About Pastels
Pastels are regarded universally as paintings, even though they are produced in a mostly drawing-like process. Pastels are permanent (AND more so) than any other medium. Pastel paintings from the 17th century are as fresh today as when they were first put down. I consider them to be a perfect segue between drawing and painting- the tactile sensations of laying pastel down on sanded paper is a unique and satisfying discovery. Pastels are made of finely ground mineral pigments, not dyes, and a binding agent. Cheap pastels use alot of "other" materials like a higher percentage of calcium carbonate (aka chalk) and augment the mineral pigments with dyes which are not as permanent. Cheap art materials will frustrate the hell out of you, they don't cover well, colors are off and so on. I do not use oil pastels at this time, I simply prefer "soft" pastels.
In my classes, students use their own photographs for painting reference. Something that the student has photographed or sketched has a more personal meaning, and will make for a more satisfying painting adventure. I will explain concepts and share my 45 plus years of experience and give each student my attention and support. I believe that the process, the journey- whatever, is the joy and to explore some “what if’s” along the way is all part of it. I do not expect for my students to merely copy, or learn my style but to put themselves into their work and find their own preferential techniques and style.
When you start your first class at Sutter Street Pastels, I will ask that you arrive a hour earlier for your first session with me so I can do a short demo while you observe. Depending on your experience, you'll either work on your own version of the demo subject or can move on a do your own. I don't expect a new student to complete a painting in one session but to work at a comfortable pace. It's not a competition.
In my classes, students use their own photographs for painting reference. Something that the student has photographed or sketched has a more personal meaning, and will make for a more satisfying painting adventure. I will explain concepts and share my 45 plus years of experience and give each student my attention and support. I believe that the process, the journey- whatever, is the joy and to explore some “what if’s” along the way is all part of it. I do not expect for my students to merely copy, or learn my style but to put themselves into their work and find their own preferential techniques and style.
When you start your first class at Sutter Street Pastels, I will ask that you arrive a hour earlier for your first session with me so I can do a short demo while you observe. Depending on your experience, you'll either work on your own version of the demo subject or can move on a do your own. I don't expect a new student to complete a painting in one session but to work at a comfortable pace. It's not a competition.
Materials Recommended for my Pastel Classes
Prismacolor Nupastels (96 sticks)- minimum
The Sennelier 120 half-stick set is a great addition to a pastelists' arsenal...this set is very versatile, the pastels are very soft and have an exceptional color range. One can never have too many pastels...
Pastel pencils- dark brown, dark grayish blue, sky blue, sanguine
Bulldog Drawing clips
1” wide masking tape
Factis brand or white vinyl eraser- NO KNEADED ERASERS (they leave gooey residue on sanded paper!)
Small, Stiff brush- “Old School” Typewriter eraser pencils with the brush on them are excellent also! Pencil tip erasers are good, too
Wet Ones or some kind of Baby wipes to clean hands
Paper towels
Drawing Board 20 x 25 inches approx. One can go to a big-box hardware store and get a piece of 1/4" pressbord cut to an even bigger size.
I have available at my studio my own brand of sanded paper which is very similar to Art Spectrum® brand paper. I use a toned, medium - value paper and never use white.
Class Times
Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Folsom at my studio at 815 Sutter Street Ste "C"
10am to 12 noon or 7pm to 9 pm
I offer two class sessions per person per week with a month-long enrollment. Additionally, there may be extra time available to students if there is a vacancy. I'll occasionally have a Saturday session or a trip outdoors for plein air fun. A trip to the winery region in Fairplay will be announced soon.
Tuition fees are $100 a month
$25 dollars for a separate session of two hours
Instructor Barry Jamison Sutter Street Pastels 530.391.1898
******
Oil Painting Supplies for Lincoln Hills Del Webb Community Class
Brushes: (Grumbacher Gainsborough/equiv) Bristle
Also “Snap” brand brushes (Taklon equivalent) by Princeton- can be purchased from Aaron Brothers “buy one get two free” sales often.
Size #4, #6, #8 & #10 Bright
Size #2, #4, #6 Round
Fan brush
Natural Sea Sponge
palette knife with flat blade
1” Wash brush (a good quality, all-purpose paint brush one can get from Hardware stores)
Palette Paper (11” x 14” or bigger)- I prefer gray colored
Glass Jars (smallish like baby food jars)- one to hold clean turps, the other for dirty.
Odorless Turpenoid- a must!!
Liquin oil painting medium (enables glazing techniques, a thinning aid, and accelerates drying time)
Number 3 graphite pencil
willow charcoal- medium hard
Colors
Winsor Newton Oil Paint colors- 37 ml
Cadmium Yellow Light
Yellow ochre
Cadmium red light
Alizarin crimson
Cerulean blue (Hue)
Ultramarine blue
Dioxine Purple
Viridian Green
Sap Green
Burnt sienna
Raw umber
Titanium white- A 200 ML tube
Payne’s Gray
Prismacolor Nupastels (96 sticks)- minimum
The Sennelier 120 half-stick set is a great addition to a pastelists' arsenal...this set is very versatile, the pastels are very soft and have an exceptional color range. One can never have too many pastels...
Pastel pencils- dark brown, dark grayish blue, sky blue, sanguine
Bulldog Drawing clips
1” wide masking tape
Factis brand or white vinyl eraser- NO KNEADED ERASERS (they leave gooey residue on sanded paper!)
Small, Stiff brush- “Old School” Typewriter eraser pencils with the brush on them are excellent also! Pencil tip erasers are good, too
Wet Ones or some kind of Baby wipes to clean hands
Paper towels
Drawing Board 20 x 25 inches approx. One can go to a big-box hardware store and get a piece of 1/4" pressbord cut to an even bigger size.
I have available at my studio my own brand of sanded paper which is very similar to Art Spectrum® brand paper. I use a toned, medium - value paper and never use white.
Class Times
Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Folsom at my studio at 815 Sutter Street Ste "C"
10am to 12 noon or 7pm to 9 pm
I offer two class sessions per person per week with a month-long enrollment. Additionally, there may be extra time available to students if there is a vacancy. I'll occasionally have a Saturday session or a trip outdoors for plein air fun. A trip to the winery region in Fairplay will be announced soon.
Tuition fees are $100 a month
$25 dollars for a separate session of two hours
Instructor Barry Jamison Sutter Street Pastels 530.391.1898
******
Oil Painting Supplies for Lincoln Hills Del Webb Community Class
Brushes: (Grumbacher Gainsborough/equiv) Bristle
Also “Snap” brand brushes (Taklon equivalent) by Princeton- can be purchased from Aaron Brothers “buy one get two free” sales often.
Size #4, #6, #8 & #10 Bright
Size #2, #4, #6 Round
Fan brush
Natural Sea Sponge
palette knife with flat blade
1” Wash brush (a good quality, all-purpose paint brush one can get from Hardware stores)
Palette Paper (11” x 14” or bigger)- I prefer gray colored
Glass Jars (smallish like baby food jars)- one to hold clean turps, the other for dirty.
Odorless Turpenoid- a must!!
Liquin oil painting medium (enables glazing techniques, a thinning aid, and accelerates drying time)
Number 3 graphite pencil
willow charcoal- medium hard
Colors
Winsor Newton Oil Paint colors- 37 ml
Cadmium Yellow Light
Yellow ochre
Cadmium red light
Alizarin crimson
Cerulean blue (Hue)
Ultramarine blue
Dioxine Purple
Viridian Green
Sap Green
Burnt sienna
Raw umber
Titanium white- A 200 ML tube
Payne’s Gray
