Capture the beauty, gesture, emotion and sense of style of a portrait subject!  

 

What to expect 

Painting a good pastel portrait involves understanding several important issues...and you will work your way through these with Leoni. 

• Understanding the proportions of the head with confidence. 

• Identifying the sense of beauty and gesture in the subject. 

• Using five values to block in the portrait efficiently. 

• Relating colour to values. 

• Capturing the emotional content and sense of style of the model. 

• Finishing touches for a sense of expressiveness. 

At the end of your two days, you will have completed a confident and expressive pastel portrait. 

 

About your tutor 

Leoni is recognised as an artist, art teacher, and mentor.  She is the winner of numerous significant art prizes, and her work can be found in both private and public collections nationally and internationally.  In 2014, Leoni was the Guest of Honour at the International Pastel Salon in France, and her pastel work was collected for the International Museum of Pastel in France. 

 

While initially studying music and education, Leoni’s fascination with the intertwined history of music and art eventually led her to pursue painting.  Her work now reflects her early study of the European Masters, and a continued striving for artistic insight and growth.  Her paintings communicate her intimate insights into the human condition. 

 

Leoni lives in Launceston, Tasmania, where she runs a small private art school in conjunction with the Leoni Duff Galleries, a hub for art enthusiasts from around the world. 

 

What will I need to bring? 

Morning tea and lunch are included in your fee! 

Suggested Materials List:​     ​ 

• A set of 30-60 (or more) assorted good quality pastels with a warm and cool of each basic colour (yellows, blues, reds, pinks, greens, purples, browns, etc., in 3-5 values, darks mid tones and lights, half sticks are good and more cost effective.  

• Art Spectrum (AS) Flinders Blue Violet (very dark), AS Flinders Red Violet (very dark), AS Australian Grey, the whole set of AS Raw Umbers, the whole set of AS Burnt Umbers. 

• Conte Crayons in various dark colours: dark brown, sepia, sanguine, black, and assorted greys, and including bright red, orange, magenta pink, blue green, mauve, light blue and yellow green. 

• Willow charcoal sticks (thin and long).  

• Wet-wipes. 

• Kneadable rubber.  

• A sheet of AS Australian Grey Colorfix Paper, a sheet of AS Soft Umber Colorfix Paper. 

•  Workable Matt Fixative.  

 

Use any papers and pastels that you have as well as the ones mentioned on the list above. 

 

Do not panic if you do not have items on the list.  We will work with what we have!