Jean Hirons will be conducting a two-day workshop on the world of pastels on June 17 and 18, from 9:00am-4:00pm each day in the MAC Studio, located at 80 Pleasant St. Marion.
This workshop will focus on painting a landscape from photos using soft pastel. Jean will discuss her use of abstract underpaintings that provide the basis for her luminous landscapes, and break down the painting process into stages, discussing and demonstrating along the way. Students will then work on their own painting with her assistance. Throughout the two days there will be time spent between learning technique and putting it into practice. At the end of the workshop there will be constructive feedback and discussion on the points learned.
This workshop is intended for all levels but some drawing and painting experience with pastel are required. The focus will be on composition, color palettes and color choices for underpaintings, as well as the various ways of using pastel.
Participants will be sent a full materials list and class details upon registration. The cost for the workshop is $195 for MAC members and $225 for nonmembers. More information and registration are available at marionartcenter.org/events.
About the Artist: Hirons is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and a member of the Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies. She is the author of the award-winning book Finding Your Style in Pastel and has been teaching since 2004. She now teaches primarily on Zoom. “I work exclusively in the medium of soft pastel. I am convinced that there is no artist’s medium as beautiful as pastel, when it is expertly applied. I also love its flexibility – one can draw or paint or combine both methods in the same painting. Pastel is pure pigment that is combined with a binder. It comes in many, many varieties and the ways of using it are endless.” – Jean Hirons.