Class Name: Portraits in Pastel-Soft and Oil
Instructor’s Name: Laura Milkins
Instructor’s Email: lmilkins@gmail.com
Medium: Soft or Oil Pastel
Student Experience: Beginner/Intermediate
Dates of Class: April 9, 16, 23 and 30th, 2026
Day and Time: Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
How Many Weeks in Class Session: 4
Maximum Number of Students: 15
Total Cost to Teacher: $100 for Members. Non-members pay the teacher $100 and the QCFAP Club an additional $40 or pay QCFAPC $25 to join the club.
Class Description: Learn to create portraits using soft/oil pastels. Step-by-step instruction on working with shape, creating form, choosing colors, proper lighting and down to the details. This class is intended for beginner to intermediate skill level. Some drawing experience recommended, but all levels of experience are welcome.
Soft Pastel Supply List
Pastel Paper: Assorted Canson Mi-Teintes Pastel Pads (11″x14″ and a few 18″x24″ sheets or larger) or equivalent brand Link to article on pastel paper: https://finearttutorials.com/guide/best-pastel-paper/ Pastel Colors: We will use soft pastels for these classes. It’s absolutely fine if you choose to use what already you have instead of buying a new set. In either case, you may want to buy more individual colors as you go along. Set of 24 soft pastels (Sennelier, Schminke, Art Spectrum, Holbein, Sennelier, Great American or the Dick Blick) Detail Work: Pastel Pencils (Faber Castel Pitt Pastel pencils, Carbothello has a set of 12, Conte soft pastel pencils are also great also.) -OR- Hard/semihard pastels can also be used for finishing strokes and detail work. I recommend you purchase a small set of 24 or 36. Set of 24 hard pastels (Nupastel, CretaColor, Derwent, Holbein, Sargent or Sennelier) Additional Supplies (*Recommended) Painters tape or artist tape (similar to masking tape, but with less tack) Fixative or reworkable fixative (to set the pastels when done) *Wet wipes *Blending stumps or tortillons *Small hand towel (old) or chamois cloth *2b pencil and sketchbook
