Soft Pastels | fineartclasses

SOFT PASTELS - Supply List

Claudia Montero- Instructor

DESCRIPTION

We’ll cover some specific methods that will help you develop a strong composition and edit unnecessary details that detract from the emotion you want to convey. We’ll also address how to make every stroke count, considering the particulars of how you apply pigment to surface and how the quality of the application will contribute to your painting’s message.

Students will receive plenty of individual help from the instructor at the easel during their painting time. This class is open to all levels, although artists with at least some basic painting experience will benefit most.

SUPPLIES

Feel free to use your favorite soft pastels if you already have a good range of values, plus some hard pastels mentioned below. I highly recommend organizing your pastels by value.

Set of soft pastel sticks (not oil pastel) containing a variety of colors for a wide range of work. Try to get good quality soft pastels. Rembrandt is okay. Sennelier is much better. The softer, the better. Handmade pastels are the best, but are more expensive. Panpastels are a great choice too.
Set of pastel pencils if you like to add details to your artwork. Try to get non-toxic pastels.
Top quality drawing pad, neutral ph, suitable for pastel (18” x 24”). You can buy paper by the sheet. Wallis or Sennelier “La Carte” and pastelmat are the best papers created specifically for pastel artists.
Small pad of tracing paper, or even just a few sheets of tracing paper (be sure it’s the kind you can easily see through; not the parchment type)
Easel
Small sketchbook
Artists tape
Pencil (2B) and a small sharpener.
kneaded rubber eraser
blending stump
Rubbing alcohol for underpainting
Small jar for alcohol
Brush for underpainting – I use a #8 and a #12 old/worn bristle brushes, but other similar sizes can be used.
Cotton rag
Backing board (such as foamboard)
Hand wipes
Paper towels
Latex gloves or other hand protection
A can of fixative (Windsor & Newton)
Apron

Reference Photos: If you have your own reference photos, please bring them. I'll have extra copies of the photos I'll use for my demos, which you may use if you're a beginner or would just prefer to work from the same photo, but experienced artists will benefit more from applying the exercises to their own subject matter. I usually demo at least one snow scene. You may also work from photos on your laptop or iPad. (Please, however, do not plan to work directly from photos on your phone.) In addition to digital reference or large prints (printed on printer paper is fine)

If you have any problems finding the art supplies, please feel free to call me. You can always bring any supplies that you already own.