Soft Pastels Tutorial: A Step-by-Step Guide to Atmospheric Skies

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Soft Pastels Made Simple: Learn to Blend and Layer Like a Pro

Welcome to this step-by-step soft pastel tutorial, where you'll learn how to create delicate tonal backgrounds with ease.

In this comprehensive step-by-step guide, learn how to create a captivating tonal sky using soft pastels on Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper. Perfect for beginners and seasoned artists alike, this tutorial explores essential techniques such as layering and blending to achieve smooth, atmospheric transitions that infuse your artwork with depth, warmth, and movement. Discover how to harness the vibrant quality of Unison pastels—or any soft pastel brand—to bring your skies to life. 

The colours featured in this tutorial are drawn from the Unison Landscape box of 72, though you can easily adapt the techniques to work with any soft pastel set you own. Accompanied by a detailed colour guide and reference image, this tutorial empowers you to select harmonious tones from your palette, ensuring a balanced and evocative composition without requiring exact colour matches.
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What You’ll Learn

• Layering for Depth: Build layers to create rich tonal variation and seamless transitions in your skies.
• Blending Mastery: Learn precise blending techniques using tools like Sofft tools, makeup sponges, or blending stumps for smooth, professional finishes.
• Pastel Pigment Control: Apply pastels effectively to enhance vibrancy while softening edges for balance.
• Tool Versatility: Explore the best tools for blending in broad areas and intricate details.

REFERENCE IMAGE

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​​Materials Used for This Tutorial

For this tutorial, we’ve used the Sienna Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper, which compliments the warm hues of the sky, creating a harmonious effect. Alternatively, you might prefer to use the white surface which will make colours more vibrant and intense. We’ve selected pastel shades from the Unison Landscape box of 72, but you can easily use any soft pastels in your collection, matching tones with our provided colour chart, as precise matches aren’t necessary. Our tutorials are designed to inspire experimentation with various surfaces and brands, without endorsing one product over another. If the listed materials aren’t available to you, feel free to work with any textured paper and pastels you have, adapting creatively to achieve stunning results.

• Textured Paper - Clairfontaine Pastelmat - Sienna
• Soft Pastels - Unison​
• ​Pastel Pencil for outline​
• Masking Tape​

• ​​Sofft Tool - Point Cover
• Blending Sponge
• Blending Stump (optional tool)
• Damp face cloth (optional)

• ​BV9 - Cool Light Blue tone
• BV10 - Cerulean Blue tone
• A51 - Deep Blue-grey tone
• GREY 5 - Grey Green tone​
• ​GREY 28 - White tone
  

• BE16 - Warm Sienna tone
• BE14 -  Deep Beige tone
• BE13 - Maize Yellow tone
• A33 - Lilac tone

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Clairfontaine Pastelmat provides a velvety surface that holds pastel pigments firmly, reducing the need for fixatives. Its smooth texture allows for multiple layers and vibrant colour application, making it ideal for detailed and expressive work.

Unison Soft Pastels are handcrafted, high-quality pastels known for their exceptional pigment density and smooth texture. They deliver rich, vibrant colours that blend effortlessly, providing artists with precision and versatility, excelling in both fine detail and broad strokes.

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​​​Hints and Tips for Atmospheric Skies Soft Pastels Tutorial

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• Reference Photo: Use the provided photo to guide detail placement. Focus on harmony over exact colour matches, adding extra colours and defining details for a unique touch.
• Apply sparingly: Unison pastels, known for their high pigmentation, blend effortlessly. Apply colour well within outlines, as the pigment spreads during blending. ​
• Blending Tools: For blending in small or intricate areas, tools like a Sofft tool, a sharp-edged make-up sponge, or a blending stump offer precision and help minimise pastel dust on your hands.
• Clean-Up: Keep a damp cloth handy to wipe pastel from fingertips between colours. Dry hands thoroughly to avoid unintended mixing with water.
• Safety Note: Soft pastels create dust and you may wish to wear a face mask, especially if you have asthma or respiratory issues. For regular use, consider a HEPA air filter to maintain air quality.

This tutorial features colours from the Unison Landscape box of 72, but you can use any soft pastels you own. Substitute with your palette, mixing colours as needed to achieve similar effects. For a smoother application, consider using a Sofft tool to gently apply shaved pigment, adding a distinctive touch to your work.
Unison pastels, known for their high pigmentation, blend effortlessly. To soften edges while preserving vibrancy, lightly press with a make-up sponge or Sofft tool, ensuring smooth transitions without overworking the paper.

