Exaggerate! Be bold! Soft pastel still life workshop slated at VAC

Swipe left for more photos

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Lush, luminous, velvety and vibrant all have been used to describe the qualities of pastel paintings and drawings.

Lush, luminous, velvety and vibrant all have been used to describe the qualities of pastel paintings and drawings.

Now, Big Island artist and instructor Patti Pease Johnson can help you gain the confidence and techniques of this centuries-old medium.

Learn about the different types of pastels, papers, and fixing and mounting paper and backing during the soft pastel still life workshop, led by Johnson, from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 14, at the Volcano Art Center. Students will begin with a set-up still life using charcoal on newsprint to get the flow of arm movements to keep loose and they’ll complete a 10-by-12-inch project. Participants also will grow their knowledge of color, composition and correcting problems. Newsprint, paper, charcoal and soft pastels are supplied for class.

Exaggerate! Be bold with colors using lights and darks and enjoy the marks you make on paper using Johnson’s signature rotational proven method for success. She supplies the instruction and materials along with guidance and inspiration for this process along with some handy tips for your creative journey.

Johnson also currently is presenting a one-woman show with 30 new pieces titled “From the Summons of Art” at the VAC Gallery through March 22. It involves a multimedia excursion of intuitive responses in silk, clay, pastel and watercolor, plus challenges possible combinations.

Her artwork can be found at galleries and shops across the state and in collections around the world.

Cost for the pastel still life workshop is $60 and $54 for VAC members, plus a $10 supply fee per person. Beginner and intermediate artists are welcome. For more information or to register, call VAC at (808) 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.