Exploring Underpainting for Pastel Painting (Online Course) Winter 2026 w/ Susan Woolgar

$238.50 $265.00

February 19 to March 12 (Thursdays), 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Eastern Time

**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.

Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.

DEMO: https://youtu.be/1HhNWzmbqRQ

Course Description

Soft Pastel is a wonderful medium, providing richness in a wide variety of colours and types of crayons. This course is designed to introduce you to the various ways of starting and building your image from a blank surface to a completed work of art. Working with acrylic, clear gesso and rubbing alcohol, learn how to make your soft pastel paintings more dynamic with underpainting.  Pastel techniques and colour theory will also be discussed.

Course Outline

Week 1 -

Introduction to materials and basic surface  preparation for a pastel painting.
Demo of basic mark making with pastel.



Week 2 -

A review of homework , followed by a demo of an alcohol wash underpainting. The use of colour and value will be introduced, with the importance of compliments and warm/cool bias in your work.



Week 3 -

A review of homework, followed by a demo of an acrylic underpainting, emphasizing the importance of value patterns in your work.



Week 4 -

A review of homework, followed by a demo of developing and using acrylic underpainting to create a richer surface through compliments. Using the underpainting as an integral part of the finished work. An overview of the month and time to answer any questions.

Course Materials List

1- pad 14” x 18” Canson XL recycled Bristol paper or any smooth watercolour paper.

1- Board to mount paper on.

1- Container of Liquitex (CLEAR) Gesso

The following acrylic paints:

1- Tube Black

1-Tube Lemon or Cadmium Yellow

1-Tube Red

1-Tube Pthalo Blue

1-Tube Transparent Red Oxide

1-Tube Yellow Oxide

2 -3” flat brushes ( the 6 pack, 3 sizes. White nylon available a Michaels is recommended.

3-round acrylic brushes (small, medium and large (no bigger than 12))

1-roll Scotch Brand removable tape

1-set new pastels (hard) 36 piece or larger

1-set soft pastels 36 piece or larger ( recommended brands; Unison, Terry Ludwig, Schminke, or any other soft pastel)

Note: if you are buying new, consider purchasing a larger set of new pastels and a set of earth tones and neutrals in the soft pastels

1- Bottle rubbing alcohol

1-Pkg Bamboo Barbecue Skewers (available at the Dollar Store)

Note: I will send photo reference for the class.

February 19 to March 12 (Thursdays), 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Eastern Time

**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.

Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.

DEMO: https://youtu.be/1HhNWzmbqRQ

Course Description

Soft Pastel is a wonderful medium, providing richness in a wide variety of colours and types of crayons. This course is designed to introduce you to the various ways of starting and building your image from a blank surface to a completed work of art. Working with acrylic, clear gesso and rubbing alcohol, learn how to make your soft pastel paintings more dynamic with underpainting.  Pastel techniques and colour theory will also be discussed.

Course Outline

Week 1 -

Introduction to materials and basic surface  preparation for a pastel painting.
Demo of basic mark making with pastel.



Week 2 -

A review of homework , followed by a demo of an alcohol wash underpainting. The use of colour and value will be introduced, with the importance of compliments and warm/cool bias in your work.



Week 3 -

A review of homework, followed by a demo of an acrylic underpainting, emphasizing the importance of value patterns in your work.



Week 4 -

A review of homework, followed by a demo of developing and using acrylic underpainting to create a richer surface through compliments. Using the underpainting as an integral part of the finished work. An overview of the month and time to answer any questions.

Course Materials List

1- pad 14” x 18” Canson XL recycled Bristol paper or any smooth watercolour paper.

1- Board to mount paper on.

1- Container of Liquitex (CLEAR) Gesso

The following acrylic paints:

1- Tube Black

1-Tube Lemon or Cadmium Yellow

1-Tube Red

1-Tube Pthalo Blue

1-Tube Transparent Red Oxide

1-Tube Yellow Oxide

2 -3” flat brushes ( the 6 pack, 3 sizes. White nylon available a Michaels is recommended.

3-round acrylic brushes (small, medium and large (no bigger than 12))

1-roll Scotch Brand removable tape

1-set new pastels (hard) 36 piece or larger

1-set soft pastels 36 piece or larger ( recommended brands; Unison, Terry Ludwig, Schminke, or any other soft pastel)

Note: if you are buying new, consider purchasing a larger set of new pastels and a set of earth tones and neutrals in the soft pastels

1- Bottle rubbing alcohol

1-Pkg Bamboo Barbecue Skewers (available at the Dollar Store)

Note: I will send photo reference for the class.