Level: all

Jan 8 - Feb 19, 2025

Wednesdays

10am - 12:30pm

7 weeks

Instructor: Becky Holden

Fee: $265

In this class, students will have the chance to explore the many facets of working with pastels.  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.

NOTE:  This class will be taught online using Zoom.  Students are expected to be well versed in the use of Zoom prior to the start of class.

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

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: Becky has been drawing and painting for many years with pastels, oils and watercolors. She enjoys the vibrancy of pastel, and continues to workwith this expressive medium on subjects such as landscapes, still life paintings and portraits. She was awarded an Honorable Mention and a First Prize in Drawing in pastels at the Silvermine Art Center.  Her pastel painting “Beach Days”, was accepted into the International juried show, Luminosity, by the Southeastern Pastel Society in November of 2024.  She has completed many commissioned pastel portraits, and her artwork has been included in Connecticut art shows.  While striving for freshness and a natural feeling of beauty in the subject matter of her artwork, she has developed a contemporary, impressionistic style of art with soft pastels.

Memberships: The National Portrait Society, The Connecticut Pastel Society, The
Connecticut Plein Air Society and the Southeastern Pastel Society.