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!

Jeanne Rosier Smith Pastel lessons

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

Jeanne Rosier Smith pastel painting
Jeanne Rosier Smith pastel painting
Jeanne Rosier Smith pastel painting

SPECIAL EVENTS:

2 hour live demo:

Your Art Business: an Interactive Discussion

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 strategies for staying organized…to name a few things.  Bring your experiences and questions! You’ll leave inspired and motivated.

Price: Members $20 Non-members $40
Date: March 28, 6:00-8:00pm eastern

NOTE: 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

Image of Jeanne Rosier Smith

A recording of the demo will be available for three weeks to non members and permanently for members. NOTE: this archived demo  video will be located in the Archived Demos section of Jeanne’s page on Epiphany Fine Art

2 hour live demo:

Live Demo: FLOWERS!

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 the pigments on your pallette.

Price: Members $20 Non-members $40
Date: May 16, 6:00-8:00pm eastern

NOTE: 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

Jeanne Rosier Smith pastel painting of flowers

A recording of the demo will be available for three weeks to non members and permanently for members. Note that 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.
458 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.
951 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.
1041 views
Jeanne Rosier Smith pastel painting

painting by Jeanne Rosier Smith

Recently Added Videos

Short bonus follow up to the Lilypad 101 videos: How to block in the lily pads on a large complex scene
14 views
This video reviews all the supplies you’ll need to gather to successfully frame a pastel painting yourself.
21 views
With Jeanne’s clear instructions, learn step-by-step how to beautifully frame a pastel painting, from start to finish
18 views

COMING SOON:

  • Composition and Design
  • Fall Foliage
  • Landscape Design
  • Color, Texture, and Pattern
  • Simple Shapes, Big Impact
  • Nocturnes
  • Painting Boats
  • Apple Trees
  • Koi Ponds
  • Unlocking Underpainting

Archived Live Demos

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 ...
121 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 ...
92 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 ...
114 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 ...
154 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 ...
215 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, ...
103 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 ...
223 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 ...
307 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 ...
190 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 ...
323 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
336 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
188 views

Demo Reference Materials

Jeanne Rosier Smith Materials List
Materials List
Jeanne Rosier Smith Reference Images
Reference Images

The Basics

Welcome to my site
4 views
Let's take a tour through my studio
175 views
This short video offers a primer on pastels and paper
197 views
A Step-by-step guide to mounting your paper
177 views
A quick, easy way to clean your pastel trays and see your colors better
134 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.
62 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.
154 views
In this short video we explore how to ‘paint’ with a pastel stick
167 views
This short demo on applying pastel to paper shows how to create a simple still life starting with a toned, sanded paper
144 views
This video reviews all the supplies you’ll need to gather to successfully frame a pastel painting yourself.
21 views
With Jeanne’s clear instructions, learn step-by-step how to beautifully frame a pastel painting, from start to finish
18 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

WORKSHOP: Color Fundamentals

This segment looks at the vital relationship between color and value, with a challenging color exercise.
176 views
This simple exercise using a black and white photo reference shows how deepening our understanding of value can expand our flexibility with color.
155 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).
127 views
A brief Color Theory 101, this short video considers why we need neutrals, how color complements work, and how to neutralize bright colors
127 views
Color Theory 101 continued. How to create glowing color, and control the volume of your brights.
107 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).
110 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.
79 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.
116 views
This short demo shows how to ‘turn on the light’ in a painting, conveying sunlight and shadow through shifting color temperatures.
131 views
This segment introduces the challenges with greens, and shows how to underpaint to create rich, complex greens
131 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.
79 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.
141 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.
104 views

Jeanne Rosier Smith
Color 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.
63 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.
48 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.
40 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
28 views
In this forest demo, Jeanne uses rich textures and patterns anchored by strong lines to organize a tree composition
43 views
In this forest demo, Jeanne uses rich textures and patterns anchored by strong lines to organize a tree composition.
35 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
44 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
32 views

Jeanne Rosier Smith
Composition 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: Loosen Up!

Jeanne outlines the origins of the workshops, plus 5 lies that lead to overworked paintings and 10 tips for loosening up.
137 views
An exercise for expanding your marks and freshening your work.
137 views
A simple exercise to help you get into the flow of your painting, and stop second-guessing your process
121 views
A clear step by step guide to creating better thumbnails, the GPS for your paintings
87 views
In this demo Jeanne shows how a clear plan allows for fresh, intuitive, looser painting (part 1)
64 views
In this demo Jeanne shows how a clear plan allows for fresh, intuitive, looser painting (part 2)
64 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.
86 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.
62 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
52 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
41 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.
104 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 ...
67 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 ...
48 views

Jeanne Rosier Smith
Painting 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

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.
95 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.
79 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.
68 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.
76 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.
60 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.
41 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.
46 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)
142 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)
111 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)
131 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)
157 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)
120 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)
120 views

Jeanne Rosier Smith
Seascape 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?  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.
119 views
Eager to paint that virtuoso sky for your landscape?  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.
70 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.
50 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.
35 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 ...
49 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 ...
31 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
25 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
19 views

Jeanne Rosier Smith
Skyscape 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.
36 views
Learn to paint realistic lilypads against a deep blue background. Create convincing perspective and depth, placing details in the foreground.
34 views
Short bonus follow up to the Lilypad 101 videos: How to block in the lily pads on a large complex scene
14 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.
19 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.
16 views
Learn to paint rippling water in this start-to-finish demo by recognizing the complex visual patterns and how to simplify them
101 views
Learn to paint rippling water in this start-to-finish demo by recognizing the complex visual patterns and how to simplify them
69 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
81 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
67 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
31 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
18 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
27 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
21 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.
34 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.
38 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
43 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
28 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
56 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
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
33 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.
28 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.
20 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
48 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
32 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

Epiphany Fine Art