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A tutorial using soft pastels on paper to create fur textures for the bobcat in the painting "Who's Shy?" This piece is created on cotton-rag Rives BFK paper, that was mounted on board. Multiple brands of pastels are used including stick pastels and pastel pencils. General white charcoal pencils are used towards the end to add the finishing touches to the fur. 

To start most of my pastel paintings I tone the background, using the side of the pastel sticks. A light sketch is applied of the image using blue pastel pencils and a kneaded eraser. Using the eraser as a drawing tool to pull some of the dark tones away from the image area. Indigo or ultramarine blue pastel pencil are used to establish the darks. 

Yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw sienna, burnt umber, light blue and even pink are used to build the layers for the fur. General white charcoal is used to add some lightness but because it is harder than pastel pencils can cut through the pastel creating a textural line. 

The more colors, layers you add be aware of the direction the fur goes around the bobcats body. 

As I get closer to finishing the painting I take a picture with the phone in color and B&W to help see if there are any issues with contrast. Adjusting the background, making it darker to add more depth. A soft white stick pastel is applied to the lightest areas. The white charcoal pencil is drawn through the soft white to establish the direction of the fur. 

I hope this has given you some hints to use in your own work. If you use the step by step to create your own bobcat, please keep your finished piece in your private collection and not for sale.

If you have additional questions on this process just let me know and I will do my best to answer. 

Thank you, linda hp

https://www.lindaharrisonparsons.com