One thing I would suggest is that there are tools designed for pastels that work very well. This is something the coloring community seems to not be aware of, as most try to use cotton rounds, qtips (cotton buds) etc. These things certainly work... but a tool designed for the job can make the experience much more pleasant. These designed tools include bristle brushes (flat topped similar to stencil brushes but much softer), paper stumps/tortillions, color shapers (silicone brushes)... but in particular check out "softt tools" which are sponges in various shapes attached to an angled handle similar to a palette knife. You can simply swipe them across the pastel, and apply them to the paper. They have various sizes and points to allow access to detailed areas or fill large areas quickly, and are just textured enough to pick up, hold, and blend out the chalk. The sponge portion is removable and sold in packs so you can replace as needed or have one for each color so you don't have to worry about cleaning them. They keep your fingers out of your work (very important with pastel because the oil from your skin causes blotches and resistant spots on the paper), cut way down on the mess factor.. and are great at their job. They aren't expensive, and there are generic versions out there as well.

Wow, this came at the most opportune time, as I came across some soft pastels in my stored art supplies and had heard of them being used for backgrounds. I'm just starting a background, and I immediately came across you in my subscriptions, and here was this video. So clearly described and demonstrated, and I'm giving it a go now. I appreciate and enjoy your videos very much. Thank you! (Now, to go shop for a better set with more colors, of course :)

When you showed this page on your previous video, I said to myself I wanna color this one too. So I think I am going to follow along and I am totally gonna try the soft pastels as well. I hardly use them and never tried it for basing. Thank you for sharing!

Wow!! You are such an amazing artist!! Thank you so much for sharing how you use soft pastels to add color to your page faster. I'm so glad I found your channel. I've learned so much from you. Thank you ♥

Yes!! Love these videos, they help me so much ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

Umm coolest video ever? Thank you for all the tips Shelly! I never would have thought of the kneaded eraser trick for the rocks under warer. Brilliant! I feel like im much more ready to tackle some Kirby pages. Thanks for all your brilliant videos! The coloring community wouldnt be the same without you! ❤

What a beautiful page you have chosen :) can't wait to see how it'll turn out once it's finished. I do have a question, not related to pastels. I think you mention in your videos that you use a spray fixative on your finished work/to seal pastel work :) But I was wondering, how the spray fixative reacts to your watercolour pencils/distress inks. Doesn't it activate them? Edit-Using the pastels looks beautiful :) and a bit messy lol. But love the pretty background.

Thank you, I’m definately going to try this x

Hi Shelly . I love using soft pastels to I love how you color with them to ! I have just used for back grounds so far but I’m definitely going to try that technique in this book !because this book stresses me out with the huge areas to color maybe I will reach for this book in the coming weeks more often !!!❤

I really enjoyed seeing how you use soft pastels!

Thank you for your time Shel 😊 great video & will definitely try this method because I also like soft pastels. Have a great day 😀

Thank you Shelly for a great video. You are able to explain your techniques so clearly. 😊

Beautiful shelly. Thank you for sharing ❤❤❤😊😊😊xxxx

Thanks for sharing your technique

Really enjoyed watching this video and learnt a few new techniques. The idea for showing how the rocks are under water is great. I am using pastel pencils as I am allergic to the dust generated by blocks. It provides more control in placement. The way to apply the background is the same and the color is more intense. Appreciate your sharing your secrets! 😊

Excellent tutorial. Thank you

Ich habe mich sehr gefreut mal zu sehen wie soft pastels benutzt. 😊 sieht richtig gut aus

That was very helpful, TYFS 😊❤

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Hello Shell would you mind sending the link for the Korean books please. Thankyou

Hey Shelly, I loved this video! I appreciate your time and skill sharing. Your very talented and are a wonderful teacher. 🙏 I have a question or two if you dont mind. I want to make sure I understood correctly, that after you spray the pastel areas (and it dries) you can still color over those areas with pencil, marker, watercolor etc? Also, I was wondering what spray you use on top of the pastels? Last, I believe you've mentioned the spray can be purchased from Amazon? Thanks so much!❤

I'm curious.......Will the softpastels not fill up, the tooth of the paper? And makes it so much harder to put down pencils on top?. Because of the thick pastel layer there might be not enough tooth left for any pencil layers????

Do I have to use a fixative if I use soft pastel? I wanna try this, but I didn't wanna use the spray cause you know the pages are kinda thin.