Intro to Pastels
Category: Event Calendar
Date and Time
- Mon, Nov 10, 2025 - Thu, Nov 13, 2025 12pm - 8pm
Location
Firehouse Art Center
667 4th Ave
Details
This four day Pastel intensive, will build a strong foundation of knowledge that will jump-start your exploration of the pastel medium. Students will have the opportunity to experience a variety of pastel materials through hands-on experience.
Dates: November 10-13
Time- 6pm-8pm
Cost: $160
Materials: a $65 Materials fee (check to the instructor)
Additional supply list: For those wanting to expand their pastel collection I will provide a list of suggested brands and colors once registered. Participants will receive a 10% discount on pastels and paper at Dakota Art Pastels.
Day 1
Students will have the opportunity to experience a variety of pastel materials through hands-on experience.
- Brief discussion on Pastels
- What’s so great about pastels
- Pastel types: Hard pastels, soft pastels, pan pastels and pencils
- A chart of pastels types that list pastels from hard to softest will be provided
- The relationship between pastel paper and pastels
- There will be several short exercises that allow students to work with different pastel brands and understand what makes each unique and how differently each feels when applied to the different types of paper.
- The sample material kit purchased for this class will have 6 sheets of paper, enough for the workshop series of exercises and paintings. Six different brands of pastels will also be included.
Day 2
- Value studies through hands-on experience using only one dark, one medium and one light pastel.
- A discussion of the importance of value
- A b/w simple landscape will be provided to paint from
- A value chart will be provided
- After careful study of the provided images values, students will paint, light, medium and dark shapes of the image
Day 3
- Discussion on tools and blending techniques.
- Discussion on under painting
- Complementary or analogous
- Use of rubbing alcohol
- Blending techniques and supplies
- Examine different blender types and finger covers
- Fixatives
- Ooops - how do I get rid of this mistake - spray air, bristal brushes, etc.
Day 4
Students will be encouraged to bring in a printout of something they would like to paint before this class or choose from images I provide. 8.5 x 11 prints from a computer printer should be used.
All of the above classes will be incorporated to produce a pastel of their chosen image.
Day 5
Optional - for those students who want more class time/instruction to finish. Class critique.
Instructor Bio
Patricia Fabian was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1957. She received a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois in 1981. In her over 40 year career as a graphic designer she understood and practiced the importance of color theory, hierarchy and composition. These three concepts greatly influence her current artwork. Her work is also influenced by the precision and accuracy required of her early medical art education. Here her love of life drawing was fostered. She fell in love with pastel with her first purchase in 2013. “The medium to me is the most like life drawing.” She also works in paper maché, eco-dyed paper, collage, water color, acrylics and oil.
Composition is of upmost importance to her. When out exploring she thrills at the beauty of the natural world and the leading compositions presented. Patricia will paint plein air, but prefers taking a snap shot and working in her studio where she finds the luxury of time, materials and enhancing the work’s composition perfect for her artistic style.
