Learn to combine color and drawing when drawing the figure in pastels. Start with a color shape-focused method of drawing the figure that evolves into a full-color rendering.
Pastels provide a direct hands-on way of painting the figure with a drawing medium. The class will cover how to think of the figure as shapes of color and how to apply pastels. Discover how to layer pastels to create convincing color mixes that evoke the beauty and complexity of the live model.
School Policies
Students who withdraw 48 hours prior to the first class are eligible for a refund or credit toward another class, less a $25 registration fee.
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Term: Spring 2024
Suggested Ages: 18+
3 sessions: $243.00; Capacity: 15
Registration closed
Vine charcoal (medium or soft) Charcoal/Pastel Paper, 2-4 sheets. Paper: Paper that has a textured surface that will hold the pastel. Some recommended options: Art Specturm Colourfix Pastel Paper (this is my preferred option but is expensive) Canson Mi-Teintes pastel/charcoal paper. Middle-value blue, grey, or brown Canson Ingres Laid paper Golden Pastel Ground applied to cold-press watercolor paper Pastel: Nupastel set of 24 (or set of 36-more colors can give you a broader palette). Nupastels are a fairly hard pastel and are helpful for getting sharp edges but can also be used for blending. The 24 set lacks some good darks-you can supplement the 24 set with individual sticks from the art store. I suggest getting an additional dark brown, dark blue/purple, dark green, and a dark red.  If you already have a set of pastels (dry chalk pastels, NOT oil pastels) use them. Other “soft” pastel options include sets of Rembrandt, Sennelier, or other brands. Soft pastels are lovely and give you a more buttery stroke. Drawing board Your board should be larger than your paper size (so 20” x 26” if you are using a full sheet of the Canson Paper). Often just going to a lumberyard and getting a piece of 1/8” Masonite cut down to size is the best-and cheapest-way to get one. (They also sell drawing boards in art stores that come equipped with handle-holes and built in clips that can make it hard to use the board! A simple flat piece of Masonite is better.) You can also look into using 1⁄2” foam core or “gatorboard” as a lightweight alternative to Masonite. Some drawing boards are also available at CAW. Two Large 2" Black Paper Clamps (for clipping paper to board) Kneaded eraser and/or white “click”/mechanical/retractable eraser Optional: -Straight, thin knitting needle or stick (for measuring) -Pastel pencils – these come in a variety of colors and can be useful for detail work. Suggested colors: grey, brown, white, light grey-blue, light yellow/beige Other Suggested Materials: -Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating or Sennelier Delacroix Spray Fixative for Pencils and Charcoal (for fixing pastel drawings at home to protect them) -Glasseine (for covering drawings in storage – Glasseine is like tracing paper and can be bought in rolls. You can also buy a pad of tracing paper and use that as long as it’s acid- free.) -Portfolio for transporting paper and drawings (do not roll your drawings!) -Sketchbook to take notes -Nitram Charcoal Shaper (sanding pad for sharpening Nupastel or Vine Charcoal) -Generals Charcoal Pencils (HB and 2B)