CONCEPT OF BROKEN COLOUR | SUSAN KUZNITSKY
Dates: 22nd - 25th August 2026
Times: 10am - 4.30pm
Location: Enniskerry
Skill Level: all levels welcome
Please see detailed workshop information below
If this course is fully booked or not currently scheduled, go ahead add your name to the waiting list HERE
Payment plans available contact us directly
aBOUT THE WORKSHOP
Join internationally recognized, award-winning artist Susan Kuznitsky for an immersive four-day pastel workshop. Elevate your understanding and skill set as you explore the vibrant and dynamic world of pastel painting.
This workshop will focus on the concept of Broken Colour: using different colours of the same value to add excitement and luminosity to your pastel work. You will also learn versatile underpainting techniques specifically for pastels to create rich, complex surfaces.
Whether you are a landscape or figurative painter, you will glean valuable insights to take your pastel paintings to the next level. Susan will demonstrate a variety of subjects in pastel, and you will have the option to paint along from the same image or work from your own reference. Throughout the course, you'll receive plenty of one-on-one personal attention and constructive feedback.
Each day will begin with demo followed by a presentation covering the following topics such as:
Day 1 - Colour and Relativity – how colour is influenced by the colour around it.
Day 2 - Painting ‘white’ – how to create colourful whites in your paintings.
Day 3 – Chroma – how to use the power of strong colour without over doing it.
Day 4 – How to Approach a Complex Subject – painting detail without overdoing it.
-
Some of the topics covered:
The power of the underpainting
Working from photos – what to leave in and what to leave out.
Drawing tips – line, rhythm, negative shapes
Lost and found edges.
Colour and value
Mark making
Organising your pastels - in studio and plein air
-
Bring what you have.
Pastels - A minimum of 90 sticks - an assortment of both hard and soft artist-grade pastels
representing a full color spectrum and value range.
Half-stick assortments are available from many popular brands and are a great way to start.
Sennelier 80 Assorted Colors 1⁄2 stick set is a good one.
Brands I use include:
Soft Pastels- Sennelier, Terry Ludwig
Medium or hard pastel brands – Rembrandt and Cretacolor.
*Prepare full size sticks by removing paper and breaking into half sticks.
Pastel Pencils - Small or medium size set
I like Carb Othello. There are many good brands.
Surfaces – There are many good surfaces to choose from.
For best results I recommend: (these are what I use)
Lux Archival Sanded Paper
UArt Sanded paper 400 grit
Underpainting –
I will do a watercolor underpainting and an alcohol wash underpainting
• Portable easel
• Isopropyl Alcohol and a small, sealed container
• Optional: watercolors
• One-inch Synthetic wash brush
• A few sticks of soft vine charcoal
• Masking tape – No colored tape
• Paper towels
• Glassine to protect your artwork when finished
• Towel to place under your easel (softens the blow of dropped pastels)
