Jeannette Cuevas Pastel Workshop

3 Day Workshop at the Rockport Center for the Arts

If you have thought about taking one last mini vacation before the end of the year, please consider joining me for my upcoming Pastel Workshop, November 3, 4, & 5, 2009 at the Rockport Center for the Arts in Rockport, Texas.

During this 3 day class you will learn how to use watercolor to create an underpainting of color that will ultimately peek through the upper layers of pastel to create painting effects that glow, that are full of energy and sparkle with light. For an example of this technique see the image on the June 25 blog post that won Best in Show at the Texas Pastel Society's juried show recently.

This workshop has quickly become one of my very favorite ones to teach due to the fact that it is in such a gorgeous location. However, the class is quickly approaching so if you are interested in joining us, don’t delay in signing up. There are still a few openings availble.

For more information please contact The Rockport Center for the Arts at 361-729-5519.

Painting Cactus in Pastel on Pumice Board - Pastel Layers

Painting Cactus in Pastel on Pumice Board - Beginning the Pastel Layers

Since working with this different surface, I have noticed a few marked differences from the technique and materials I am used to using. This time instead of watercolor I used acrylic paint which produced much richer and stronger colors for the under painting. This was wonderful, the darks were much darker and the variations of colors remained vivid. The watercolor I normally used would have to be applied several times to achieve the desired intensity. However, the acrylic has a sheen to it that has to be addressed. Since the pastel by nature has such a matte finish to it, the contrast of the strokes against the shinier acrylic underneath was trying to overpower. I found it necessary to pay closer attention to the background and tried to make sure it maintained a balance of pastel coverage so as not to distract.

The sanded surface of the pumice primed gator board has been very different to work on compared to the less abrasive surface of the watercolor paper.

The pumice board:
• is harder and scratchier than the watercolor paper
• uses up your pastels much faster because of the abrasiveness of it
• holds much more pastel color onto the surface
• and because of that produces a painting with more intense color.

This painting is pretty large (48" x 26") and has taken a long time for me to finally get the dark areas established and the basic shapes and structural elements down. But I have to say, this was mostly due to me having to get out of my comfort zone and press through the differences and difficulties of something new. Imagine that.

At any rate, you can see how it is starting to take shape. FINALLY, it is beginning to look like something recognizable! Sometimes you just have to force yourself to continue to work in faith. It will eventually start to take shape. That, for me, has been the hardest part of this painting so far.