The Spirit of Spring with Soft Pastels

In this 2-day workshop, Maria will guide you through the unique challenges and creative opportunities of rendering the vibrant awakening of spring.

Overview

You'll explore how to plan strong compositions tailored to fresh, budding landscapes, emphasizing the delicate balance of new growth and soft, luminous light. Learn how to create depth and a sense of renewal that resonates emotionally.

Through step-by-step demonstrations, and personalized feedback, you'll learn how to:
Layer fresh colors for luminosity, richness, and that distinct springtime glow
Apply expressive strokes with confidence to capture the movement of nature
Balance light and shadows for maximum visual impact

By the end of the course, you'll complete 2-3 spring-themed pastel paintings and gain the tools to elevate your future work. This workshop is ideal for artists with some experience in dry pastels or other media who are ready to advance their technique and creative expression.

Pre-requisites: Some experience in dry pastels or other media
Materials: see materials list
Please note, this is an in-studio program.
Please contact programs@niagarapumphouse.ca for any questions.

Materials List

List of Supplies

This workshop is for SOFT pastels. NO oil pastels, please.

Bring soft pastels (any brand) in a variety of colors suitable for landscape painting (blue, green, magenta, orange, yellow, turquoise and purple in light, dark, cool and warm versions). Some of the brands of professional pastels that can be purchased in Ontario are Rembrandt, Prismacolor Nupastel, Unison, Sennelier. If you are going to buy a set, get a landscape set. You can also bring cheaper student grade pastel sets, as long as you have the right colors.

UART grit 320 or 400 or 500 SANDED pastel paper (one-two sheets per class). Sand color or off white only, absolutely not black. Size 9X12. Could be purchased on Amazon.ca or Above Ground. Premier Sanded pastel paper is good too. It is important to bring sanded paper as it will have to take many layers of pastels. Sennelier pastel card paper 19x25 inches could be purchased in DeSerres. It has to be cut in 4 pieces. Canson SANDED pastel paper is also suitable for this workshop. If you cannot find professional acid free paper, you can purchase sanding paper in Home Depot, Rona or Canadian Tire. It has to be grit 320, 400 or 500 and light color (light blue or sand color). It is not acid free, but it is okay for practicing. 3 sheets.

Three sheets of foam board (preferably black) to mount pastel paper on (one per each pastel paper). Should be large enough to allow a few extra inches of boarder all around pastel paper. It can be purchased in Dollarama. I cut one large sheet in quarters with a utility knife.

Masking tape for mounting paper on board

Rubbing Alcohol 70-99%.

Very small container without lid for rubbing alcohol (small containers for dressing from take-out are perfect size)

Bristle or synthetic brush for underpainting size 8-10

Paper towels

Gloves to protect hands when painting (optional)

Aluminum foil to use as a tray to collect pastel dust.

Apron (optional)

Note book/Sketch book

Pencil or charcoal for sketching

Eraser, pencil sharpener

Baby wipes to clean hands