Pastels with Jean Hirons

*NEW* Workshop: Exploring the Beauty of Pastel
With Jean Hirons
(2 day workshop) Tuesday June 17th and Wednesday June 18th, 2025
9:00am-4:00pm

In the MAC Studio
MAC Members: $195, Nonmembers: $225

Due to limited capacity, registrations are non-refundable unless the course is cancelled.

Description:

This summer, dive into the world of pastels with Jean Hirons in a two day workshop. The workshop will focus on painting the landscape from photos using soft pastel (not oil 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. Note: It may be possible to do more than one painting during the two days, so bringing extra paper and photos would be a good idea.  

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.

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.