Inspiring examples of examples of combining pastels with other mediums

First, some vivid examples of combining pastels with other mediums

Let’s start with what you’re really here for: concrete, real examples of combining pastels with other mediums that actually work in a studio, not just in theory.

Picture a landscape artist who begins with a loose watercolor wash for the sky and ground. Once it dries, they scumble soft pastel over the horizon, punch in rich darks with hard pastel sticks, and finish with pastel pencil for tree branches. That’s one simple example of how pastels and watercolor can team up to create depth and atmosphere without hours of blending.

Or think about a portrait artist who blocks in big shapes with thinned acrylic paint, lets it dry, then switches to soft pastels for skin tones and hair texture. The acrylic provides a stable underpainting, while the pastel adds that velvety glow you just can’t fake with a brush.

These are the kinds of examples of examples of combining pastels with other mediums that we’ll explore in detail—so you can borrow, adapt, and build your own mixed-media style.

Watercolor and pastel: Classic, luminous examples of mixed media

One of the best examples of combining pastels with other mediums is the watercolor-plus-pastel combo. They complement each other beautifully: watercolor sinks into the paper and creates transparent color fields, while pastel sits on top and adds punchy, opaque marks.

A common example of this approach:

You start with a loose watercolor underpainting—maybe a misty forest in cool blues and greens. You keep it light and fluid, focusing on big shapes and value patterns. After the paper is completely dry, you go in with soft pastels to define tree trunks, add sunlit highlights on leaves, and deepen the shadows near the forest floor.

Why this works so well:

• Watercolor gives you soft transitions and subtle color shifts.
• Pastel adds texture, detail, and focal points.

Many art teachers in 2024–2025 are using this combo in classrooms because watercolor sets up the composition quickly and pastels make it easy for beginners to correct or brighten areas without rewetting anything. If you’re teaching or learning, this is one of the best examples to try first.

For safe studio habits when working with powdered materials like pastel, it’s worth reading general ventilation and dust guidance from sources such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at cdc.gov/niosh, especially if you work in a small space.

Acrylic underpainting with pastel on top: Bold color and strong structure

Another powerful example of combining pastels with other mediums is the acrylic-underpainting method. Acrylic dries fast, bonds firmly to many surfaces, and lets you lock in big shapes before you even touch a pastel stick.

Here’s a real example:

An artist wants to paint a cityscape at sunset. They tone a sanded board with a thin wash of burnt sienna acrylic, then block in the major shapes of buildings and sky with thinned acrylic in intense oranges, magentas, and deep blues. Once that’s dry, they grab soft pastels and build on top—cool violet shadows on one side of a building, warm peach highlights on windows, and bright neon signs using high-chroma pastel sticks.

The acrylic layer acts like a colorful map. Even if some pastel layers are light, the acrylic color peeks through and unifies the whole piece. This is one of the best examples of using another medium to give your pastel work a strong foundation.

Tips for success:

• Use matte acrylic, not glossy, so the pastel has some tooth to grab.
• Keep acrylic layers relatively thin; too thick and plasticky, and the pastel can skid.
• Sanded papers or pastel boards are ideal for this combo.

Many contemporary pastel artists featured in mixed-media shows, including those highlighted by organizations such as the Pastel Society of America, frequently use this acrylic-plus-pastel layering for dramatic, gallery-ready work.

Charcoal and pastel: Drawing energy with color

If you love drawing but want more color, charcoal plus pastel is a natural pairing. Some of the strongest examples of combining pastels with other mediums come from figure drawing sessions where artists start in charcoal and finish in pastel.

A typical example of this workflow:

You begin with vine or willow charcoal to sketch the figure. You block in shadows, establish gesture, and refine the anatomy. Then, instead of staying in grayscale, you introduce pastel—maybe muted earth tones for skin, cooler blues in the shadows, and a pop of red or orange near the focal point.

