mood changes as light sources become more subtle. This demo is full of tips on creating clouds, light and atmospheric effects in a night scene
35 views
After sunset, a landscape’s tone and mood changes as light sources become more subtle. This demo is full of tips on creating clouds, light and atmospheric effects in a night scene
29 views
Jeanne Rosier SmithSkyscape Series
Brush up your sky skills and build your cloud confidence with these exercises and lessons. Maximize the expressive potential of your skies
Water in the Landscape Series
Learn to paint realistic lilypads against a deep blue background. Create convincing perspective and depth, placing details in the foreground.
54 views
Learn to paint realistic lilypads against a deep blue background. Create convincing perspective and depth, placing details in the foreground.
51 views
Short bonus follow up to the Lilypad 101 videos: How to block in the lily pads on a large complex scene
36 views
Learn to tackle complex reflections, handle subtle value shifts, and tips for getting your lily pads to sit in the water. A start-to-finish demo.
37 views
Learn to tackle complex reflections, handle subtle value shifts, and tips for getting your lily pads to sit in the water. A start-to-finish demo.
30 views
Learn to paint rippling water in this start-to-finish demo by recognizing the complex visual patterns and how to simplify them
131 views
Learn to paint rippling water in this start-to-finish demo by recognizing the complex visual patterns and how to simplify them
99 views
Learn to make sense of what you’re seeing in water reflections, and paint them effectively in this start to finish demo - part 1
97 views
Learn to make sense of what you’re seeing in water reflections, and paint them effectively in this start to finish demo - part 2
85 views
Jeanne Rosier Smith
Water in the Landscape
Water is challenging to paint convincingly; these demos are full of tips and tricks for creating more compelling water in your landscapes
Special Drawing Challenges
Painting sailboats can be tricky. This demo incudes tips to help you judge values, get your drawing right, and find a stronger composition and inspiring color even when using less-than-inspiring reference photos
40 views
Painting sailboats can be tricky. This demo incudes tips to help you judge values, get your drawing right, and find a stronger composition and inspiring color even when using less-than-inspiring reference photos
26 views
Dealing with a challenging subject? Close observation and simplification of shapes will go far. Jeanne will show how using these tips, anyone can learn to include boats in their work convincingly
34 views
Dealing with a challenging subject? Close observation and simplification of shapes will go far. Jeanne will show how using these tips, anyone can learn to include boats in their work convincingly
25 views
Adding figures to your landscapes creates liveliness and focus. Use these exercises and tips to incorporate figures more accurately and convincingly into to your landscapes.
48 views
Adding figures to your landscapes creates liveliness and focus. Use these exercises and tips to incorporate figures more accurately and convincingly into to your landscapes.
49 views
This exercise will help you simplify structures, see light on form, add color, value and then choose detail. Learn to place buildings in your landscape by reducing form to its simplest elements.
17 views
This exercise will help you simplify structures, see light on form, add color, value and then choose detail. Learn to place buildings in your landscape by reducing form to its simplest elements.
15 views
Learn to place buildings in your paintings without getting bogged down with the details. Jeanne takes you step by step through the process of seeing a complex city scene in simple terms, read the values and shapes and then add details and texture.
31 views
Learn to place buildings in your paintings without getting bogged down with the details. Jeanne takes you step by step through the process of seeing a complex city scene in simple terms, read the values and shapes and then add details and texture.
21 views
Jeanne Rosier Smith
Special Drawing Challenges
These demos offer practical, approachable methods for adding challenging subject matter to your work
Painting Figures in the Landscape
Figures add life and action to any scene. Use these lessons to practice creating more believable figures for your landscapes
Winter Landscape Series
A serene winter sky creates a dramatic backdrop for a stand of winter trees. Make your well-designed sky the star of the show
48 views
A serene winter sky creates a dramatic backdrop for a stand of winter trees. Make your well-designed sky the star of the show
31 views
Paint a snowy riverbank by understanding light, shadow, and plane shifts in the scene. Learn to judge snow value and temperatures, and create ripples and reflections in a winter river
63 views
Paint a snowy riverbank by understanding light, shadow, and plane shifts in the scene. Learn to judge snow value and temperatures, and create ripples and reflections in a winter river
43 views
Paint a snowy riverbank by understanding light, shadow, and plane shifts in the scene. Learn to judge snow value and temperatures, and create ripples and reflections in a winter river
38 views
What to do with those snowy but nearly colorless photo references? This demo shows how to convey depth and color to create an atmospheric and moody snow scene.
31 views
What to do with those snowy but nearly colorless photo references? This demo shows how to convey depth and color to create an atmospheric and moody snow scene.
23 views
Learn to create a complex forest scene with a simple design and accurate values. By finding the bigger shapes and implying the detail, Jeanne creates the forest
51 views
Learn to create a complex forest scene with a simple design and accurate values. By finding the bigger shapes and implying the detail, Jeanne creates the forest
35 views
Jeanne Rosier Smith
Winter Landscape
Snow changes the landscape completely and offers new painting challenges. These lessons offer approaches to all sorts of winter landscape challenges, from sunny riverbanks to blizzards, so you are ready to tackle winter
