Oil Pastels:
Rendering Clouds and Horizons

In-person with Lia ter Heide

Course Description

Skyscapes have unique challenges which can be interpreted through a range of stylistic forms and approaches. In this cloud and sky focused course, oil pastels are the medium of interpretation, using a variety of supports. Indoor sessions will work from photographic references, and if weather permits, we will attempt to spend some sessions directly from the observed natural environment. Previous experience drawing with oil pastels is helpful but not required.

Course Fee: $280 (supplies not included)

Syllabus

NEW. Coming soon!

Supplies

  • Soft buttery oil pastels, recommend one of the sets of 120 or more: Recommended brands: Mont Marte Premium Extra Soft Oil Pastels, Soho Urban Artist, Meeden, Artecho (Available from Amazon) please note: Instructor does not recommend harder pastels such as Holbein, Staedler, Pentel, etc, you will NOT get the same results.)
  • Stonehenge Colors 9"x12" pad or Stonehenge 245GSM full sheets torn into smaller sizes or other similarly heavyweight paper with a bit of tooth 
  •  
  • Small diamond or trowel shaped offset steel painting knife (palette knife)
  • A few oil or wax based coloured pencils (Prismacolor Premier Pencils are recommended) suggested colours: black, light/medium grey, brown, white
  • Golden Acrylic Pastel Ground Medium 8oz size
  • Painter's (masking) tape
  • Rags or paper towel
  • Pencil
  • A small sheet of unmounted masonite board (hardboard) or other smooth-surfaced stiff (not flexible) sturdy drawing board for supporting drawings in progress (at least as large as the paper you are working on)
  • Roll or sheet of glassine, parchment paper or wax paper for protecting artwork

For outdoor sessions, please bring something comfortable like a blanket, cushion or chair to sit on and appropriate hat/shoes/clothing/bugspray/sunscreen to shield from sun and insects as well as deal with changing temperatures and conditions.

 For a brief list of frequently used suppliers, please see Where can I purchase supplies? on our FAQ page.