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​​Using the Reference Photo

The reference photo provided offers guidance for placing details in your soft pastel sky but is not meant to be replicated exactly. Since the photo lacks depth, we encourage you to use this opportunity to elevate your artwork by incorporating personal touches—whether through additional and unique colour selections or added refinements. Treat this tutorial as a foundation, encouraging you to adapt and personalise your painting, resulting in a balanced and distinctive composition that reflects your creativity.

Stage 1 - Outlining the Sky

White/Light Pastel pencil

For a soft pastel portrait, a pastel pencil is the preferred tool for outlining, as it integrates smoothly into subsequent layers without dominating them, unlike graphite. Due to its density and smooth texture, graphite can hinder pastel adhesion. The outline does not need to be overly precise—simply establish the key shapes, such as prominent clouds, to serve as a foundational guide for your composition.

Stage 2 - Applying Light Blue Base

Unison Colour Used: BV9

Focus on the vibrant blue that underlies the softer hues of the clouds. Apply it where you see it in the reference image, keeping it within the outline but leaving a small gap. This space allows space for blending, preventing harsh edges and ensuring the colours transition naturally. If using highly pigmented pastels like Unison or Rembrandt, apply sparingly to control smudging and avoid excess dust or oversaturation.

Stage 3 - Blending Initial Layers

Products Used: Blending sponge & Paper Stump

With the paper’s rough texture and only a single layer of pastel applied, use a firm blending tool—such as a makeup sponge with a sharp edge or a paper stump—to soften the blue pigment. Overlapping the outline is fine, as the blend will be more transparent at the edges. It doesn’t need to be perfectly smooth; a second layer can be added later if needed, or you can allow the warmth of the paper to show through for added depth.

Stage 4 - Adding Blue-Grey Depth

Unison Colour Used: A51

Next, apply a deep blue as a base for the clouds. Keep the application light and loose, as the strong pigment will naturally spread during blending. You can follow our image as a guide, but you may wish to extend the application of this shade, then follow up by gently blending the pigment using the sponge or paper stump.​ This will help establish the underlying tones before refining the cloud shapes in the next stages.

Stage 5 - Lightening Cloud Tones

​Unison Colour Used: Grey 5

Apply a pale mint grey tone sparingly around the edges of the deep blue-grey pigment to soften its intensity and create a smooth transition. This third pigment enhances definition, adding realism to the sky. While the reference image guides placement, a Sofft tool from the PanPastel range can aid precise application.​​

Stage 6 - Smoothing Cloud Blends

Products Used: Sofft Tool

Using the ‘Point’ sponge tip, blend the deeper blue pigment with lighter tones to achieve a subtle, smooth contrast. Apply sufficient pastel to the paper before blending to ensure even coverage. Pressing too hard on sparse areas risks tearing the sponge cover, leading to uneven, patchy results.

Stage 7 - Enhancing Base and Contrasts

​Colours Used: BV10 and BE16

In this section, we’ll concentrate on the deep blue clouds at the painting’s base, incorporating warm tones along their edges. Start by applying horizontal lines with BV10, keeping strokes loose and imprecise. Then, use BE16 to add warm tones around the pale clouds and beside the blue layers, creating a foundation for introducing lighter hues.

Stage 8 - Highlighting Pale Clouds

Colours Used: BE14

Using BE14, lightly stipple pigment onto areas where paler clouds will appear, applying gentle, dotted marks to define these sections. Stippling involves softly tapping the pastel to the paper, creating texture for the clouds. This step prepares the surface for blending in later stages. Avoid blending now, as additional lighter colours will be introduced first.

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Stage 9 - Deepening Cloud Contrasts

​​Colour Used: A51

Using the deep blue-grey A51, add darker contrasts to the cloud formations at the painting’s base. Apply horizontal lines in areas requiring bold definition. These lines, combined with the earlier blue tones, will create a striking, moody sky, enhancing the depth and setting the stage for upcoming highlights.

