Introduction to Pastel

Wednesdays, February 23-March 23, 6-8 p.m.

In this five week course, we will explore the tools and techniques of soft pastels. Soft pastels have both qualities of painting and drawing media, and they can make both linear and painterly marks, with vibrant colors, but unlike paints, pastels do not require any drying time. In this class, we will explore pastel techniques such as:  scumbling, broken color, optical mixing, gradients, and side strokes on a technique board. The class will be divided up into class sessions, in which we study the elements of art, value and color to create a realistic apple still life. Within the context of simple exercises, such as color wheels, gradient scales, and projects, we will explore value scales, and color theory. The final projects will demonstrate how to  draw with light and shade, in a monochromatic still life of an apple, and a full color apple still life to make the connection between value (the lightness of darkness of an object), and color (the hue, chroma, saturation,  and value of a color). Beginners are welcome, although some drawing experience can be helpful. We will be looking to the master artist, Claude Monet, using the techniques of broken color, and impasto in our projects to emulate an impressionistic style of art in our projects. Materials list provided.

Instructor: Jodie Schmidt

$110 for members/$121 for nonmembers