Soft Pastel Intensive: From Form to Color

Course Description:

• The intensive course consists of 3 days (6 hours per day). 

• Fundamentals of Form and Light 

• Atmospheric perspective, composition, mass, tone and color.

• Developing Complexity and Preparing surfaces for further pastel drawings.

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Dates (02.05-04.05)

1. 2 May  (Friday)  Workshop in the studio with Olena Duchene

2. 3 May (Saturday) Workshop in the studio with Olena Duchene 

3. 4 May (Sunday)  Workshop in the studio with Olena Duchene 

Program

Day 1: Fundamentals of Form and Light

• Working from life (fruits, vegetables): studying form, structure.

• Basics of atmospheric perspective, composition, mass, tone and color.

• Initial exercises using charcoal, then transitioning to soft pastels.

• Introduction to different types of paper (Canson Mi-Teintes, Pastelmat).

• Moving from simple shapes to a flower bud, working with soft pastels and charcoal.

Day 2: Developing Complexity and Preparing Surfaces

• Advancing composition and form-building skills.

• Preparing the paper surface using watercolor and gouache.

• Charcoal sketching as a key stage in the process.

• Working with photo references to create a floral still life.

Day 3: Final Work and Individual Projects

• Choosing a subject: from the instructor’s library or a personal theme.

• Possible work from life (depending on the season and flower availability).

• Exploring individual pastel palettes and refining student works.

 Format and Teaching Approach

• Hands-on intensive with instructor demonstrations.

• Step-by-step guidance on subject selection, working with references and composition.

• Flexible material choices 

• Ideal paper size: 30×40 cm for better control of composition and technique.

 Additional Information: Materials are not included, though the detailed list will be provided before the course.