Charcoal gives you expressive line and value; pastel adds color and softness. You can keep some charcoal edges crisp while letting pastel areas feel more painterly.

A few practical notes:

• Fix the charcoal lightly before heavy pastel layers; otherwise, it can smear into the color.
• Use workable fixative in thin, controlled layers and always follow safety instructions on the label. The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s household products database (via nih.gov) is a good resource if you want to look up product safety data.

This is an example of a combo that works especially well for sketchbook studies, life drawing groups, or quick color explorations.

Ink, pen, and pastel: Graphic lines with soft color

If you enjoy graphic novels, illustration, or urban sketching, you’ll love these examples of combining pastels with other mediums that focus on line: ink and pen.

Imagine drawing a row of old storefronts in waterproof black ink. You capture every balcony rail, window frame, and sign with a fine liner pen. After the ink is dry, you bring in pastel pencils or hard pastels for selective color—warm ochres on the brick, turquoise doors, a soft gray-blue sky.

In another example, an artist uses brush pen for bold, calligraphic strokes in a portrait, then softly veils parts of the face with pastel to create subtle modeling and atmosphere. The ink provides structure and attitude; the pastel softens and humanizes the image.

Why this combination is popular in 2024–2025:

• It translates well to print, illustration, and digital reproduction.
• You can scan or photograph the ink drawing before adding pastel, giving you multiple versions of the same piece.

If you’re looking for examples of mixed-media work that bridge the gap between fine art and illustration, ink plus pastel is a smart direction.

Pastel and colored pencil: Precision meets softness

Some of the best examples of combining pastels with other mediums for detail lovers come from pairing pastel with colored pencil.

Think of a botanical artist who wants the softness of pastel petals but the precision to draw intricate leaf veins. They might:

• Lay down soft pastel for broad color areas: background, petals, large leaves.
• Use a workable fixative, let it dry.
• Then switch to colored pencils to sharpen edges, add veins, and refine tiny highlights.

In another example, an animal portrait artist works mostly in pastel for fur and background, then turns to colored pencil for whiskers, eyelashes, and tiny catchlights in the eyes.

This combo is especially popular in online art communities and classes in 2024–2025 because:

• Colored pencils are widely available and familiar.
• Pastels speed up the “blocking in” phase.
• You get the best of both worlds: painterly plus precise.

For guidance on safe posture and repetitive-motion issues when using pencils and pastels for long sessions, organizations like the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at orthoinfo.aaos.org share helpful ergonomic tips.

Collage, pastel, and mixed media: Building layers of meaning

If you like experimentation, some of the most exciting examples of examples of combining pastels with other mediums involve collage.

Here’s a real-world style of example:

You start by gluing torn book pages, maps, or sheet music onto a sturdy surface. After the adhesive dries, you tone the collage with a thin acrylic or ink wash so the text and images peek through. Then you come in with soft pastels, responding to the shapes and words underneath—maybe turning a circular printed diagram into a sun, or a cluster of text into a city skyline.

You might add pastel to:

• Emphasize certain words or phrases.
• Create figures, landscapes, or abstract forms on top of the collage.
• Soften harsh edges and unify the colors.

In 2024–2025, this kind of mixed-media pastel collage is common in art journaling, therapy groups, and community workshops. The American Art Therapy Association at arttherapy.org often discusses how art-making with layered media can support emotional expression and reflection.

This is a great example of how pastels can play nicely with glue, paper, and paint to create deeply personal pieces.

Oil pastel with acrylic or oil paint: Thick, juicy texture

So far, we’ve mostly talked about soft pastels, but oil pastels also offer strong examples of combining pastels with other mediums.

One example:

An artist paints an abstract background with acrylic—broad, gestural strokes in complementary colors. Once dry, they use oil pastels to draw over the top, pressing hard to create ridges of waxy color. The acrylic acts as a colorful underlayer; the oil pastel adds texture and bold linear marks.

