Top 5 Subjects to Draw Using Pastel Pencils

The beauty of pastel pencils is that they can draw any subject with incredible depth and detail. Here's Colin's run down of most popular subjects ranking from least popular to most popular.

5. Still Life

It does seem a shame that still life is the least popular subject as they look great when given the pastel pencil treatment. I am sure that they would also be low down on the list of other mediums too, but I have always enjoyed painting them in particular the flowers.

4. Portraits

I am sure that it is the degree of difficulty of the subject that puts people off doing portrait work, but there is no doubt that pastel pencil portraits that are done well beat many of the other mediums in this genre. The introduction of the colour shaper blending tool has made doing portraits in pastel pencils even more enjoyable.

3. Wild Animals

The number three spot must go to the wildlife subjects which look fantastic when brought to life with the pastel pencils. Tigers are a popular subject and I have done many of them over the years. The subject on the right is one of my latest paintings "The Brown Bear".

2 Landscapes

If this was a poll for watercolour painting, landscapes would top the bill. Never the less, landscapes in pastel pencil really do look fantastic and it's only because animals look so lifelike in the pastel pencil medium that landscapes are relegated to second spot.

1. Domestic animals

Cats , dogs and farmyard animals would easily top the bill on popularity of subjects, Who would not want a picture of their beloved pet hanging on their wall. most people have a place in their life for Farm yard animals.Want to draw animals, landscapes or portraits using Pastel Pencils? Membership to Colin Bradley Art starts at £3.99 per month and you can watch Colin's real time art lessons. Click here to learn more.