Still Life & Pastel

I love when I learn about working with art mediums in new ways! Although I had a formal art history education, my exposure to making studio art was minimal.  As an adult, I have been able to seek out and attend classes and workshops hosted by various respected professionals.

I am currently attending weekly pastel classes at the Evanston Art Center, and this week we used watercolor paper treated with pastel ground. I have to admit, I had trouble moving colors and creating depth because of the surface and I am NOT a fan of using watercolor paper with a ground.

Below, my most recent still life using watercolor paper treated with pastel ground –

My curriculum for the encaustic painting classes I teach includes using a wide variety of mixed media materials. I am always looking to learn about new ways to combine various media successfully with beeswax. This past November, I attended a workshop hosted by the Chicago Pastel Painters. Casey Klahn was the visiting artist teaching a 3-day workshop. He is someone I have followed on social media for many years, and his workshop focused on unity between color and form.

Below, two of my pieces from the Klahn workshop –

I fell in love with pastels! Soft form pastels could become another exciting material combined with beeswax. I then signed up for a 10 week class at the Evanston Art Center, and have been attending classes taught be Ken Minami.

Each week Ken sets up several still life arrangements and also brings different papers for us to experience. I am definitely a fan of 600 grit sandpaper, and I have already been brainstorming about the ways in which the pastels can combine with encaustic.

My first project may be combining an encaustic monotype with pastel, then mounted on a scroll… time will tell, but I am excited to have a new direction with my personal art practice.