Pastel Society | Events Programme

The Pastel Society presents a series of special events:

Wednesday 24 January, 11am

Event: ‘Images of Winter’ with Katrina Wallis-King, at which the exhibition pixel project will be launched.

Katrina will demonstrate and encourage you to get a hands-on feel for the rewarding medium of pastel. From initial sketch to developing your image through mark-making and using colour for mood, this informal workshop is an opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy a morning of creativity. Some materials are provided but artists are encouraged to bring a small selection of their own, as well as reference material (sketches, photos, etc) that represent ‘Images of Winter’.

Exhibition Pixel Project: With the subject of ‘Images of Winter’, visitors are invited to undertake a painting or drawing in pastel that will be photographed by Simon Hodges and shown on the Pastel Society website after the exhibition as part of a ‘pixelated image’: each painting representing one pixel. All materials are supplied. Use subjects in the gallery, phone images, photographs, memory or invention to create your image.

Thursday 25 January

11am The story of six paintings: A talk by Simon Hodges VPPS

From blank sheet of paper to framed work, Simon will give a short talk on how and why he arrived at his paintings for this year’s exhibition.

1pm to 1:30pm A exhibition tour for the Friends of Mall Galleries by Simon Hodges VPPS

Friday 26 January, 2pm

‘The urban environment’: A pastel demonstration by John Tookey PS

Join John and let him talk you through how to turn a blank sheet of paper into a finished work in pastel before your eyes.

Sunday 28 January, 2pm

The wonder of dry media: A demonstration and workshop by Richard Rees PPS

Richard will concentrate on mixing dry media and demonstrating the differences. He will part demonstrate and part allow people the chance to work on small panels provided. Soft pastels, oil pastels and acrylic inks will be provided but feel free to bring your own if you wish.  

Monday 29 January, 11am

Let's go sketching in the gallery: A workshop with Simon Hodges VPPS

With an attitude of ‘less is more’, Simon will encourage artists to push themselves outside their comfort zone. Whilst some materials are provided, please feel free to bring dry materials that you would normally use to go sketching.

Tuesday 30 January, 2pm

The wonder of dry media: A demonstration and workshop by Richard Rees PPS

Wednesday 31 January

11am Talk: The Pastel Society; a personal insight

Simon Hodges will give a personal insight into being a member of the Pastel Society. What should you consider when thinking about entering work? How does the selection process work? How do you become a member? What should the Society consider for the future? Ask your questions.

2:30pm to 4:30pm A painting demonstration by Roger Dellar PS RI ROI ARSMA

With his experience of painting many different subjects in a variety of drawing and painting mediums, Roger will talk through one of his popular demonstrations in dry media from start to finish. Sit back, watch, listen, take notes, ask questions and enjoy.

6pm to 8:30pm Art Event Evening: This special event brings together two models for a themed drawing and painting session with Pastel Society members, including Roger Dellar, Jenny Halstead, Richard Rees and Simon Hodges.

A glass of wine is included in the price and a prize is given for the best work by a non-member.

The models will be wearing clothes echoing the period of the Society's origins in 1898.

Tickets: £12 for participants, £10 to spectators, £6 for Friends of Mall Galleries and exhibiting non-members. There is no charge for Friends of the Pastel Society.

Booking required, please book via Eventbrite.

Thursday 1 February

11am Talk with Q&A: Painting, framing, selling and buying

2pm A walk around the exhibition with Martin Goold PS, exploring colour and atmosphere in pastel painting.

A themed tour of the exhibition looking at a variety of ways in which pastel artists have suggested and evoked atmosphere in their paintings. The tour will focus on a small number of paintings in the exhibition and look at different uses of colour in a range of subjects including landscape, portrait and still life as well as more abstract approaches. Discover some of the secrets about how this wonderful versatile material can really be used.

Duration: 45 minutes. Access: Suitable for all age groups, walking and standing.

4pm A walk around the exhibition with Martin Goold PS, exploring the suggestion of depth and distance in pastel painting.

A themed tour of the exhibition looking at a variety of ways in which pastel artists have suggested depth in their paintings. The tour will focus on a small number of paintings in the exhibition and look at different methods used to give the feeling of being able to look from foreground to background. See how traditional perspective methods might have been used as well as some less obvious approaches.

Duration: 45 minutes. Access: Suitable for all age groups, walking and standing.

Friday 2 February, 11am

Let’s go sketching in the gallery: A workshop with Simon Hodges VPPS

Saturday 3 February, 2pm

Pastel and dry media workshop with Richard Rees PPS

Sunday 4 February

11am Soft pastel demonstration by Sarah Bee PS

Sarah brings her enthusiasm and experience with soft pastel to Mall Galleries. She will talk you through the demonstration and answer questions you may have whilst showing you the beauty of soft pastel when used as the final layer within a mixed media process.

2pm Soft pastel demonstration by Sarah Bee PS

Monday 5 February, 11am

Sarah Bee and Simon Hodges will be on hand to talk to visitors

Sarah and Simon will share their experience with pastel and dry media and encourage visitors to try out dry materials, draw and paint, see slideshows, ask questions, look at sketchbooks and discuss any work in the exhibition. All materials provided or bring your own.

Wednesday 7 February

11am ‘Marine subject’: A pastel demonstration by John Tookey PS

2pm Charcoal drawing demonstration by Andrew Barrowman PS

A new member to the Society, Andrew will offer an insight into how he produces his wonderfully atmospheric charcoal landscapes.

Thursday 8 February, 2pm

Charcoal drawing demonstration by Andrew Barrowman PS

Saturday 10 February

11am Sketchbooks with Simon Hodges VPPS

Simon is available around the gallery for questions and answers. His sketchbooks will be available to look through at your leisure.

2pm The wonder of dry media: A demonstration and workshop by Richard Rees PPS