10 AM-3:30 PM
Presented by Regina Ottman

You are invited to bring your curiosity, sense of play and creative spirit to a one�day exploration/celebration of music, art and oil pastel!

Oil pastel is a beautiful, vibrant, versatile medium that can be used in many different ways, allowing a wealth of mark-making possibilities. During the workshop, we will explore techniques for painting and drawing with oil pastel, and discover new avenues to bring oil pastels into our work. After lunch, we will delve into how music can awaken inspiration in our art practices, bringing unique ideas, inspiration and voice to our creative flow. Music and art have always been sisters, inspiring and challenging each other. Using oil pastels and some of the techniques we explore in the morning, we will create work in collaboration with several different genres and styles of music. It promises to be a fun, joyful day of art and music! I hope you can join us! All levels are welcome and encouraged; adults only please. The workshop will include a tour of Regina’s oil pastel paintings in the Marie Louise Trichet Art Gallery, on view from 11 June through 27 July.

Materials List

Oil pastels — a small set will get you started for this workshop. Try colors from a few different brands to see what you like best. I use a variety of brands, and really like Erengi ArtAspirer Oil Pastels (Jerry’s Artarama carries them) and

Meeden Soft Oil Pastels (sets available from Amazon at a very reasonable price).

Sennelier & Caran D’ache oil pastels are top of the line, heavily pigmented and very expensive! I usually save these for final mark making.

Turpenoid: a little jar or container with a lid

Brushes: two or three oil paint brushes, whatever shape/size you prefer. I like to use a small flat, a large flat, and a medium sized round. Inexpensive brushes are fine!

Paper towels

Acrylic Ink pick a color (or two) that you love. Waterproof, please.

Paper that will stand up to work/re-working, the oil in the pastels, and the use of Turpenoid. I like Arches oil paper, SoHo Urban Artist Oil Pastel Pads (sold by Jerry’s Artarama), Arches hot pressed watercolor paper, and Hannemühle toned watercolor paper. No smaller than 8″x8″/ no larger than 18″x24″ please.

Optional Items:

Drawing Board on which to work (not necessary if you’re working at a table)

Easel, if you like prefer to work on an upright surface

Tape or clips to affix your paper to the board

Your favorite mark-making media: oil pastel pencils, colored markers, colored pens/pencils, Caran d’Ache Neocolor 2 water soluble crayons, litho/grease crayons, collage materials & glue sticks, or other favorite media

Scraping tools palette knife, wedges, an old credit card, an old comb, etc

Wipes/baby oil for cleaning hands; some people prefer to wear gloves while working

Apron if you are messy like I am, and don’t want to wear all your oil pastels on your clothes

COST | $75, lunch is included

Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center
229 E Litchfield Rd
Litchfield, CT 06759
https://www.wisdomhouse.org/program-calendar/music-pastels