Another example of this mix:

You lay in an oil painting, then use oil pastels in the final stages to scratch in highlights, cross-hatching, or graphic accents. Because both are oil-based, they can interact more directly, though you’ll want to test surfaces and drying times.

Oil pastel is also popular in schools and youth programs since it doesn’t create airborne dust like soft pastel. For general art-material safety, you can browse guidance from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov, especially if you’re choosing supplies for kids.

Digital and traditional hybrid: Scanning, printing, and reworking with pastel

A newer 2024–2025 trend gives us some of the most interesting modern examples of combining pastels with other mediums: mixing digital and traditional.

Here’s how a typical example might go:

An illustrator sketches and colors a piece digitally on a tablet. They print the artwork on heavyweight, lightly textured paper. Then they add soft pastel or pastel pencil on top—enhancing shadows, softening edges, or adding extra color to cheeks, skies, or foliage.

In another example, a photographer prints a black-and-white photo on matte paper and uses pastel to tint lips, skies, or clothing, creating a hand-colored effect that feels both vintage and contemporary.

These hybrid examples include:

• Digital concept work finished traditionally in pastel.
• Traditional pastel works scanned, edited digitally, and printed as mixed-media editions.
• Zine and poster artists who add pastel to short-run prints for one-of-a-kind variations.

This is a smart way to bring the tactile charm of pastel into workflows that still need clean digital files for clients, printing, or online shops.

Putting it together: How to plan your own mixed-media pastel project

Now that you’ve seen multiple examples of examples of combining pastels with other mediums, how do you design your own project without feeling overwhelmed?

A simple approach:

• Choose one main supporting medium (watercolor, acrylic, ink, charcoal, collage, or digital print).
• Decide the order of operations: usually wet media and drawing first, then pastel.
• Test on a small scrap before committing to a full piece.

Some of the best examples you’ve read here share a few quiet patterns:

• The first medium sets the structure (composition, big shapes, or line).
• Pastel comes later to add color, light, and texture.
• Surfaces with tooth—sanded papers, pastel boards, or gessoed panels—give both layers something to hold onto.

You don’t need fancy supplies to start. Even student-grade watercolor plus a small set of soft pastels can give you real examples of rich, layered artwork.

FAQ: examples of combining pastels with other mediums

Q: What are some easy beginner examples of combining pastels with other mediums?
A: Two very beginner-friendly examples include watercolor underpainting with soft pastel on top, and simple ink line drawings finished with pastel pencil shading. Both let you practice layering without juggling too many materials at once.

Q: Can you give an example of a safe way to work with soft pastels and other media at home?
A: Work on a horizontal or slightly tilted surface, tap excess pastel dust into a trash bin instead of blowing on your paper, and use wet media (like watercolor or ink) only after it’s fully dry. Open a window or use a small fan to keep air moving. For general indoor air and ventilation tips, you can look at guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at epa.gov.

Q: Are there examples of mixed-media pastel techniques used in art schools or workshops today?
A: Yes. Many art programs and community colleges now teach pastel combined with watercolor or acrylic as part of mixed-media courses. You’ll also see examples of collage plus pastel and charcoal plus pastel in figure drawing classes, because these combinations help students understand both structure and color.

Q: What are examples of surfaces that work well for pastel with other mediums?
A: Sanded pastel papers, pastel boards, and heavyweight watercolor paper are popular examples. For heavier layering—like acrylic plus pastel—artists often choose rigid supports such as gessoed panels or mounted sanded paper to prevent buckling.

Q: Is there any example of a medium that doesn’t mix well with pastel?
A: Very slick, glossy surfaces (like glossy photo paper or heavily varnished boards) tend to fight with pastel. The pastel can slide around and refuse to stick. If you want to experiment, always test a small area first so you don’t waste time on a surface that won’t cooperate.

The real magic isn’t in memorizing every single example—it’s in trying a few of these examples of combining pastels with other mediums for yourself. Start small, stay curious, and let each experiment teach you what your pastels are capable of when they have company.