2 Day Pastel Innovative Workshop

Find your unique self in this exciting innovative workshop, embracing the beautiful medium of pastel and adding some inventive ways using mixed media to complement the medium.

Coloured inks, black ink and charcoal as part of your underpainting with some additional ideas.

Explore you favourite compositions captured in an exciting landscape, seascape or still life subject.

Course outline

Come and join Catherine Hamilton at this fun and innovative workshop. Catherine will show you how to explore new concepts in some mixed media underpainting and using soft pastels on canvas!.
Stepping into the world of Degas who was one of the most innovative artists of his time. He incorporated print, underpainting in black and white or colour before proceeding with pastel. He used water or milk to not only “fix” his work but also to wet the pastel and used as a paint. Manet and Judy Cassatt also created pastels on canvas now hanging in prestigious galleries

Catherine will encourage you to find your own portrayal of the subject, creating either a more abstracted composition or a more traditional outcome.
The workshop will bring together some new ideas for you to consider and explore, learning new techniques and ideas in composition, you will go away with a wealth of information.

During the workshop you will explore various ways to create your painting. Start with a simple charcoal or pencil drawing or a texta pen you create the initial idea. Catherine will show you how to use the pastel in its purest form and layering it up onto the canvas. Exploring other ideas such as incorporating coloured inks, relief print watercolour and, oil pastels and collage to create soft textures. The initial layer can be sealed with a rough clear gesso to allow you to continue with soft pastel. So many possibilities. You will learn some new techniques and each finished piece still regarded as a pastel painting; we will look at various ideas from the past masters of pastel to create the work.
Fixative Spray and a matt varnish are used to help each pastel layer to adhere to the canvas a final layer of matt varnish to protect the painting.
More importantly this is the opportunity to find your own path within this beautiful medium. Create the painting in your own exploratory way, impressionism or abstract, most of all have fun.!.

Creating Innovative Pastel on Canvas with artist and tutor
Catherine Hamilton
LET’S DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!..

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you should walk away with a sound understanding of new ways of using the medium of pastels with other mediums to express your own art practice.

Who should enrol?

This course is best suited to all levels of students.

Your Tutor

Catherine studied at the University of Creative Arts in the UK and achieved a 2.1 Diploma
in Painting and Printmaking and went on to study figurative drawing at The Chelsea Art School.

While Catherine's story began across the oceans,, she traded the bustling streets and art
scene of the UK for the serene shores of Melbourne in 1995. Since then, she has
etched her presence into the Australian art scene, leaving an indelible mark.

“I paint using pastel, oils or acrylic. I love drawing using mainly charcoal and draw up compositions and sketches and portraits to work from.”
CATHERINE HAMILTON

Catherine has had several solo and mixed shows over the past years in Melbourne and shown at
the Camberwell Art Show, regional Rotary Shows, AGRA, The Victorian Arts Society and
The Pastel Society of Victoria.

Catherine’s practice includes creating art, teaching, workshops and demonstrating
and giving talks throughout Australia. Holding exhibitions, leading international art
tours and volunteering in Zambia, teaching a creative programme at a small school
outside Lusaka, are all part of the experiences that have contributed to the artistic
journey.

Catherine is accomplished in working in a range of media using these in innovative
ways to create her work. Her passion is colour and natural pigments, utilizing these
often in her work.