In this class, students will try their hand at incorporating multiple techniques and materials with their pastels. Whether creating a subtle feel or bold statement, working with pastels can be stretched to combine with a variety of materials, such as markers, stencils, stamping, tissue and origami papers, paints, acrylic inks, and more. Students can work representationally, abstractly, or non-objectively. Instruction includes preliminary planning with composition, notans, value, and color studies. Weeks 1,3,5 are on Zoom will focus on demonstration and class exercises with painting time. Weeks 2,4 6 are hybrid: In-person at the Cultural Center or the option of Zoom for those who can’t attend live will focus on instructor critique, and individual painting time with feedback. Classes will be held via Zoom on days the weather interferes with safe travel.

Sketchbook, pencil, pen, vine charcoal, a ruler, tape

Black markers, chisel & fine tip.

Tracing paper

Selection of hard and soft pastels –- contact Betsy if you have questions

Preference for sanded pastel paper on card or board such as UArt, Pastelmat, Pastel Premier, Lux or Art Spectrum.

Exercises we will use Canson MiTeines and/or Bristol board.

Backing board to tape your pastel paper to for support.

Easel or slanted surface – working in an upright angle reduces the collection of pastel dust on the painting surface

Painting mediums- acrylic inks, gouache, watercolor.

Store bought stencils, and objects to use for stamping – I will show you examples in the first class

Tissue papers, thin wrapping paper or origami paper

Matte gel medium

Pastel ground or pumice gel

Rubbing alcohol for use with pastels

Variety of brushes, minimum required is 1” & 2” flat or fan brush

Photo references

Cell phone or camera to take photos

Betsy Payne Cook paints exclusively with pastels and is honored to be a juried artist member of the Pastel Society of America and to have achieved signature membership status with the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod (PPSCC) and the Connecticut Pastel Society (CPS). Betsy’s pastel paintings have been exhibited in many competitive regional and national juried exhibitions and have won numerous awards. She is a member of several art organizations and pastel societies, including the Cape Cod plein air painters. Betsy records her thoughts and experiences as an artist in her newsletter and blog “Painting In and Out” sharing snippets of her life in the studio and painting outdoors (plein air). Betsy attended the College of St. Rose in her hometown of Albany, N.Y, earning a B.S. Art Education & a M.S. Special Education.

For the health, safety, and well-being of our patrons, staff, volunteers, and creatives, the Cultural Center of Cape Cod requires that guests attending indoor ticketed events or classes must wear a mask and be vaccinated or provide a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours.

For your convenience, you may choose to upload your vaccination card in advance here, or send a photo of the vaccination card or negative COVID test with your full name to vax@cultural-center.org. Please note all guests within a party will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.