Exploring Oil Pastel: From Impression to Expression

 

  

Instructor: Lia ter Heide
Wednesdays 1-4pm
5 weeks: April 15 to May 20
Location: Online
$250 (supplies not included)
Prerequisite: Intro to Oil Pastels or equivalent experience

This course is designed for those who have completed an introductory class or have some experience with oil pastel and wish to expand skill and confidence in this rich and dynamic medium. Students will explore colour layering, texture, underpainting, and mixed media integration, while developing preliminary planning processes, and refining mark-making approaches. Emphasis will be placed on experimentation and self-expression, while drawing from both observation and imagination. 

Syllabus

  • Flowers & foliage: Building complex layers; impasto effects; incorporating coloured pencil
  • Landscape: Combining watercolour and oil pastel
  • Portraiture: Building texture on acrylic pastel ground medium
  • Still Life: Creating smooth blends with oil; sgrafffito mark-making
  • Abstraction: Mixing colours; exploring paint knife texture

Supplies

  • Soft oil pastels, recommend one of the sets of 120 or more: Recommended brands: Montmartre Premium Extra Soft Oil Pastels, Soho Urban Artist, Meeden, Artecho (Available from Amazon)
  • 2 flat bright 1" synthetic bristle short handle paintbrushes
  • Small diamond or trowel shaped steel offset painting knife (palette knife)
  • Smooth surface medium-heavy weight paper in a range of colours, including white, black, tan/brown. Recommended: Stonehenge Colors 100% Cotton 9 x 12 Pad 250gsm (Multi-Color in Warm White, Natural, Cream, Fawn, Pearl Grey); Strathmore 400 Series 9 x 12 300g Black Mixed Media Paper Pad
  • Small basic set of watercolour paints (hard pan is fine)
  • Oil or wax based coloured pencils: white, grey, black, brown (other colours as desired) (Prismacolor Premier is recommended)
  • Golden Pastel Ground acrylic medium (small size)
  • Vegetable oil (1/2 a cup of cooking oil in a small leakproof container is fine) or unscented baby oil
  • Painter's (masking) tape
  • Stainless steel erasing shield with basic shapes and lines
  • Rags or paper towel
  • Approx. 16" x 20" unmounted masonite board (hardboard) (available from a lumber store  or art store, or remove the backing from a picture frame)
  • Roll or sheet of glassine, parchment paper or wax paper
For a brief list of frequently used suppliers, please see Where can I purchase supplies? on our FAQ page.