Stage 10 - Blending Blue Tones

Product Used: Sofft Tool

With a Sofft tool or paper stump, blend the two blue tones at the painting’s base, using the same horizontal motion as when applying the pastels. This creates a subtle transition between the blues, retaining distinct shades rather than merging them into one. Ensure blending fills any gaps where the paper’s tone remains visible.

Stage 11 - Brightening Blue Highlights

​Colour Used: BV9

Reapply the bright blue from the first stage to areas lacking pastel coverage, brightening the sky and adding vibrant highlights. Focus on filling empty spaces and reinforcing the blue to create a lively backdrop, preparing the painting for further refinement.

Stage 12 - Softening Blue Highlights

​Product Used: Blending sponge

Using a blending sponge, gently soften the edges of the blue highlights by lightly tapping over them. This technique avoids further blending, preserving distinct layers while creating smoother transitions. The sponge ensures a clear, vibrant colour without mixing with adjacent tones.

Stage 13 - Adding Lilac Tone Contrasts

​Colour Used: A33

Using Unison A33, apply lilac hues to the edges of deep blue clouds in the top and central areas of the painting. This softens and lightens the darker blue, creating a gentle transition. Focus on the cloud outlines for subtle definition. Use light, controlled strokes to avoid overpowering the blue.

Stage 14 - Blending Lilac Tones

​Product Used: Fingers or Sofft Tool

Blend the lilac tones into the clouds using your fingers or a blending sponge for a smooth effect. A Sofft tool is ideal, offering precise control to shape the clouds seamlessly. If the lilac appears faint, blend only the outer edges to maintain subtlety. Use gentle, directional motions to avoid over-mixing colours. This enhances the clouds’ soft, atmospheric quality.

Stage 15 - Enhancing Cloud Highlights

​Colour Used: BE13

Apply highlights to the lightest parts of the pale clouds using a soft touch with the Unison BE13 pastel. Their high pigmentation requires minimal pressure to achieve vibrant results, so focus on areas where clouds appear brightest. Additional layers will be added later, so avoid heavy application now. This step begins to lift the sky’s luminosity.

Stage 16 - Softening Cloud Highlights

​Colours Used: Fingers or blending sponge

Soften the highlight marks by gently pressing a sponge blender over the pastel. Avoid rubbing or side-to-side motions to preserve distinct layers. Use a sponge with a rounded edge to prevent harsh lines in the pastel dust. This creates a smooth, natural appearance in the clouds. Ensure even pressure for consistent softening across highlighted areas.

Stage 17 - Applying Final Highlights

​Colour Used: GREY 28

Add the brightest highlights to the clouds using Unison Grey 28, a subdued tone that avoids the starkness of pure white. Apply lightly to the palest cloud areas for a vibrant yet balanced effect. This enhances the clouds’ depth and punch without overwhelming the sky. This step elevates the painting’s realism.

Stage 18 - Completing Your Sky

Tweaking where required

Reflect on your progress by reviewing how the blending enhances the realism of your tonal sky. Examine the cloud transitions and highlight placement to ensure a harmonious, balanced composition. Add personal flair to make the painting uniquely yours. Finalise with subtle adjustments to further refine your work.

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​​​Final Analysis: Exploring Soft Pastels

Once your artwork is complete, we’d love to see it. Email us a photo, and your piece might be featured in our gallery, showcasing your unique take on this tutorial. Please contact us with your name and a clear photo of your final artwork. Alternatively, you can join us on our ko-fi page and post a link to it in the comments section there.
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Whether you’re new to soft pastels or a seasoned artist, this tonal sky painting showcases the medium’s versatility and expressive potential. Soft pastels, such as those from Unison, deliver rich pigmentation, enabling vibrant layers and seamless blends to capture the sky’s depth and mood with minimal effort. From stippling to blending with tools like Sofft sponges, the medium accommodates both precise details and bold, atmospheric effects, adapting to your skill level. Your unique approach—whether diverging from the reference or refining transitions—highlights how pastels reward experimentation across all abilities. Continued practice will further unlock their dynamic range, transforming your vision into evocative, harmonious compositions.
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We hope you found this tutorial inspiring and enjoyable! Dive deeper into soft pastels by exploring our other guides, where you’ll discover new techniques, colour palettes, and creative ideas to elevate your artwork. Click the links below to continue your pastel journey and experiment with fresh approaches to this vibrant medium.​

View Our Other Soft Pastel Tutorials

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​Tutorial created: April 2025