Class details
Painting with Pastels is a short four week course led by Andrea Tierney during which time you learn how to use this versatile medium.
Fridays
10am – 1pm
6 – 27 August inclusive
Course Fees : Full £75 ; Retired £65 ; Concession £50
Pay As You Go Rates : Full £25 ; Retired £20 ; Concession £15
Pastel is a most versatile medium: from the subtle to the dynamic, from controlled observation to subjective expression, working with pastels makes it possible to great effect. Artists throughout history have used pastels to achieve that quality impossible to render in oils, watercolours or acrylics.
Workshop 1 – we discuss the materials and techniques we use and what paper is the best to use:
- Ingres paper
- Watercolour paper
- Velour paper
- Sand-grain paper
During the session we look at blending techniques and use of white. To fix artwork we use fixative (or hairspray). We create a floral still life.
Workshop 2 – this week we create a seascape (water and sky) from sketch to finished painting. We learn about the pressure of stroke and rubbing techniques.
Workshop 3 – using a range of household objects as subject matter we aim to create the illusion of transparency as well as volume and density.
Final Workshop – we examine portraits and people. We study the colour of skin and hair; how to build up tone and how to refine a portrait.
Materials
You will need to provide your own materials for Painting with Pastels.
- Pastel paper
- A range of pastels. They can be hard or soft. Choose what you prefer.
- Kneaded eraser (putty rubber)
- A blending stump (you can make it yourself from blotting paper)
- A soft brush for blending
- A soft cloth
- Apron or old shirt
About the Tutor
Andrea Tierney is a practising artist with a training in Fine Art, Digital media and Textile Design. She has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad and worked in artist residencies in Italy, the Czech Republic and Austria.
For 15 years she worked as art teacher in High Schools and as visiting artist in Primary and High Schools as well as taught Life Drawing and Drawing and Painting in Adult Education.
