Envision yourself at a kitchen table, a smile that you’re trying to conceal, colored dust on your fingertips. Rather from being mere paper, the white sheet before you serves as a stage. The pastels will come alive as you run your pastel sticks over them, creating unexpected color combinations. The first week of our top 10 pastel painting courses online class was filled with a jumble of emotions for many of our students: anxious, excited, and quietly hopeful.
“I can barely draw a stick figure” or “My only art has been doodling during phone calls” were some of the statements they made. During the third week, individuals begin to speak about negative space, discard terms like “sfumato,” and remove annoying crumbs from their creations.
Getting the hang of pastels is more like a pat on the back than a yank. It only takes a tap of your finger to erase your blunders, and occasionally a splatter is the most exciting part. There is more to the training than just receiving instructions and being sent on your way. As an alternative, it is jam-packed with various demonstrations. You will observe the transformation of a plain background into a striking one, or the emergence of a cheekbone from a shadow.
Buying a mountain of goods is not necessary. Just a few sticks and some good paper will do. You can use old cotton sweaters as blending tools sometimes. Your clouds will be saved by Grandma’s holiday gift? Who would have thought?
Who is this person instructing? Think of Bob Ross with just a hint of honesty. Even he can laugh at himself with ease. He once shrugged, transformed a pastel into a branch, and exclaimed, “Happy accidents really do happen!” after dropping it and a streak appeared. Afterwards, the group chat became very active. New paths can be found, not incorrect ones.
For those who are itching to shake things up, the course also covers abstract painting in addition to landscapes and still life. Somebody painted a picture of their bread for breakfast and called it “Carbs in Harmony.” For the more timid, there are easy workouts, and for the more courageous, there are more advanced tips.
After three months, you begin to view your previous walls as opportunities for creative expression. Sunsets have never been more appetizing. As soon as you start to feel like you’re stuck, the instructor will step in with playful prods, motivational speeches, or unusual sketching assignments. The process of learning is messy, exciting, and freeing.
I mean, who gives a hoot if your feline friend decides to sit on your carefully crafted drawing or if your fingers wind up stained blue? Evidently, you weren’t merely observing; you were actively participating.
Despite your doubts, it’s likely that you can. Also, don’t be afraid to bring your most outrageous ideas if you’re confident in your abilities. The point of this class isn’t to follow a set of rigid guidelines; rather, it is to take a risk with that white paper and discover what occurs when you play the role of both creator and spectator. Who can say for sure? Perhaps your latent skill is just itching to be unleashed, only waiting for you to take the plunge and get your hands dirty.