Online Class: Exploring the Historic “Ranchos Church” in Soft Pastels (Part 1)

A Sublime Union of Structure and Setting

In this two-part class, explore the beauty of O’Keeffe’s paintings of the historic San Francisco de Asis Church or “Ranchos Church” while developing your skills with soft pastels.

Part 1 | Tues, Dec. 9 5–7:30 PM MT

Part 2 | Tues, Dec. 16 5–7:30 PM MT

Please note that registering for this class will automatically enroll you in both sessions

—

Using O’Keeffe’s “Ranchos Church” paintings as an inspiration point, participants in this two-part class will practice mark making with soft pastels and will learn to create value sketches and color scales. Next, students will work on creating their own compositions using photographs that will be provided in advance. Finally, the class will sketch their images, create an under painting, and layer pastels to develop a work with transcendent color. Throughout the two class sessions, instructor Deborah Shea will demonstrate these concepts and techniques.

Supplies Needed for this Class:

• 3 Tombow greyscale markers; light, medium and dark
• One piece of Bristol paper (smooth)
• A few of sheets of pastel paper. Strathmore 400 Series Pastel Pad
• Uart 12 x 16 Premium Mounted Board, #600
• Soft Pastels (Refer to O’Keeffe’s Rancho Church pieces for color inspiration and look for creams, pinks, blues, light taupes, grays, and pale yellow)
• Pastel pencils in various colors for detail work
• White charcoal pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• Xacto knife  
• HB graphite pencil for sketching
• Brush and cup for alcohol wash
• Mask (always wear for pastel work!)
• Paper towel for tapping off dust
• Winsor & Newton Artguard Barrier Cream or disposable gloves
• Fixative for the finished drawing
• Glassine Sheets

—

This class is suitable for youth ages 12 and up. Children are welcome to participate alongside their adults.

This program will take place via the video conferencing app – ZOOM. Details for accessing the Zoom meeting will be with your receipt upon registering and again sent via email the day prior. Please register in advance in order to access the program.

Note that all program times are in Mountain Time.

About the Instructor:

Deborah Shea was born into a family of artists and grew up in San Francisco. At the age of 14, she attended a summer arts program with Ruth Asawa and created images for the Hyatt Fountain and UCSF Mural. Deborah received a BA in Studio Art & Design at UC Davis. She had a career for over 20 years as a creative director, designer, and illustrator before becoming a full-time fine artist in 2017. She has won numerous awards in juried and solo exhibitions, and has taught pastel classes at Filoli, the Pacific Art League, the Atherton Art Foundation, and in her studio at Art Bias. In 2023, she was selected as one of seven San Mateo County artists for a yearlong exhibition in the Chan Zuckerberg Community Center in Redwood City. Deborah is currently pursuing her MFA at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. She resides in Redwood City, California. For more information about Deborah, please see her website or her Instagram page @debdsheastudios.

Registration

This class is being offered on a sliding scale.

$20 minimal fee.

$40 covers the cost of the class.

$60 covers the cost of the class, plus a contribution to support educational programs.