Dry Pastel Course

Lesson 1 • Essential Tools and Supplies

Catalogs blending tools, fixatives, easels, and storage systems. Students assemble a functional starter kit suited to their budget and workspace.

Lesson 2 • Color Theory for Pastels

Applies color wheel principles specifically to the limited-mixing nature of dry pastel. Students predict color relationships before applying pigment to paper.

Lesson 3 • Surfaces and Papers

Examines tooth, texture, and absorbency of pastel-compatible surfaces. Students match surface choice to intended technique and layering depth.

Lesson 4 • Types of Dry Pastels

Distinguishes soft, hard, and pastel pencil formats by binder content and pigment load. Students select the right type for specific mark-making and blending goals.

Lesson 1 • Erasing and Correcting

Demonstrates kneaded eraser, brush-off, and scraping methods for removing or adjusting pastel. Correction skills reduce fear of mistakes and encourage experimentation.

Lesson 2 • Directional Stroke Techniques

Teaches hatching, cross-hatching, and contour strokes to build form and texture. Stroke direction communicates surface plane and light direction.

Lesson 3 • Holding and Handling Pastels

Covers grip positions, hand placement, and pressure variation for different mark types. Proper handling prevents breakage and enables expressive control.

Lesson 4 • Blending Methods

Introduces finger, tool, and brush blending to create smooth transitions. Students learn when to blend and when to preserve stroke texture.

Lesson 1 • Gradients and Smooth Transitions

Builds seamless value gradients using layering and blending in combination. Smooth transitions are essential for rendering curved surfaces and atmospheric effects.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Value in Pastel

Defines value as the primary driver of perceived form and depth. Students isolate value from color to diagnose and correct tonal weaknesses in their work.

Lesson 3 • Rendering Light on Form

Applies the five elements of shading to geometric and organic forms. Students place highlights, midtones, core shadows, reflected light, and cast shadows accurately.

Lesson 1 • Selecting a Limited Palette

Teaches palette curation using a restricted set of pastels to enforce color harmony. Limitation builds discipline and prevents overworked, muddy passages.

Lesson 2 • Color Temperature and Light

Explores how warm light sources create cool shadows and vice versa. Students apply temperature contrast to make light feel natural and three-dimensional.

Lesson 3 • Mixing Colors on the Surface

Demonstrates layering, hatching, and blending to achieve mixed hues without physical mixing. Students expand their effective palette beyond purchased sticks.

Lesson 4 • Color Harmony Strategies

Applies analogous, triadic, and split-complementary schemes to finished pastel studies. Students evaluate and adjust color harmony before considering a piece complete.

Lesson 1 • Exploiting Paper Texture

Uses paper tooth deliberately to create texture without additional tools. Students choose surface grain to match the texture of their subject.

Lesson 2 • Hard Pastel for Detail Texture

Leverages hard pastels and pastel pencils for fine-detail texture work over soft pastel layers. Detail texture is applied last to preserve surface tooth.

Lesson 3 • Additive Texture Techniques

Introduces masking fluid, stencils, and resist methods to create texture before or during pastel application. Additive methods produce effects impossible with strokes alone.

Lesson 1 • Balance, Rhythm, and Unity

Explores symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance alongside rhythm and repetition. Students evaluate compositional weight and adjust placement for visual stability.

Lesson 2 • Cropping and Format Decisions

Examines how format shape and cropping affect mood and tension in a composition. Students experiment with square, portrait, and landscape formats for the same subject.

Lesson 3 • Focal Point and Visual Flow

Teaches contrast, edges, and leading lines to direct viewer attention. Students design compositions that guide the eye to the intended focal point.

Lesson 4 • Value Pattern and Notan

Uses notan design to plan strong light-dark patterns before adding color. A clear value pattern ensures compositional readability at any viewing distance.

Lesson 1 • Portrait Fundamentals

Introduces facial proportions, skin tone mixing, and feature rendering in pastel. Students produce a likeness study that demonstrates tonal and color accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Urban and Architectural Subjects

Covers perspective, hard edges, and material texture for buildings and cityscapes. Students balance geometric precision with the expressive looseness of pastel.

Lesson 3 • Still Life Composition and Rendering

Covers object arrangement, lighting setup, and step-by-step rendering of a multi-object still life. Students integrate value, color, and texture skills in a controlled setting.

Lesson 4 • Animal and Wildlife Subjects

Applies fur, feather, and scale texture techniques to animal subjects. Students practice capturing animal anatomy and characteristic markings.

Lesson 1 • Photographing Pastel Artwork

Teaches natural and artificial lighting setups for glare-free pastel photography. Accurate digital records are essential for portfolios, prints, and online sales.

Lesson 2 • Storage and Long-Term Care

Addresses flat storage, interleaving, humidity control, and transport methods for unframed pastels. Proper storage prevents smearing and pigment loss over time.

Lesson 3 • Matting and Framing Pastels

Covers acid-free matting, spacer use, and glazing options to protect pastel from contact. Proper framing prevents smearing and extends the life of the artwork.

Lesson 4 • Preparing Work for Exhibition

Guides students through titling, labeling, pricing, and hanging work for a group or solo show. Professional presentation elevates perceived value and builds credibility.