Class Name: En Plein Air Landscape Pastel 1 and 2
A. Thiermann
annthiermann@comcast.net
These two classes will both combine studio and on-location work. We will cover various aspects of
creating the pastel landscape in the spring afternoon light and explore the abundant colors of spring
growth in gardens, full sloughs, budding trees, and grassy spring hills. Students will gain a better grasp of
the complexities of location work; ways to capture a mood through both color palette and choice of
colored grounds, and compositional tips to focus the viewer on the drama of the scene. Both classes are
for the artist who is comfortable with basic drawing techniques. Pastel I will review pastel basics in the
classroom before painting on location. Pastel II is for the artist who has worked with the changing
conditions of the outdoors and eager to develop their style.
Pastel Landscape 1 Topics:
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An introductory survey of plein-air landscape styles will be discussed with a slide show.
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Demo-refresher on different types of pastel papers and pastels.
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Demo-refresher on using a variety of pastel strokes to build up the form in the classical
landscape, the impressionist and the expressionist color schemes.
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Tips for creating convincing trees, atmospheric and linear perspective, waterways, and color will
be demonstrated.
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Students come with pastels and paper to follow the demo ideas.
Pastel Landscape 2 Topics:
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Slide Show to illustrate ways to make pastel paintings more dynamic.
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Strategies for effective ways to use the studio to simplify and solidify the outdoor pastel.
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Group Critique: Examples of each artist’s discussed.
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Artist’s come with at least two examples of their pastel landscape work including one that isn’t
framed and could be developed in the classroom.
Class Demos include:
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Use of dry pastel supplies: layering with pastel sticks of varying softness; working the pastel with
kneaded eraser; erasing, scraping and sharpening with razor blade; and use of pastel pencils for
details.
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Additional Pastel Techniques: layering with strokes dark to light, blending, dissolving first layers to
create a massed dark area with alcohol or turpenoid, and applying pastel over acrylic or watercolor to
create mixed media effects.
Items to bring to the first class:
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Sketching Materials: Such as grey markers, tombow pens in greys or browns, charcoal or soft 4-6B
graphite pencils, and Derwent water-soluble-sketching pencils.
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Bring newsprint, and/or neutral colored charcoal paper, (grey, grey-blue, grey-green.)
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Bring a backing board and clips or tape for your paper.
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Bring a simple set of warm and cool colors to experiment with concepts of landscape atmosphere.
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(Optional) Spiral-Bound Sketchbook: Minimum 80 lb. If you can find a sketchbook with tan or grey
paper, this is also a great way to lay out the design for your pastel. It is a good habit to start with a
sketch to establish the darks, but I often just start directly in pastel on my pastel paper. I’ll show you
both tactics.
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Newsprint Pad 12" x 18" is good size. If you prefer to work larger, this could substitute for the
sketchbook.
Come prepared to have pastels in light middle-tone and dark values.
Materials List
1. Erasers: kneaded eraser for charcoal & pastel.
2. Exacto blade or razor with taped edge for sharpening conté, pastel pencils, and even pastel sticks.
3. Package of medium charcoal for starting pastels.
4. Pastel paper
5. Cover pages attached by a couple of hinges of blue tape or artists’ white tape
6. Camera or tablet to check large shapes of your scene.
7. Viewfinder: View Catcher www.viewcatcher.com, red plastic (to see values) or homemade view
finder.(can be a 35mm slide cardboard mount)
8. Easel:
• French landscape or backpack easel (great for holding supplies, good price).
• Italian easel-does not come with tray for holding pastels; front two legs can be modified
to support a tray. Other light-weight easels include: Napoli Artists' Easel.
• Tripod with pastel box attached.
• Beach chair with drawing board. I personally prefer to stand and work vertically, but
this can be a solution for someone with a back or leg problem. Sahara Adjustable Pack
stool is nice.
• (Optional) 2-wheel luggage carrier with bungee cords, & folding T.V. tray. (Bed bath &
beyond often carries plastic ones. If standing, you'll need some place to lay your
supplies.
9. Supports for Art:
• Backing Board and clips (My favorite). You can design a foam board portfolio in which
to carry your work and also use it for a backing board just make a little bigger than
paper-stock. Come prepared for possible wind. You'll need at least two bull clips for the
top of paper and you may use tape (blue or artist’s white) on the bottom corner.
• Tempered Masonite- at least 1/2" margin on all sides larger than your paper.
• Artist's drawing board comes with handle, rubber band and clips. Will fit all paper.
10. Pastel Supplies:
• Beginners stick with Nu-pastels and medium vine charcoal for most of your picture.
• Purchase a minimum of 36 Nu-pastels(more if possible)
• Intermediate artists use Nu-Pastel earth tones for initial drawing (i.e. burnt umber) and
medium vine charcoal. For build-up of pastel painting, use softer pastels: Rembrandt has
an OK landscape set, explore others on the market. Sennelier, Unison.
Landscape Colors you Need:
If you buy individual pastel sticks, (Lenz has open stock). Be sure to get some of the very darkest "A"
sticks.
Assorted grays: light, middle and dark tones of greenish and bluish grays.
Earth tones: burnt sienna, raw sienna, yellow/gold ochre, raw umber, burnt umber.
Greens: olive, light green, thalo green (blue green) & less use for straight chrome green.
Violets: a few red and blue violets for shadows, underside of foliage, and light colors for dusk skies.
Reds: mars violet & blue-violets for shadows and foliage. Cadmium orange, Cadmium red for plants.
Blues: skies & water, a range of blues from cobalt to ultramarine, light and medium. Light and dark
muted violets are great for both sky and shadows and some muted pinks.
Yellows: cadmium yellow-light and medium, and some light yellow ochre.
Pastel Paper:
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Pick middle tone values (more difficult to start on white or very pale tones)
Most effective landscape colors: grayish-blue, gray, rose, deep tan, also ultramarine blue, gray green
red, and or black. Full 19" x 25" or half sheets: 12 x 19.
Beginners start with Mi Tientes, Canson paper or charcoal paper. Full sheet Mi Teintes 20" x 25";
La Carte Sand Paper, 19" x 25 1/2" more expensive but great colors, no water.
Colour-Fix: 19" x 27" may be used simply with dry pastel but allows for an initial wash in watercolor,
acrylic, or gouache.
Watercolor paper or print paper primed with gesso mixed with pumice or marble-dust can also be used
for textural effects.
If you plan to try acrylic or watercolor under your pastels: Ivory soap and water and paper towels, solid
container for water & holding brushes, recommended stay wet palette for acrylics outside, or simply a
cardboard palette. Just a simple palette of burnt sienna, ultramarine, and alizarin and white can make
some great initial washes.