Stop Chasing Traditional Pastel Techniques. Try This Mixed Media Trick!

Stop chasing traditional pastel techniques and try mixed media instead. In this video, we're breaking the rules by skipping expensive pastel paper and drawing with budget-friendly Lightwish soft pastels directly into wet ink layers on watercolor paper. Supplies used in this video: Waterproof India Ink: https://amzn.to/4aY0DV1 Hot Press Watercolor Paper: https://amzn.to/4uGHTjQ Sensory Stone: https://amzn.to/4ox9Qcy 🎨 Shop Lightwish: 🌍 Official Store (Worldwide Shipping): https://lightwish.com/?sca_ref=115714... ✨ Use code TB10 for 10% OFF storewide! 🛒 Amazon Options: Enjoy 10% OFF with code WLQEB752 (Valid 6/18 - 6/22), OR wait for our massive Prime Day Sale to get 20% OFF (Valid 6/23 - 6/26)! 🇺🇸 US: https://amzn.to/4d36UPt 🇬🇧 UK: https://amzn.to/42w1KXC 🇩🇪 DE: https://amzn.to/4dFgDNr 🇪🇸 ES: https://amzn.to/4wjtaxk 🇫🇷 FR: https://amzn.to/4naWyBZ 🇦🇺 AU: https://amzn.to/4eNyDqb ➡️This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something, I'll probably spend the commission on iced coffee or paint. Everyone wins! Timestamps: 00:00 Stop Chasing Traditional Pastel Rules 00:15 Unboxing the Lightwish 72 Set 01:21 Testing Pigment on the Wrong Paper 02:21 Setting Up a Dramatic Ink Base 04:21 Unleashing the Unpredictable Cola Pen 05:32 Drawing Straight Into Wet Ink 06:37 The Sensory Stone Stamping Experiment 07:35 My Secret Fixative Alternative 08:26 Painting With Clear Gesso & Fingers 12:10 Grating Pastels for Instant Texture 13:30 Bringing Back Atmospheric Highlights 15:07 The Risky Final Pop of Salmon 16:30 Final Reveal: A New Mixed Media Workflow Learn how to create dynamic abstract landscapes using a non-traditional mixed media approach that combines soft pastels with watercolor and waterproof ink on hot press paper. This process video demonstrates how to break conventional art rules by skipping expensive textured pastel paper and working directly on a smooth watercolor surface instead. The tutorial highlights the performance of a budget-friendly soft pastel set and explores experimental studio workflows for layering dry and wet mediums together. Viewers will see how to build a dramatic atmosphere, stamp textures with sensory stones, and safely seal loose pastel pigments without using standard spray fixatives. What's covered in this video: The video opens with an unboxing and review of the budget-friendly Lightwish 72 soft pastel set, focusing on the pigment load, the balance of warm, cool, and neutral tones, and how the medium firmness compares to premium brands like Sennelier. A quick swatching demonstration on Canson pastel paper highlights the creamy texture and color range of the 72 sticks before transitioning to the main landscape piece. The landscape base begins on Paul Rubens hot press watercolor paper using an indigo watercolor paint from the brand Poems About You to establish an initial wet layer with structural markings. A warm sanguine watercolor tone is introduced to the wet sky composition to add color variance and dramatic contrast against the darker indigo values. Bold, unpredictable structural marks are applied across the damp watercolor base using Black Velvet waterproof India ink and a handmade calligraphy cola pen. Soft pastels are drawn directly into the damp ink and watercolor layers to see how the pigment smears, blends out, and creates immediate dynamic textures on the smooth paper. An experiment with textured pattern making involves spritzing water and stamping pastel pigment onto the page using specialized pebble sensory stones. A custom studio workaround for sealing loose pastel markings involves pressing clear gesso over the design with a sheet of deli paper instead of applying a standard commercial workable fixative. Clear gesso is mixed directly with the soft pastels to create a gritty, paint-like consistency that provides an excellent grip for building up deep, messy layers with fingers and a palette knife. Soft pastel pigment is grated directly through a metal strainer over a fresh layer of clear gesso to create a highly textured, granular surface effect that is sealed in place without shifting. Fine atmospheric details and structural highlights are added to the upper sky section using a pale blue and purple pastel alongside a jumbo charcoal pencil for added dark contrast. A final, intuitive pop of a bright salmon accent color is placed in multiple areas of the landscape to successfully guide the eye across the entire finished composition. Mentioned in this video: Lightwish 72 soft pastel set, Canson pastel paper, Sennelier soft pastels, Paul Rubens hot press watercolor paper, Poems About You indigo watercolor, sanguine watercolor, Black Velvet waterproof India ink, calligraphy cola pen, Jackie Bernardi, pebble sensory stones, clear gesso, deli paper, acrylic medium, jumbo charcoal pencil, salmon accent color, non-traditional mixed media workflow. #watercolor #mixedmedia #art #softpastels