Week 3 and WOW!

This is week 3 for my pastel class and I must say the group is really doing very well. They are finding pastel to be a colorful medium that is very forgiving. Today we used Canson paper that has much less tooth than Wallis ( our favorite). Paper plays a big roll in a painting. Some papers have texture which can be used to enhance your painting. Some papers can hold many layers of pastels while others are limiting as to the layers you can apply. Lots to think about when planning you painting.
We welcome two new people to our Class. Charlene Sirois and Valerie McLeod. You will see that they adapted quickly and produced some wonderful paintings.

Rita displays her painting

Rita's painting in progress. I know this is going to be a beauty!

Connie begins her painting

Connie painted this old rusty truck. The texture of the paper was an added bonus. Great job Connie!

Alene is bashful to show her painting in progress. We will be looking for this painting next week!

Charlene holds her 1st pastel painting!

beautiful painting Charlene! That door is such an exciting color!

Valerie displays her 1st pastel painting

Wow...energy in color with beautiful strokes and a 1st pastel
this is a beautiful painting.

Jean's finished her painting from last week, The water is so nicely done. Exceptional, Jean

Jean is ready to paint!

Jean's Iris garden in progress. Very preliminary stage...we'll want to see it next week!

Great Job this week...I know you worked hard and it may have been a challenge but you each painted beautiful paintings that you can be proud of.

See you next week at HSSC.

Landscapes on the horizon

This our second week of class and we are now painting landscapes. Using large shapes the class began their paintings and then layered....keeping in mind values.
We added another member to our class...Welcome Arlene Fletcher! She is a trooper and jumped right in and began to paint. I think your a natural Arlene.

Arlene, our newest member of the class

Jean Townsend - Artist

Today was Landscape day. The class tried their hand at painting landscapes. Using large shapes and laying in the base the under layer was applied by each artist. The 1st rule was to lay in the darkest darks and putting in all the large shapes, all the while keeping in mind the values. ( dark and lights). It seem like a lot to remember however it does come together at the end.

Connie's Avenue of Color. Great job Connie

Arlene's first painting - wow!

Rita's field and mountains take on the colors of fall - Beautiful

Jean use of color is very effective. The water is interesting and subtle in color
Great job Jean!

Connie prepares her board for pastel painting

Rita Crawford readies here painting for a photo

Sue's Pastel Class begins

Connie Teolis' beautiful pumpkin against the spectacular
blue background

Today was the first day of Pastel class taught by Me (Sue). The class was small which is a good thing.We meet at the Senior Center at 1-3pm on Wednesday for 8 weeks. 

Rita Crawford's pumpkin with lovely highlights

The first class is so exciting, meeting everyone and getting settled. Since this is a beginner class we started off with a simple, uncomplicated subject to paint. A pumpkin fit the bill. We started off using blue paper. The orange color was so beautiful on this paper. Everyone seemed to like the feel of the pastels, using hard pastels to begin and then the final layer was the luscious soft pastels with brilliant color. Here are samples of the students first paintings.

Jean Townsend's pumpkin with beautiful undertones