Pastel Painting

Introduction

Pastels are refreshing with a purity of colour. Click to enlarge There are many Hues of different colours to choose from and can be manipulated to produce thick, thin lines and textures.

A Torchon (tightly rolled paper stub, a pencil shaped tool )can be used to smooth, blend, highlight and form produce lighter tones.

HINT: Safety with pastels: never combine eating when painting with pastels; remember they are paint particles and some are toxic.
Don't blow the pastel particles off your work as they will rise and be inhaled. It is better to gently shake your work to clear the particles from your painting.
Common sense prevails :-)
Pastels don't have to be, as the name implies, "pretty, pale and delicate" they can be bright and vibrant.

LET'S SEE...DRAW...PAINT.

In this course you will learn to "see" as an artist and the you will "draw" and "paint"
There is no mystery about this "seeing" but it is a learning process for an artist to "see" and then be creative.

Example: Light and Shade of a subject;
We all see light and dark shades, but after focusing our eyes for a few minutes this changes and we can pick out the subtle changes, tonal wise.
What happens is that you have:
a. stared intently and "seen" beyond the initial image.
b. your eyes have adjusted to the subtleness of light, medium and dark.

Varied techniques will be covered as we explore :

* colour
* harmony
* design and idea concept.

Do you have the creative urge to paint, but are nervous of how to begin?
Tubes of paints, palettes, large canvas boards, brushes and bottles of different oils may confuse you!
You can satisfy your creative urge and express yourself with pastel painting.
The pastel medium is inexpensive and one can begin to paint with a very small outlay.
I will encourage you to learn how to lay and blend your colours, and choice of papers will be discussed. You will learn the basics of pastel portraits, flowers, animals ,etc.
Sketching skills will be explained and applied.
(Images included.)

COME AND PAINT PASTELS FOR PLEASURE!

What Students Are Saying...
I found the teacher to be extremely talented, extra accommodating, and very helpful. I thought the lessons were very informative and fun. There was plenty to keep me busy. I certainly feel I had a good buy for the money.

Lessons

Click here to see course syllabus