The Drawing Studio

Many of us have spent years drawing the figure using monotone mediums such as pencil or charcoal. That is well and good. However, in this class I will provide guidance in using pastels to add energy and excitement to the process of drawing the human figure. These three sessions are an introduction to using pastels for drawing the figure, which will include portraits.

Materials are not provided. Please bring the following:

Pastels: We will be working primarily with a dark color and a light color. You may bring a complete set of pastels or simply a selection of individual pastels. Any brand is fine. Medium or soft pastel sticks, Conté Crayons (Conté à Paris), or colored chalk are all acceptable. I prefer medium, as soft pastels can be difficult or messier to work with. (The Drawing Studio has a fairly good collection from which you may borrow and experiment with before investing in your own.)

Paper: Bring a pad of toned pastel paper, 14” x 11” or larger. You Individual sheets are available in a wider range of colors in some of the shops in Tucson. Toned paper is important, as the color of the paper becomes integral with the drawing and enhances the pastel colors. Strathmore or Canson Mi-Teintes are good. Most pastel papers with have some tooth or texture.

Fixative: You may want to bring a can of spray fixative to “fix” you drawings (outside, please!) before leaving for the day.