Dandelion Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial

One of the icons of warm weather is the dandelion. Have you ever studied the detail of this beautiful creation? Oh there are so many ways you could paint it! This dandelion chalk pastel art tutorial is inspired by a photo I took last spring.

I was looking down as I walked and there was just one, big full dandelion that begged to be picked and its seeds scattered on the wind. There were just a few other dandelions in this scene. But you might decide to paint a backyard full of dandelions! Or you may even add a few seeds scattering on the wind.

Dandelion Chalk Pastel Art Tutorial

This is also an art lesson in perspective. Look down! You may remember our other perspective lesson, Look Up! Summer Trees Acrylic Art Tutorial. It is always good to challenge your artistic skills with a new view.

Chalk Pastel Supplies needed: green construction paper. Brown, white, light green and dark green chalk pastels.

The focus of our painting is the one, large, beautiful dandelion. The seeds are thick in the center of the flower, so begin with brown. Just make dots or small lines to form a circle of seeds. But notice that there are still spots of white at the center. Add just a little white over the brown.

Next use your white to make the long, fluffy ‘feathers’ of the seeds. This is fun because they each look like little parachutes! The lengths vary, so make long ones that match all the way around. And add some shorter white ones as well.

Each also has little, short white lines at the end. Your thick chalk pastel makes it hard to make these very small but blending is up next, so no worries. Take your finger and slightly blend the white until you achieve that dreamy look you want.

Next you will add a background – or really, the ground – since you are looking down. I started to add the broad leaves of the dandelion, some brown leaves from winter. But then I decided that it took away from the dandelion itself. So I took artistic license and blended all the colors in to a sort of ‘painterly effect’ in a way similar to what the camera does. The focus is on the dandelion head and the ground is sort of blurred away. I think the light green softens the painting nicely. But, remember, you are an artist and you can add any detail you’d like!

Art and Nature – Chalk pastels are a wonderful follow up to outdoor time and nature study. I hope you will be encouraged to paint what you see in nature. Enjoy!

The original dandelion photo I shared on Instagram last year. Isn’t the detail amazing?

• Look Up! Summer Trees Acrylic Art Tutorial
• Our dandelion nature study

Looking for a video art lesson? Nana has over 600 in the You ARE an Artist Clubhouse – including a dandelion in the Backyard Nature course!

Featuring You! You ARE an Artist!

Paint your dandelion art and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @chalkpastelart on Instagram, use the #YouAREanArtist hashtag, or upload a photo to the ChalkPastel.com Facebook page!

• A note on chalk pastels: Pastels are an easy, forgiving medium. Fun for children and adults alike! Details on the pastels and paper we use, how and where to purchase, and links to all of Nana’s other pastel lessons are here: Our Favorite Chalk Pastels
• The practical aspects of a mess: Pastels are blessedly messy. We always have baby wipes close by to wipe hands. We wear something we don’t mind getting stained or don a smock.

Have you subscribed to Hodgepodge so you won’t miss any free art tutorials?

-originally published March 2016