Reformulating, repurposing, and repackaging are common ways to keep art supplies that have been around for centuries, feeling new.

But, PanPastels really are new and very different from the soft pastels on which they are based.

Artist grade soft pastels are an old and traditional medium (1600s). They look wonderful, but they behave in certain ways which make them hard to use for many artists. They aren't easy to store, they are fragile, and they create an unholy mess of dust.

They also have to be fixed with sprays that smell and are toxic.

When I first heard of them, I literally ran out to get them and I have been having a love affair with them ever since. I have learned a lot about using them outside of the traditional pastel paradigm, and how to combine them with other media. In this workshop. I will share that information with you.

We will learn to "paint" and draw with Pan Pastels and to combine them with other media for some fantastic and unusual results.

The idea of a "Cre8tive" workshop is that you take the lesson and go any direction with it that you feel inspired to go. You do not have to duplicate the lesson samples - although you can do that for the sake of practice if you wish.

Pan Pastels come in a wide palette of colors. Because they are not inexpensive, this workshop does not require a specific set of colors. Use what you have and you will discover which colors you may want to add to your stash. (See Supply List below).

We use a closed, invitation-only Yahoo Group as our classroom.

You purchase the workshop from our Shopping Cart and remember the start date. The evening before the strat date for the workshop, the link to the Yahoo Group will be emailed to you, but email does not always get through. If you do not already belong to other Yahoo Groups, you will be asked to set up a user name and password. If you have not received this link by the morning of the start date, please check your spam folder, and if it is not there, email me to let me know and I will resend it.

You must be able to play a Quicktime video on your computer.

Test this by trying this video (has nothing to do with this workshop):

http://gallery.me.com/jwesolek#100001

If you can run this video, you will have no problems with the class videos. If not, download the free Quicktime Player for Windows here (Macs have Quicktime already): http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html

After watching the video lesson, you try the techniques or resulting projects in your own time and upload the results to your own Album in the Group Photos section to share with the Instructor and the other students.

Your participation in the show and tell of the workshop is strongly encouraged. The sharing with each other is a huge part of the learning and support that can be had from the workshop.

Workshop Requirements. . . Enthusiasm and curiosity.

PanPastels
At least 6 colors. Whatever colors you have are fine because they all perform the same way.

They are worth having because they produce results that can't be made with any other tool.

PanPastels (individual pans)

Sofft Tools

Sheer Heaven
Pan Pastels and Sheer Heaven are a match made in . . . well. you know . . . heaven. You will need at least 3 good sheets and the rest can be transfer leftovers.
http://www.cre8it.com/sheerheavenpricing.html

2-Ply Smooth Bristol
This is a smooth and durable drawing paper sold at all craft and art supply stores. A 9x12 Smooth pad will do fine.
Link to Strathmore Bristol Board Pads at Dick Blick (half off)

Water Soluble Color Pencils
Any brand is ok. My favorite brand is Caran d'ache
Caran d'ache Water Soluble Pencils at Dick Blick

A Waterbrush.
Niji is the best brand and is inexpensive online (see below). Small tip is best, but medium is ok, if you can't get a Small. This is a paintbrush that holds clear water in its barrel.
Link to Niji Waterbrush at Dick Blick

Erasers
A firm white plastic eraser works best, and an eraser pen and eraser pencil are needed for erasing thinner lines.
Link to White Plastic Eraser and Eraser Pen at Dick Blick

Link to Eraser Pencil at Dick Blick

Packing Tape
The wide, clear kind meant for sealing packages.

Stamping Supplies
A Clear Embossing Ink Stamp pad.
A large (4x6 or so) texture background stamp. If you don't have any, a kitchen sponge will do.
A nice solid image stamp of something (like the bird in the example above).

Miscellaneous Supplies
Paper Towels, make-up cotton pads (cotton balls do not work as well), scissors, 3H pencil (non-smeary).
Link to 3H Drawing Pencil at Dick Blick