Omma Moon Shares Three-Stage Pastel Portrait Process in Pastel Journal Fall 2026
In the Fall 2026 edition of Pastel Journal, Swedish artist Omma Moon, who was born in 1995, elaborates on her three-step method for creating pastel portraits. She starts by applying color to identify contrasts between her initial block-in and the subject, defining areas of light and shadow. Utilizing a restricted color palette, she establishes depth and detail as the likeness emerges. For her portrait of Sofia Wallner, Moon chose maroon paper for its contrasting effect, incorporated charcoal for shadows, and intensified color along the edges. After the initial block-in, she modified colors before finalizing the piece, achieving a balance between chaos and order. Moon, an alumna of the Florence Academy of Art, is affiliated with the Pastel Guild of Europe and has pieces in both private and public collections. The article is available digitally for $9.99.
Key facts
- Omma Moon's three-stage pastel portrait process is featured in Pastel Journal Fall 2026.
- Moon begins portraits by establishing light and dark relationships and large color fields before details.
- In her portrait of Sofia Wallner, Moon used maroon paper as the main color field and added warm ochre yellows and peach tones in skin, cool grays and blues in tattoos.
- Moon moved into color while the drawing was still raw and sketchy, using pastel sticks to match observed colors.
- The final refinement stage involves calming busy areas, preserving some chaos for vitality, and refining features, skin, shadows, and focal details.
- Omma Moon was born in 1995 and grew up in Sweden, Ghana, and the United States.
- Moon trained at the Florence Academy of Art in the atelier school tradition.
- Moon is a member of the Pastel Guild of Europe and Sweden's Konstnärscentrum, and her works are in private collections and the Swedish state collection.
Entities
Artists
- Omma Moon
- Sofia Wallner
Institutions
- Pastel Journal
- Florence Academy of Art
- Pastel Guild of Europe
- Konstnärscentrum
- Artists Network
- Southwest Art
- AcrylicWorks 13 Competition
Locations
- Sweden
- Ghana
- United States
- Australia
- Ireland