This 10-week course runs from 29 April - 1 July.
Explore the wonderful medium of soft pastels! Each 3-hour lesson will involve introducing a concept, a demonstration of a technique, and then completion of an exercise, study or painting during the class, with Karen’s personal feedback. The final weeks of term give students opportunity to paint from their own reference photo.
Topics include:
Know your pastels – characteristics, application, types, brands, fixatives, framing, storage, organising, safety, blending and layering methods
Know your supports – characteristics, and advantages of different supports and papers, including using dark papers and pastel primers
Choosing a subject – what to look for to achieve good composition, mapping shapes by creating thumbnails as a thinking/planning tool
Value does the work – understanding value; using a value chart, drawing in value masses and how to identify the value of a pastel
Underpainting 1 - Monochromatic using a single pastel
Underpainting 2 - Monochromatic using 4 pastels
Colour gets the credit – Colour theory, choosing colours, mixing colours, limited palettes
Underpainting 3 – Complementary underpainting
Getting Edgy – The importance of edges in leading the eye, creating contrast, focus and interest
The Finish line – how to know when your painting is finished
