Susan Kuznitsky

Susan Kuznitsky Projects
Plein Air Painting with Pastels
Watch as Susan demonstrates her approach to plein air painting with pastels. Start by choosing a sturdy easel that won’t blow over. Next, quickly sketch out the big positive and negative shapes in your composition with a charcoal pencil. Use pastels to lay in flat areas of color, starting with your darkest colors and adding layers of lighter colors. Then brush over the pastels with a solvent to transform them into a paint-like pigment. Continue to add details and shadows with your pastels, always “layering up to the light” to keep the colors from becoming muddy. When finished, sign your masterpiece!

Favorite Art Supplies
Utrecht NOOD Odorless Paint Thinner
Sennelier Artists' Extra Fine Oil Paints and Sets
Sennelier French Artists' Watercolor Paint Tubes and Sets
Raphaël Kaërell Synthetic Sable Brushes
Sennelier Acrylic Gesso
Isabey Isacryl Synthetic Brushes
UArt Premium Sanded Pastel Paper Pads
Glassine Interleaving Paper
Sandpaper Block
Cretacolor Fine Art Pastel Pencils and Sets
Brush and Pencil LuxArchival Professional Sanded Art Papers
Brush and Pencil LuxArchival Professional Sanded Art Paper Roll
Cretacolor Pastel Carré Hard Pastels and Sets
About the Artist

Susan Kuznitsky is a multifaceted artist who specializes in pastels, oils, and various drawing media. She has taught pastel painting for over three decades both nationally and locally in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Her work has been exhibited around the country and she is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2018 Painters Showcase and the 2017 American Art Awards. Susan is a member of the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and the Pastel Society of America, among others.
Check out Susan’s work at susankuznitsky.com and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.