Level: all

Sept 8 - Sept 22, 2021

Wednesdays

1-3pm

3 weeks

Instructor: Becky Holden

Fee: $100

NOTE: THIS IS A 3-WK CLASS. NOT A 4-WK CLASS AS ORIGINALLY PUBLICIZED. 

In this class, students will have the chance to explore the many facets of working with pastels live in the RAC studio.  Becky will introduce concepts using live demonstrations and examples from modern and historic works of art.  Whether you’re new to pastels or an experienced pastel artist, this class is sure to challenge and excite you.  Becky’s been painting in pastels for years and has a lot to share.

Supply List:

  • Vine Charcoal – Soft or Medium
  • Kneaded Eraser
  • 9” x 12” drawing paper or sketchbook
  • 9” x 12” or larger Canson Pastel Paper or pad of paper, assorted colors
  • Mungyo Soft Pastel, 32 assorted colors

Additional Supplies: 

Pastel Paper: I recommend Canson Mi-Teintes Touch Sanded Paper in neutral tones.

Pastels: I recommend starting with smaller sets.

  • Hard Pastels: Prismacolor NuPastels
  • Medium Pastels: Rembrandt
  • Soft Pastels: Sennelier

A note about Covid compliance:  You can be assured that RAC is doing everything possible to keep its customers and staff safe from the Corona Virus.  Our studio is spacious and airy with excellent air circulation and plenty of room for people to stay safely distanced from one another.  While our studio can easily accommodate up to 20 people, we are only allowing a maximum of 9 students and one teacher at a time.   Every student will have a 5′-6′ foot table of their own on which to work and will have their own set of supplies.

Note that we strongly encourage all students to be vaccinated.  Anyone unvaccinated needs to let us know and will be asked to wear a mask. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance and exits to the studio and all shared spaces and equipment will be thoroughly disinfected before and after every class.   As always, please do not come to the studio if you are feeling sick or have the following symptoms:  cough, fever, shortness of breath (other than the excitement of seeing us), sudden loss of smell or taste, chills, body aches, or sore throat.

About the Instructor:

Becky Holden holds a BA in Art, Painting from Rutgers University; a Masters Degree in Art Education from Southern Connecticut State University, and has 20 years of experience as an art teacher in the Redding public school system.

Pastel Painting Experience: I have been drawing and painting for many years with pastel, and enjoy the process of creating with this exciting media. I have studied with well-known artists, including Thomas Brenner, Sally Strand, and Frank Bruckmann. I was awarded Honorable Mention and a First Prize in Drawing at the Silvermine Art Center. My pastel artwork has been shown at the Mark Twain Art Show, The New Pond Farm Art Show, in Redding, Connecticut, and the Connecticut Portrait Artists Show in Stamford, Connecticut. I work from life or photographs, and have created portraits of people, animals, and landscapes. While striving for freshness and a natural feeling of  beauty in the subject matter of my artwork, I have developed a contemporary, impressionistic style of art with soft pastels.

Memberships: The National Portrait Society, The Connecticut Pastel Society, The National and Connecticut Art Education Associations.