online course
Black & White Fur
Learn how to paint with soft pastels and pastel pencils
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Tell your brand's story through images.
What will I learn?
More than just black & white fur
Hyperrealism
1 | Master techniques to create vibrant black and white coats with pastels.
2 | Build depth and shine in fur with light and dark contrasts.
3 | Layer base tones with soft pastels and add intricate details with pastel pencils. • Create realistic light sources to bring your subject to life.
Color & Backgrounds
1 | Choose and apply colors effectively for portraits.
2 | Match subject colors using reference photos.
3 | Create smooth, seamless backgrounds and integrate them with your subject.
4 | Select the perfect background color for balance and harmony.
Details
1 | Achieve realism with lifelike eyes, wet noses, and metallic elements like collars.
2 | Add fine details, such as whiskers and hairs, to create a truly lifelike finish.
CREATED BY
Patricia Otero
Step into my studio and work closely with me as I share the techniques and insights I’ve developed over years of creating lifelike portraits.
Pastel Paper
The Paper I’ll be using is called Pastelmat from Clairefontaine color DARK GREY. Ideal size for this course: 50x75cm. You’ll have some paper leftover. If cou can’t find this size, look for 30x40cm
Alternatives to Pastelmat: Sennelier Pastel Card, Art, Spectrum Colourfix, Canson Mi Teintes.
Soft Pastels
Soft pastels I’ll be using: Schmincke.
Soft pastels alternatives: Unison Color, Rembrandt, Girault, Pan Pastels.
My favourite black and white for soft pastels: Schmincke Serious Black and Schmincke White pastel online course
Pastel Pencils
The pastel pencils I’ll be using are: Stabilo Carbothello, Faber Castell Pastel Pitt, Caran d’Ache Pastel Pencils.
Alternatives to these pastel pencils Bruynzeel, Derwent, Daler Rowney.
The whitest white I own is Caran d’Ache chinese white pastel pencil and the blackest black I own is Black pastel color from CretaColor 460 12.
Sponges
Sponges and “spatula nº3 Oval” from PanPastel Sofft. Try to get at least 1 packet of smaller sponges (it comes with 10 small sponges) If “nº3 Oval” is not available get “nº1 Round” or “nº2 Flat”
Alternatives: Make Up Sponges will work good enough if you can’t find the ones from the panpastel brand, they are a similar material
Surface
You will need a surface to tape down the Pastelmat, this can be a piece of wood or a piece of thick cardboard or the same table in which you will be working on. I will use an easel.
Buy craft tape for taping down the pastelmat. Masking tape is also good but sometimes is not very sticky.
White transfer paper (or any color of choice). Any brand is good, I use the brand Saral.
Don’t worry!
Work with any material you have, as a teenager I used to work only with Rembrandt soft pastels and the cheapest paper in my art store, the results for portraits were amazing. I’ve always worked with what I’ve had at the time, having some brands might make the process easier but they are not absolutely necessary.
BLACK & WHITE FUR WITH PASTELS
230€
- Over 8 hours of guided real-time painting in video format.
- Access to your own online account where all purchased courses will be available.
- Follow the course at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.
- Structured online course, divided into lessons and modules for easy understanding.
- Learn to paint a hyper-realistic pet portrait using soft pastels and pastel pencils.
- Master two of the most challenging fur colors, black and white, along with their tonal variations.
- Gain in-depth knowledge of: Color choice, Fur technique, Background technique, Layering techniques, Source light and composition, Detailed features: eyes, noses, tongues, metallic elements, etc.
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FAQ
I am a beginner, can I use this course?
Absolutely. In this course I explain things from begining to end. My technique for pastel portraits is extremely specific, I do things differently than the typical pastel technique so to me it is important to explain the whole process of why I do what I do and how I do it. This means both beginners and advanced people will learn from my course.
How long will the course be available for?
For now this course is available undefenetely.
In what device should I watch this course?
You can watch this course on any device you prefer. However, for the best experience, I recommend using a larger screen, such as a tablet, laptop, or desktop. The tutorials include intricate details that may be hard to fully appreciate on a smaller phone screen, so a larger device will help you follow along more effectively.
Can I follow the tutorial in real time?
This course is pre-recorded, allowing you to paint at your own pace and on your schedule, making it easy to fit into your lifestyle. The lessons are primarily in real-time, with only a few sections sped up for convenience, so you can comfortably follow along with the videos.
You’ll have access to the course by logging into your account with your username and password. Once inside your dashboard, you’ll see all the courses you’ve purchased. Simply select this course to access the lessons and progress at your own pace.
I don’t have all the brands you mention, would I be able to use this course?
Yes, absolutely! The specific brands I use are not essential for this course—you can work with whatever pastels you have available. When I was in art school, all I had were Rembrandt soft pastels and inexpensive pastel paper, yet I was still able to achieve beautiful results in human portraiture. I firmly believe that no matter the materials, you can always find a way to create your best work.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about the course?
No. Due the nature of digital products I’m not able to give you a refund of the course.
Will I be able to use this technique to paint other animals?
Yes! The technique I teach in this course can be applied to any long-fur animal you paint—whether it’s a cat, dog, rabbit, or another furry subject. I follow the same process for all long-fur animals (though human skin requires a different technique). In the future, I’ll be releasing additional courses focusing on other subjects, including short fur, human portraits, cat eyes, and more.
Can I contact you if I don’t understand something?
Yes, absolutely! If there’s anything in the course that you find unclear, feel free to let me know, and I’ll do my best to explain it more clearly via email.
Can I pay you in instalments?
If you’d like to pay for the course in installments, that’s absolutely possible. Access to the course will be granted once the final payment is completed.