School-aged kids will learn various chalk pastel techniques in this easy project. We’ve included a free printable to make this lesson perfect for home or classroom use.
Using chalk Pastels
I like that chalk pastels are in stick form, easy to store, and can be manipulated in many ways. There are many different techniques artists use with chalk pastels. Today, we’ll be using various items to explore a few of those methods.
Related: Review basic shading techniques with our free printable.
Supplies Needed to Make this chalk pastel techniques Art Project
- Free Printable Chalk Pastel Techniques Page (Download Below) – printed on cardstock
- Chalk Pastels
- Tissue – or paper towels
- Blending Stump – or tortillon
- Paintbrush
- Washi Tape or Stencil
- Optional: Hairspray or Spray Fixative
Download the Chalk Pastel Techniques Printable Here
Use our free printable to practice various chalk pastel techniques. Our printable saves times and allows kids a chance to further explore pastels.
Directions to Practice Chalk Pastel techniques
Step 1
Heavy Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap in the middle. Use firm pressure to heavily apply the chalk pastels.
Step 2
Light Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap in the middle. Use light pressure to apply the chalk pastels in this rectangle.
Step 3
Scumbling: Use two or more colors to scribble color in the rectangle, causing them to overlap and blend.
Step 4
Hatching: Draw lines with each color, causing them to mix in the middle. The lines should be drawn in the same direction and appear to blend into one another.
Step 5
Cross-Hatching: Similar to hatching, but this time our colored lines will cross over one another.
Step 6
Stippling: Use the two chalk pastels to create dots in the rectangle, where the colors meet and blend in the middle. More dots, closer together, will create a more pronounced color.
Step 7
Tissue: Color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a tissue to blend colors together in a circular motion.
Step 8
Blending Stump: Again, color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a blending stump (or your finger) to blend colors together in the middle using a circular motion.
Step 9
Dry Brush: Color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a dry paintbrush to blend colors together in the middle.
Step 10
Flat Edge: Color the rectangle using the flat edge, or side, of the chalk pastel. This technique allows artists to cover large areas quickly.
Step 11
Masking or Stenciling: Place some washi tape or shaped paper over a portion of the rectangle. Color rectangle using chalk pastel. Remove the washi tape or paper to see the clean paper underneath!
Step 12
Water: Color each end of the rectangle with chalk pastel. Use a small amount of water on a paintbrush to blend, smooth, and smear the pastel onto the paper.
Step 13
Optional: Spray page with hairspray or a spray fixative to prevent chalk from smearing.
Finished CHalk Pastel Techniques Art Project
It’s so much fun to explore new techniques! Though these pages are simply for practice, they can still easily be framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style to show off your child’s skills.
Our Experience Making this CHalk Pastel Techniques Art Project
I love using this as an introductory lesson to chalk pastels. Kids get a chance to play around with various techniques and discover pastels before attempting to make a more creative art project. Kids can then keep this reference on hand to use for future projects as a reminder of some techniques available to them.
Prep Time
5 minutes
Active Time
15 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Difficulty
easy
Estimated Cost
$1
Materials
- Free Printable Chalk Pastel Techniques Page – printed on cardstock
Tools
- Chalk Pastels
- Tissue – or paper towels
- Blending Stump – or tortillon
- Paintbrush
- Washi Tape or Stencil
- Optional: Hairspray or Spray Fixative
Instructions
- Heavy Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap in the middle. Use firm pressure to heavily apply the chalk pastels.
- Light Pressure: Color each end of the rectangle with a different color, causing the colors to overlap in the middle. Use light pressure to apply the chalk pastels in this rectangle.
- Scumbling: Use two or more colors to scribble color in the rectangle, causing them to overlap and blend.
- Hatching: Draw lines with each color, causing them to mix in the middle. The lines should be drawn in the same direction and appear to blend into one another.
- Cross-Hatching: Similar to hatching, but this time our colored lines will cross over one another.
- Stippling: Use the two chalk pastels to create dots in the rectangle, where the colors meet and blend in the middle. More dots, closer together, will create a more pronounced color.
- Tissue: Color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a tissue to blend colors together in a circular motion.
- Blending Stump: Again, color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a blending stump (or your finger) to blend colors together in the middle using a circular motion.
- Dry Brush: Color each half of the rectangle with a different color. Use a dry paintbrush to blend colors together in the middle.
- Flat Edge: Color the rectangle using the flat edge, or side, of the chalk pastel. This technique allows artists to cover large areas more quickly.
- Masking or Stenciling: Place some washi tape or shaped paper over a portion of the rectangle. Color rectangle using chalk pastel. Remove the washi tape or paper to see the clean paper underneath!
- Water: Color each end of the rectangle with chalk pastels Use a small amount of water on a paintbrush to blend, smooth, and smear the pastels.
- Optional: Spray page with hairspray or a spray fixative to prevent chalk from smearing.
Notes
Chalk Pastel Techniques Art Variations
- Kids can choose to draw their own chart directly into their sketchbook leaving space to explore more methods in the future.
- Practice various techniques using different color combinations.
- After completing the chart, kids can create art using a few of the new techniques they’ve learned!
Chalk Pastel Techniques Art Variations
- Kids can choose to draw their own chart directly into their sketchbook leaving space to explore more methods in the future.
- Practice various techniques using different color combinations.
- After completing the chart, kids can create art using a few of the new techniques they’ve learned!
Other Fun chalk Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog
Did your kids enjoy exploring these chalk pastel techniques? Which method was their favorite?
