Submitted by The San Juan Islands Museum of Art
Internationally acclaimed and award-winning pastel landscape artist Steven R. Hill from Lopez Island is offering his services free, for a one-time workshop for military veterans in partnership with the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. The class is from 1-5 p.m., Saturday, May 19 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, May 20 in the upstairs room of the museum.
This workshop will focus on all the basics that Hill teaches in his regular pastel workshops at Dakota Art Pastels and Art Center in Mount Vernon.
Dakota is offering a deeply discounted “mini-kit” at just $60 — lowered from $105 — for those who do not have pastel supplies and for this workshop only. There will also be a museum facilities use fee of $75 at registration, payable to the SJIMA. Attendees who already have the basic supplies for pastel painting, will not need to purchase this mini-kit. With the basic pastel supplies mini-kit at $60 and Hill’s training waived, the total is $135.
Participants will need a 16 by 20, 3/16-inch foam core backing board, small sketch book and soft pencil for this course. Easels and work tables are provided by the SJIMA.
One of Hill’s typical workshops anywhere in the country averages $600-$800. He is a sought after pastel workshop instructor, and has taught over 70 successful workshops in the past 14 years, all over the U.S. and in Europe.
Hill does live demos at the beginning of each day, including his informative “basic pastel stroke exercises” on day one, plus a simple still-life rendering and a landscape painting demo from reference photos on day two. After his live demos, everyone will paint the same still-life object and from landscape “reference” photos.
Basic drawing skills are helpful. Expect to come away with a strong working knowledge and practical understanding of how to use the pastel medium.
Hill is a U.S. Army veteran, who was drafted and served active duty at Fort Hood, Texas from 1970-72. Craig Lemley, owner of Dakota Art Pastel in Mount Vernon, is also a former active duty military veteran. For more information, call 360-370-5050.
