Pastel has been described as the most brilliant of art mediums. They are created using the same pigments as every other medium, but they are almost pure pigment, with the least amount of binder. The word “pastel” comes from the French word pastiche because the combined ingredients form a paste, not because the colors are pale or diluted. Works in pastel retain their color and integrity better than other mediums in that the pigments are least adulterated.

Pastel as we know it dates back to the late 1400’s. Leonardo da Vinci used it to enhance his charcoal drawings in the 1500’s. It became popular as a portraiture medium in the Venetian Court in the early 1700’s. In 1972, the Pastel Society of America was founded in NYC and sparked a modern renaissance in the medium. This renewed interest in pastel continues to grow and has resulted in greater numbers of artists working in the medium, and has promoted the development of new and improved pastels and papers. This mini-workshop is an introduction to the pastel medium.

Your guide is Liz Haywood- Sullivan, a President Emerita of the International Association of Pastel Societies and a practicing pastelist, instructor and judge. She will do a two-hour demonstration, showing how to work with value layering, color mixing and mark making. She will also lead a discussion about the facets of this versatile medium, which straddles the worlds of both drawing and painting. Topics will include the variations in different pastels and papers and how they affect painting outcomes, framing and presentation, and health and safety uses. This is an interactive workshop and your questions are welcome.



Liz Haywood-Sullivan, PSA-MP, IAPS/EP, has been dedicated to working exclusively in the pastel medium since 1996. Her attraction to the medium is pastel's unique ability to capture light and atmosphere in the landscape. She is a sought-after instructor and judge for pastel societies and arts organizations around the world. Liz authored the popular book Painting Brilliant Skies and Water in Pastel (Northlight, 2013). Her award-winning pastel paintings have been featured in numerous books and magazine articles, and have appeared in national, international and museum exhibitions worldwide. Liz is a President Emerita of the International Association of Pastel Societies (2013-2017) and is the current president of the North River Arts Society in Massachusetts. Her work is represented by Vose Galleries of Boston. www.lizhaywoodsullivan.com