Soft Pastels & Mixed Media

Soft Pastels & Mixed Media

Quality Note:

• Good quality pastels are essential to satisfactory results. 
• Both Rembrandt and Nupastel are tried and true brands to get you started. Look for 'artist's quality' indicating good colour-fastness and pigmentation.
• If you don’t like to get your hands dirty: bring latex or vinyl gloves (latex is better). 
• You can use also pastel pencils, but the exercises work better with the pastel sticks.
• If you have respiratory issues you might benefit from a dust mask.
  

Please Bring:

• If you already have soft pastels, bring what you have if not then:
• Rembrandt Soft Pastels (Box of 30 half sticks) is your best bet (15 half-sticks is next) 
• OR Nupastel Box of 24
• Nupastel Open stock: Spruce Blue, Botle Green, Cordovan, Ivory
• A few sticks of willow charcoal
• Strathmore drawing pad paper: either 9x12 or 11x17
• Sketchbook or notebook
• Kneaded eraser
• Tortillons (rolled paper smudgers)
• Paper towels
• Masking tape (Low-tack green)
• Table covering
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Exacto knife or 'Slim' Cuter knife (with break-of blades)
• Reference photos
• We will be working from photos, still life and 'plein air' (depending on weather)
• Drawing board and bulldog clips
• Paintbrushes for Acrylic paint - 1" or larger, and a smaller bristle brush
  

Optional

• Latex or vinyl gloves
• Wet wipes
• Pastel pencils
• Any other pastel supplies you may have that you want to work with
• Outdoor gear - hat, sunscreen, small drawing board, folding chair/stool, blanket, water bottle.
  

Weather permitting, we may do some plein air drawing.

Mandatory Studio Safety Practices

Your health and safety is our priority. Our studio environments can have a number of objects, tools and chemicals that require personal protective equipment (PPE) or other consideration for your well-being. All persons (including faculty, staff and students) are asked to observe the following while in the shops and studios:

• Wear sturdy and appropriate shoes such as sneakers, closed leather shoes or work boots open-toed shoes, flip-flops or high heels are not allowed
• No long, dangling clothing or accessories (scarves, flowing sleeves, chains, long necklaces, etc.)
• Long hair must be tied back
• No bare skin if exposure to chemicals or tools/machinery is likely
• Appropriate PPE is mandatory when operating tools and equipment within the studios.
• Please consult with the faculty or studio technician to determine the appropriate PPE required for specific machines and studio processes.
  

Fit tests are required for courses requiring a respirator as noted on your material list. Arrangements will be made on-site. As these are mandatory safety practices, we will follow up directly with students who may have oversighted the above. Individuals may be asked to address any concerns before continuing to work in the studio. Be sure to buy appropriate, good-quality safety articles and equipment, i.e. safety boots, protective eyewear, hearing protection, work gloves, x-acto knives, etc. - ask your supplier for advice.