Visiting Artist Workshop: Pastel Painting with Ephraim Rubenstein
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 – 4:00pm, October 19 and October 20
with Ephraim Rubenstein and J. Jordan Bruns
Learn soft pastels from one of the most acclaimed artists in the DMV. This two-day workshop with Ephraim Rubenstein will serve as a general introduction to the medium of soft pastel painting for beginning students, as well as an opportunity for more advanced students to sharpen their skills. Considered drawing by some and painting by others, using soft pastel (not oil pastels!) presents a number of technical problems that will be addressed during the workshop. Topics will include a thorough review of materials (papers, boards, grounds and the pastels themselves), as well as procedural concerns (working hard to soft, dark to light, blending versus hatching and fixing). Class Level: beginner to advanced. The class will work from the model please so note there is a $35 model fee paid in class.
Pastels
If you already have pastels, bring what you have. You can add to your collection as you go along. Buy SOFT pastels, not oil pastels. Within SOFT pastels, there is quite a range of hardnesses, from Nu-Pastels, which are quite hard, to Schmincke or Sennelier which are quite soft.
If you are just starting out, I would suggest Rembrandt or Grumbacher pastels, which are in the middle, but lean towards the hard side. Get the largest set you can afford. If you can afford 45 ($160), great. Otherwise 30 ($80) or 15 ($45). If there is a choice between Landscape and Portrait, get Landscape.
https://www.dickblick.com/products/rembrandt-soft-pastel-sets/
(Click below image to enlarge)
Paper
Canson Mi Teintes in assorted mute colors
Take a moment to read the attached articles (highlighted in orange) on pastel paper.
You can also check out homemade pastel paper recipe by clicking the image below
General Items
Notebook
Medium size sketch-book
Soft-vine charcoal
Kneaded eraser
Rag or chamois
Plumb- line – make out of red thread and a nail
View finder – make out of shirt cardboard or the back of a legal pad, etc. Make 2 “L” shapes, 7″ on the leg and 1 ½ ” wide. Use 2 paper clips.
A small piece of white or light gray mat board with a small hole punched in the middle
Sighting stick- a stick that is long, thin and straight; knitting needle, shish kabob, etc.
#2 pencil
Suggested Reading
Ellen Eagle- “Pastel Painting Atelier”
Daniel Greene- “Pastel- A Comprehensive Guide to Pastel Painting”
