Explore an exciting and different approach to pastel painting with mixed media.

This course will focus on methods to achieve vibrant and expressive mark-making in landscape painting whilst using soft pastel as the primary medium in a mixed media process. Your tutor will guide you to discover the limitless opportunities of interpretational use of colour in the methods she uses.

You will begin by sketching in the beautiful grounds of West Dean gardens before returning to the studio to make energetic and mark lead work from the sketches, words and information gathered.

You will work on mount board using acrylic paint, gesso and soft pastel.

If the weather is bad you will work from sketches or photographs, so please bring what you have just in case.

There will be regular demonstrations, with emphasis on individual guidance to help you to improve your personal experience and understanding of layered painting and colour.

By the end of the course you will have gained an understanding of this mixed media process, and how to incorporate it into your own painting methods.

Included

The College will provide a set of Conté hard pastels, and some white mount board per student and some Derwent Inktense blocks, magnolia emulsion paint and clear gesso to share amongst the group.

What students need to bring

Bring any reference material you might like to work from in case of poor weather (sketchbook studies, printed photographs).

Overalls or apron

Newspaper and tape to cover finished work for transportation

Selection of brushes – importantly, to include some decorator’s brushes, 1 inch and 1.5 inch, the more wrecked and tired, the better!

Sketchbook and pencils

Willow charcoal

Spray fixative

A selection of acrylic paints – to include Paynes Grey

Paint palette with several deep wells

A set of soft pastels (not oil) - such as Unison or Jacksons Art own make soft pastels (A set of 12 Conté hard pastels will be provided)

White smooth mount board - Dayler

Rowney Studland mountboard in super white (3 x A1 sheets will be provided but you may need extra)

Available to buy

A variety of art and crat materials are available to buy from the Gardens Gatehouse Shop.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm  
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break  
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)  
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break  
Teaching finishes: 5pm    
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

Terms & Conditions