Featured Artist
Lerri Peterson
California Spring Pastel by Lerri Peterson
Join us as we gather via Zoom to observe and follow along with our featured artist, Lerri Peterson, as she demonstrates how to paint California poppies.
How to Create a Painting of California Poppies with Soft Pastels
Materials Needed:
Soft pastels in various shades of orange, yellow, green, and blue
Pastel paper or textured drawing paper
Blending tools (such as cotton swabs, blending stumps, or even pastel pencils)
Optional fixative spray (for final touch)
Reference photos of California poppies
Step-by-Step Process:
Choose Your Reference: Start by selecting a reference photo of California poppies. Observe the colors, shapes, and lighting in the image.
Sketch the Composition: Lightly sketch the outline of the poppies on your pastel paper using a hard pastel or graphite pencil. Focus on the main shapes and positions of the flowers and leaves.
Layering the Background: Using soft pastels, apply a base layer of color for the background. For a natural look, consider hues of green or blue to represent the sky or surrounding foliage. Use light strokes and blend gently.
Building the Flowers: Begin with the poppies. Use a bright orange pastel for the petals and apply it in layers. Work from the center outwards, allowing some of the background to show through for dimension. Use a lighter yellow or peach for highlights.
Adding Details: Use a darker orange or even brown pastel to add depth to the petals. Focus on areas that would naturally create shadows. Employ a light touch for the finer details of the flower’s center.
Creating Foliage: For the leaves and stems, use shades of green. Layer different greens to create texture and depth. Remember to blend softly to mimic the natural appearance of leaves.
Final Blending: Once the basic shapes and colors are established, use blending tools to smooth out transitions between colors and to enhance the overall look. Be cautious not to over-blend; leave some texture visible.
Adding Highlights: Return to the petals and apply highlights using a lighter pastel color. This will give the flowers a more luminous quality.
Final Touches: Step back and assess your painting. Make any necessary adjustments to color, shape, or details. Once satisfied, you might consider spraying a light coat of fixative to protect the pastel work. Lerri, like many pastel artists, does not do this.
Display Your Artwork: Ensure your painting is enjoyed for its vibrant representation of California poppies.
By following these steps, you can create a beautiful painting that captures the essence of California poppies using soft pastels. Enjoy the process and embrace the vibrant colors of these lovely flowers.
About Lerri…
Lerri was born and raised in the South Bay. She is mostly a self-taught artist who took a variety of classes at local schools and venues. For almost 18 years, she taught at the Torrance Art Department (part of Torrance Parks & Recreation), primarily in acrylics and watercolor, then took over the pastel class after the passing of instructor, Beverly Metcalf. She also worked several years at the Palos Verdes Art Center.
Lerri prefers to work with beginning and intermediate students, though accepts all levels. She knows what it is like to not know anything about a medium and feel frustrated. She always keeps these feelings in the back of her mind when teaching to help her students get comfortable with the pastel medium. During COVID she became very proficient at hosting her art classes via Zoom. A few years ago, Lerri moved to northern California and continues to teach her instructive classes via Zoom. If you are interested in her classes, contact her.
Lerri is the past president of both The South Bay Camera Club and The Torrance Artists' Guild, and was a member of The Artists' Studio for 17 years. She is a member of our pastel society.
All works on this page were created by Lerri Peterson. Follow Lerri on Instagram.