Pastel Landscape Painting
Workshop | Available
Landscape Painting in Soft Pastel
We will work on mark making, color and composition. There will be a brief review of materials as well as underpainting techniques.
Students may work from their own photo reference or follow along with Renee.
All levels welcome
Painting Materials
• Kneaded eraser and white eraser
• Paper towel.
• Pencil
• Selection of soft pastels (See softness chart below).
I use a variety of hard (NuPastel) and soft (Terry Ludwig and Unison are my personal brand preference). There are many brands to choose from and most brands are ok, I can help you use what you have. Rembrandts are a nice beginner pastel brand. They are affordable, have a wide variety of color and are softer than what is available in local craft stores. (No oil pastels)
Paper
• I highly recommend working on a sanded paper/board. There are a variety of colors usually available with each brand. The color is up to you. Color of surface will be addressed during lessons.
Paper brands to explore are:
o Ampersand Board
o Art Spectrum Colourfix
o Art Spectrum Smooth
o La Carte – however, this brand is not suited for wet underpaintings
o PastelMat
o Pastel Premier
o Uart (my personal “go-to” brand)
• Regular drawing / multi-media paper does not have the proper tooth to hold the pastel. Painting on it can become frustrating and will not allow you to layer colors.
Equipment
• Large drawing board (Gatorboard or sturdy foam core will do)
• Easel. Table top is ok, however, I work standing and highly recommend students stand as well (unless, of course, you are not physically able to stand for long periods of time). You must be able to prop your board upright. Working flat causes a variety of messes from clothing to “making mud” on your painting.
Miscellaneous
• Artists Tape or clips. Needed to attach your paper to the drawing board.
• Wet wipes. I prefer Huggies. Please do not use household cleaning wipes such as Clorox wipes. These are harsh on your skin.
• Plastic gloves or a barrier cream such as Gloves in a Bottle
• Notebook / drawing pad for notes
• Stiff bristle paint brush • ** For Wave classes: workable spray fix, rubbing alcohol, tooth brush and plastic cup
• Some photographs you would like to use from your own stock.
Please note: Unfortunately, the pastel products I recommend are not readily available in the local craft stores (Michael’s, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby). While these stores have pastel products, the papers do not have proper tooth and the pastels are very hard and will limit what you can achieve. Most everything I use is purchased on-line. The sites I use and compare prices between are:
Amazon
Dick Blick
Cheap Joe’s
Jerry’s Artarama Fineartstore.com
DakotaPastels.com
Chart of Pastels by Softness / Brand
The following chart was created by Dakota Pastels with number one being rated the
Softest.
#1 SCHMINCKE
#2 GREAT AMERICAN
#3 BLUE EARTH
#4 SENNELIER
#5 UNISON
#6 TERRY LUDWIG
#7 DIANE TOWNSEND SOFT
#8 TOWNSEND TERRAGES
#9 TOWNSEND THINLINE
#10 DALER-ROWNEY
#11 GIRAULT
#12 MOUNT VISION
#13 REMBRANDT
#14 ART SPECTRUM
#15 HOLBEIN
#16 NUPASTEL
#17 FABER-CASTELL
#18 CRETACOLOR
Renee Leopardi
Renee Leopardi was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and after 12 years of Catholic school, she decided to immediately join the work force. Within a year after high school, she decided it would be best to continue her education and worked her way through night school to achieve an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Cincinnati. During those years, she met many wonderful people, one of which is her husband, who grew up in southern New Jersey. In 2002, she relocated to New Jersey to start a family and has never looked back.
From early childhood, Renee has always been interested in art. However, art was never pushed or nurtured as a possible career path, so art became hobby for years. In 2008, she took an Advanced Painting workshop at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. From then on, she knew her focus had to change. Since that first workshop, she has continued to further her art education through workshops and independent study including Life Drawing and plein air painting sessions with fellow local artists.
Her newest works are primarily pastel paintings. Through her studies, she realized that painting with pastels has pushed her to explore and create more than she thought she could. Working with pastels can be quick and expressive in a way she wasn’t finding before. Working with pastels has also altered her overall painting style by giving it a turn toward impressionism.
She finds inspiration in the local seasonal landscapes of southern New Jersey; from the ocean and marshes to creeks and woods to farmland. When the weather isn’t so friendly, she and her painting friends move indoors to work on still life or the figure.
Workshops / Portfolio Programs Attended:
Showcase the Color of Light, Sally Strand, IAPS, June 2019
The Painterly Portrait, Alain Picard, Crow Creek School of Art, November 2017
The Poe