Pet Portraits in Pastel

Instructor: Mary Beth Sasso

Dates: Saturday, May 2, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Ages: 15+

Members: $81

Non-Members: $90

(Registration deadline: April 28)

Description:

Join this rewarding and creative Pastel Pet Portrait Workshop, where you'll learn to capture the essence and personality of your beloved furry and feathered companions through the vibrant medium of pastels. Learn how to bring out the texture of fur, whiskers, scales, feathers, and eyes with blending, layering, and detailing techniques. Receive personalized feedback and tips from the instructor to enhance your artwork throughout the workshop. By the end of the workshop, you will have completed a stunning pastel pet portrait to cherish as a keepsake that captures the essence of your pet’s personality and charm.

*Note: This workshop is intended for individuals with intermediate drawing abilities and experience.

Materials:

Provided by participants:

• Pastels, hard or soft (Do not bring oil pastels, as they require different techniques and materials)

  • If you bring your own soft or hard pastels to the workshop, please ensure they are of high artist quality. Cretacolor Hard Pastels and Rembrandt Soft Pastels are excellent options for your needs. Some additional examples of very soft pastels include Sennelier, Schmincke, and Unison Colour.

• Kneaded eraser (Faber-Castell brand suggested)

• Artist chamois, 5x7 (Jack Richeson 710210 brand suggested)

• Painter's tape, 1/2" wide (3M Scotch-Blue brand suggested)

• White charcoal pencil

• Clairefontaine Pastelmat or Uart Sanded Paper (600 or 800 grit) provides the best surface for achieving excellent results.

• Clear 8x10” photograph(s) of your pet’s face or choose from our selection of pet images. The instructor will guide you in selecting a suitable reference image for your portrait.

Instructor Bio:

With over half a century of artistic expertise, Mary Beth specializes in teaching foundational skills in drawing, watercolor, and pastel painting. As an associate faculty member at Santa Rosa Junior College and a Kennedy Center Certified Teaching Artist, she has developed a curriculum that serves everyone from kindergarteners to adult learners. Having exhibited her fine art in both California and Connecticut, she brings a bicoastal perspective and deep professional experience to her students. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in her dual background as a veteran Graphic Designer and a certified yoga teacher. This allows her to guide students through both the technical “rules” of composition and the meditative “flow” of creation.

Instructor's website: https://marybethsasso.com

All workshops are held at the Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive

Workshops may be cancelled due to low enrollment if a minimum number of participants are not met. Registrants will be notified in advance and a refund or credit will be arranged (see workshop polices below for details).

Workshop Policies: Please review the terms of our workshop policies here