in studio

Course Materials: Expressive Pastels - Creating Mood and Atmosphere

instructor: judy russill

Supply List:

  • Sketchbook

  • 2B/4B pencil

  • Plastic eraser

  • Gum eraser (for chalk pastels)

  • Masking tape

  • Rags/ paper towels for cleaning hands

  • Mask (if sensitive to dust)

  • Sketching paper

  • Old bristle brushes (Size 2 to 4)

  • For the following, please choose either soft chalk pastels or soft oil pastels:

    • SOFT CHALK PASTELS

      • Nupastel by Prismacolour - as large a set as you can afford. The whole pastel painting can be completed with a set of 98. This set is available at 10% off at the Medicine Hat College bookstore or on Amazon.

      • General’s, Conte, Or Caran d’Ache Pencils - white, black, sand, violet, ultramarine blue are useful. Sets of inexpensive General’s pastel pencils are available at Micheal’s with a coupon. Individual Conte Pastel Pencils or Caran d’Ache are available in art supply stores in Calgary, Edmonton or on the Internet. Complete soft chalk pastel paintings can be completed with pastel pencils. If planning to share the cost of shipping, check out “The Paint Spot”, Swinton’s Art Supply or Kensington Art Supply Store.

      • Sennelier, Unison, Rembrandt, Schmidke, and others are wonderful to work with but are not necessary in trying out this medium as they are quite expensive. Available in sets, or individually. Half sticks of Schmidke individually for example are available at The Paint Spot for $8.95 (currently reduced to $7.05) each OR at Art supply Stores in Calgary or Edmonton. The instructor will make her soft pastels available for use.

      • THERE ARE NEW BRANDS OF HALF STICKS OF SOFT PASTELS AVAILABLE. BUY INTO SOFT CHALK PASTELS SLOWLY, AS THEY CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE.

    • SOFT OIL PASTELS

      • Gallery, Monte Mart (HomeSense), Paul Ruebens are reasonably inexpensive and provide a good colour selection. These brands are colour stable when finished and/or under glass. Even sets of 120 can be purchased.

      • Sennelier, Neopastel (by Caran d’Ache) are expensive but buttery soft with excellent colour stability. Available on the Internet. Individual colours are becoming increasingly available at art supply stores

  • PASTEL PAPER - DECIDE ON THIS AFTER THE FIRST CLASS OR PURCHASE YOUR OWN FROM AN ART SUPPLY STORES IN CALGARY OR EDMONTON OR FROM AMAZON

    • For those using soft chalk pastels:

      • U-Art - all sanded pastel boards need to be secured to Matboard or Illustration Board. Illustration board is available at the M H College Bookstore.

        • Available from the instructor mounted on illustration board - sand, or white, - 9” x 12” for $12.00 each, 12” x 18” - $20.00 each, 18 ½” x 27 - sand only - $25.00 each

    • For those using soft oil pastels:

      • Pastelmat - an excellent oil pastel surface allowing numerous layers. Pastelmat also needs to be secured to Matboard or Illustration board.

        • Available from the instructor mounted on illustration board- sand, wine, dark blue, light blue - 9” x 11.5” for $12 00 each, 12” x 15 ½”- $20.00 each.

      • Oiled water-colour paper (treated for oil pastels) is also a choice. There are new materials being made available at art supply stores and on Amazon

    • CANSON MI TIENTES PASTEL PAPER

      • Do not purchase but if you have this, it is excellent for practice and thumbnail sketches.

  • PERSONAL PHOTO REFERENCE: Select a picture that SPEAKS to you with excellent lighting and strong shadows.