This class will offer opportunities to experiment. Look at details in feathers, flowers, trees, and wildlife, creating textures in soft pastels, charcoal, and mixed mediums with opportunities to ask questions about techniques. Lots of tips to make your creative work more productive and fun. Ask me anything about art and I will try to find the answers.

Participants will be working in drawing/painting techniques starting with gesture, contour, and moving into color observation as seen in Impressionist works. Advanced students can work in larger formats, on alternative papers, under-painting with watercolors and pastels to create works in alternative styles. There will be demonstrations on abstract gestures, using black paper with color or lack of color (white), drawing/painting motion, textures, and layering. Students complete 3-4 paintings during this week.

Limit:10 students, ages 16 and up

Materials fee: $15 for papers and some supplies

Students should bring:

• drawing pencils
• pens
• stick pastels (small set)
• white charcoal
• pastel pencils (optional)
• watercolor
• watercolor pencils (optional)
• drawing board
• eraser
• tape
• brushes
• water containers
• any other materials you would like to incorporate in your creations
• newsprint

NOTE: The instructor will offer for purchase: black pastel/drawing paper, mixed media paper, hot & cold press watercolor papers and cotton rag paper. It is good to have newsprint and tape on hand. First demo and project will use black paper, white charcoal or white pastel pencils, soft colored pastel sticks or pastel pencils. White ink pens and white acrylic paints can be used.

You can purchase Rembrandt (medium-hard) soft pastels beginning set or Dick Blick’s beginner set, both can be found on Dick Blick’s website. General black or white charcoal pencils can be found online at Dick Blick’s or your favorite art supply store.