Colourful Pastels Workshop

Colourful Pastels Workshop with Janette Summerfield RBSA

This one-day course is designed to equip you with the confidence to use colour in your work. Using soft pastels students will be investigating colour relationships, pastel techniques, and different qualities of paper, the combination of which will result in exciting and imaginative paintings.

Age group and abilities to be taught        

• 18 years and above.
• Suitable for all abilities

Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught

• To dispel the myth that colour is difficult to use.
• Pastel techniques.
• How to use different grounds to shape and influence the drawing.
• A basic understanding of colour principles and relationships.

Course outline for Expressive Oil Pastels Workshop

Morning activity

• Through a series of studies participants will explore various pastel techniques, working on different grounds (e.g. mounting board, watercolour paper, cartridge paper, coloured pastel paper) to create exciting and vibrant paintings.
• Soft pastel gives immediate results so the student can concentrate solely on the exploration of colour.

Afternoon activity

• The afternoon will be spent putting into practice what has been learnt in the morning, to work up a finished work, using images supplied by the student.

Materials and equipment required by workshop students

• Soft pastels to include a good variety of colours. e.g.Unison, Schmincke, Sennelier, Daler Rowney. Jackson’s Art do a good range of soft pastels. Try also Cass Art’s own soft pastels, not as good on quality as the others but reasonably priced.
• A variety of paper to include bright and dark coloured pastel papers, mount board. E.g. Daler Rowney Ingres, Daler Rowney Murano, Clairefontaine Pastel paper, Clairefontaine Pastelmat
• Pastel fixative
• Sketchbooks to work colour ideas on.
• Masking tape.
• Reference material – eg. Participants own photographs, magazine cuttings, etc.
• Participants may find wet-wipes useful for cleaning hands.

Materials and equipment provided

While materials and equipment are to be provided by the participants there may be an opportunity to try some of the tutor’s materials should they wish to.

• Easels and drawing boards

Methods of assessing outcomes

• Group discussion and tutor feedback
• Completion of the evaluation form

Booking information

• To book please visit the RBSA Gallery website and click ‘workshops’ at the top of the page. Alternatively, please call the Gallery on 0121 236 4353 during opening hours Tues-Sat 10.30am – 5pm. Bookings can also be made in person at the Gallery. Payment in full is required at the time of booking to secure a place.
• Payments can be made by card online, by card over the phone, and by cash/card at the Gallery.
• Places are limited to 10 people per workshop unless stated otherwise. Allocation will take place on a first-come first-served basis.
• Please inform the RBSA Gallery when booking of any health conditions or additional needs as some workshops might not be suitable.
• A valid student ID must be provided to receive a student discount.

Cancellation Policy

• If you, the customer cancels your booked workshop, we are unable to offer you a refund.
• Transfers to an alternative workshop may be possible depending on the circumstance and is of the discretion of the RBSA Gallery.
• In the event of under-subscription, workshops may be cancelled or re-arranged. We will give you as much notice as possible if this happens and you will be able to transfer to another course or receive a full refund. The RBSA is unable to refund additional expenses, such as travel and accommodation.
• If you are booked on a workshop and do not turn up on the day, a refund will not be given.

Continual Professional Development (CPD) and Copyright

• We welcome bookings from people attending for Continual Professional Development (CPD). However, our workshops are not designed as CPD. If your employer is paying for the course or you require more details about what you expect from the course, please contact the Gallery in advance before booking.
• The workshop content and any information provided (e.g. handouts, guidance notes, etc.) are the intellectual property of the artist delivering the workshop. They should not be used or reproduced without permission from the artist (e.g. copying handouts to use in any classes workshop attendees might deliver themselves afterwards). 

Other information

• The workshop will take place in the RBSA Gallery, floor 1. The space will be closed to visitors and will only be used by workshop attendees. However, staff and volunteers will need to walk through the space at various points in the day to access the staff office, which is located on the same floor.
• Attendees can leave their materials in the workshop space during their breaks but the RBSA will not be responsible for any loss or damages.
• Please bring a packed lunch. Alternatively, there are a number of cafés and sandwich shops within walking distance of the Gallery.
• Please bring an old shirt or apron to help protect your clothing.
• The continuous redevelopment work in the city center has caused increased traffic, delays, and diversions in and around the City Centre. Therefore, please allow yourself plenty of travel time, plan your route, and check your parking arrangements.
• If you are travelling by car, please ensure your car is clean air zone compliant, or charges may occur.