Weekend Workshop
Sunrise and Sunset Landscapes in Pastel
With Teaching Artist Jane Gonzalez
Have you ever been captivated by the way light touches a rolling hill, or the soft glow of a sunset? Now you can learn to capture that magic in soft pastel. Join local artist Jane Gonzalez for an intimate, two-day workshop designed for everyone age 16 and older — from curious beginners to artists with experience.
Over two days, you’ll dive into the vibrant and immediate world of soft pastels, a dry medium that blends the spontaneity of drawing with the rich color of painting. You focus on color relationships and light to create a compelling composition.
Leave with more than a masterpiece: this workshop is an immersive experience designed to reconnect you with the natural world and unlock your artistic potential. You complete your workshop with two finished pastel paintings, a sunrise and a sunset, new skills and the confidence to continue your creative journey.
This workshop is for anyone looking for a mindful and creative art adventure, and those who want to learn the fundamentals of pastel drawing in a relaxed and supportive environment. Artists of all skill levels are welcome.
Discover how to layer and blend soft pastels to create luminous, vibrantly colored sunrises and sunsets. With personalized guidance, you bring your sunlit landscapes to life, focusing on creating depth, drama and atmosphere.
Your Workshop Schedule:
Day One – The Fiery Sunset (Warm Focus)
Jane introduces you to materials, surfaces and basic pastel strokes. Using your own reference photos, or those provided by your instructor, you learn techniques for composing and simplifying a scene, exploring value drawing and creating a strong foundation for your work.
She demonstrates creating a vibrant sunset sky, using a warm palette of yellows, oranges and purples to show "fire", and blending techniques to achieve smooth transitions.
Day Two – The Gentle Sunrise (Cool Focus)
You begin with a discussion of the differences between sunrise (softer, cool) and sunset (vibrant, warm) colors.
Jane works with you to block in colors and develop your underpainting for your sunrise scene, layering pastels to create moody, delicate light with soft, wispy clouds. Finally, you’ll add finishing details (water reflections, silhouettes, etc.) to enhance the glowing effect of your painting.
Dates: Saturday, April 25, 10:30am–4:30pm, and Sunday, April 26, 10:30am–2:30pm
Location: Class meets at Willard Art & Frame
Tuition: $200 (+ tax) per student for each workshop
Class size is limited to 10 students age 16 and over to ensure individualized attention and a focused learning environment.
Ready to get started? Spaces are limited; to secure your spot today, please register at left.
See your class supply list here.
Questions? Please email Jane.
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Meet Your Instructor, Teaching Artist Jane Gonzalez
Jane Gonzalez is a classically trained pastel artist and oil painter who specializes in creating captivating landscapes in pastel. She studied under Juliet Aristides at Gage Academy’s Classical Atelier, the University of Washington’s Natural Science Illustration program and numerous classes and workshops with highly regarded local artists. She’s a member of the Northwest Pastel Society and the Northwest Watercolor Society, and a freelance artist and jewelry designer.
Jane is looking forward to working with you to guide you in creating your own beautiful pastel landscape painting!
All images on this page appear courtesy of Jane Gonzalez.
