5 common mistakes in painting realism

Learn the 5 most common mistakes in painting realism with soft pastels and discover practical solutions to improve depth, texture, and accuracy.

5 Common Mistakes in Painting Realism with Soft Pastels (And How to Fix Them)

When it comes to realism in soft pastels, many artists (especially beginners) can find themselves frustrated when their artwork doesn't look quite right. Whether it's a lack of depth, a flat appearance, or just not getting the proportions spot on, realism is a journey that involves constant learning. So today, let’s talk about the five most common mistakes that artists make when painting realism with soft pastels—and more importantly, how to fix them!

1. Incorrect Value Relationships

One of the most significant mistakes artists make is focusing too much on color and not enough on value. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, and it's critical for creating a three-dimensional appearance. While choosing the "right" color is important, value is what gives realism its depth and dimension. Many beginners are hesitant to push the darks, which results in a flatter painting.

Solution: Before even thinking about color, start with a value study or underpainting. Squinting at your reference can help you see the values more clearly and simplify what you're working on. Drawing in black and white with charcoal or graphite is a great way to strengthen your understanding of value, and once you master that, adding color becomes much easier.

Myth to Bust: You don’t need every pastel color under the sun to achieve realism! Mastering value is far more critical than having an extensive color palette.

2. Over-Blending

Over-blending is a common pitfall in soft pastels, leading to a loss of texture and detail. In realism, texture plays a vital role in making your work come alive. When you blend too much, your subject can end up looking flat or muddy, especially in fur, feathers, or skin.

Solution: Use selective blending and allow some pastel strokes to remain visible, especially in textured areas like fur or rocks. I personally use pencils to blend within my subject and reserve sponges or fingers for backgrounds. Controlled, unblended strokes often add life and vibrancy to your painting, so avoid relying on blending as your primary technique for smooth transitions.

Myth to Bust: Blending is not the only way to create smooth transitions. In fact, unblended strokes often add vibrancy and life to a piece.

3. Lack of Layers

One of the keys to depth in realism is layering. A common mistake beginners make is using too few layers, which leads to a flat, lifeless painting. With soft pastels, depth is created by gradually building up layers from dark to light.

Solution: Be patient and deliberate with your layering. Start with darks and build up toward the lighter tones. Be mindful of how you layer colors—going too light over dark can cause a muddy appearance. For example, when painting a black and white dog, block in the black areas with dark colors and use grays or mid-tones for the white fur, building the lightest values in the final layers.

Myth to Bust: More pressure doesn't equal better coverage. Light, soft layers will give you more control and depth in the long run.

4. Inaccurate Proportions

Realism depends on getting your proportions right from the start. If your initial sketch or outline is off, the whole piece will feel "wrong" no matter how much effort you put into the values, textures, or details. Inaccurate proportions can be discouraging and often lead artists to give up on a piece.

Solution: Take your time with the preliminary drawing. Using tools like a grid, proportional dividers, or even a projector can help ensure accuracy. If you prefer freehand sketching, do it in a sketchbook first, then transfer the correct proportions onto your pastel paper. This way, you avoid rubbing out mistakes and damaging the tooth of your pastel paper.

Myth to Bust: Using reference tools doesn't make you any less of an artist. Even professional artists use aids to get their proportions right!

5. Ignoring Edges

Not all edges in your painting should be treated equally. Some artists mistakenly give all their edges the same sharpness, resulting in a flat and less convincing image. Realism relies heavily on varying the softness of edges to create depth and interest.

Solution: Use sharp, hard edges where you want to draw attention, and soften edges in areas where the focus isn’t needed. You can even let some edges "disappear" entirely (called lost edges), allowing the viewer's eye to fill in the gaps. This technique can create the illusion of depth and motion, making your subject feel more alive.

Myth to Bust: Everything does not need to be in sharp focus for your painting to be realistic. Soft and lost edges can make parts of the painting recede, helping other areas stand out.

By understanding and correcting these five common mistakes, you'll be on your way to achieving more lifelike and compelling works of art. Remember, patience is key in realism—take your time, focus on value, texture, and layers, and your work will undoubtedly improve.

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Happy painting!

Kerri xx

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Categories: : beginner, educational, fundamental, pastels