"Go Bold! Painting Dynamic Landscapes in Pastel, Oil or Acrylic" with Susan Mayfield (May 2026)
GO BOLD! PAINTING DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES IN PASTEL, OIL OR ACRYLICS
with Instructor Susan Mayfield
WHEN:
Saturday & Sunday
(10am to 4pm)
May 16 & 17, 2026
with Instructor Susan Mayfield
WHEN:
Saturday & Sunday
(10am to 4pm)
May 16 & 17, 2026
WHERE:
Art League Academy
(106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC)
Art League Academy
(106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC)
Do your paintings disappear on the wall? Do you often wonder how to make your paintings stand out, how to make your artwork "POP?" This workshop will explore ways to make more compelling and powerful visual statements through the luminous medium of pastel, focusing on the landscape for inspiration and subject matter. The workshop will consist of demos, painting exercises, group discussions, positive critiques and lots of hands-on individual attention. Oil and Acrylic painters are welcome to attend, however know that demos will be done in pastel and then Mayfield will work individually with you in your medium.
Make your pastel painting more expressive and visually interesting from start to finish, from choosing subject matter, editing reference photos, simplifying and improving design and composition, using dynamic value contrasts, pushing color schemes, and using color temperature to create mood and emotion. Make colors pop, develop more interesting compositions, learn to edit and simplify, explore ways to use contrasts to push values and color temperature to make a stronger painting. Students will learn guidelines to help them critique their own work while strengthening the fundamentals in their paintings.
REFUND POLICY:
Ticket purchases to Art League of Hilton Head events are final. Credits or Refunds will not be given for missed or classes/workshops.
If a class or workshop is canceled by Art League of Hilton Head a full refund will be given.
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Skill Details: | This class is a great choice for intermediate pastel artists! Oil & Acrylic artists see note in description. |
| Materials Included: | No materials are included in this class |
| Requirements: | Supply List for Susan Mayfield's Pastel Workshop Click Download a Printable Supply List. 1. A portable easel, Art League Academy has easels you can use, or you can bring your own preferred easel. 2. Small sketchbook for notes and preliminary sketches. 3. Vine charcoal, soft or extra soft. Pink Pearl eraser for toning exercise. 4. Pantone or Copic markers in 3 shades of gray and black (light gray, medium gray, and medium dark gray, plus black. 5. At least a dozen or two of your favorite reference photos of landscapes, preferably photos that you took yourself. You can bring in your ipad or computer or print them out. Please choose simple scenes. I will have extra photos. 6. Pastels Working in pastels, you will find that unlike oil, more is better. If you are just getting started in pastels, get a large set of harder pastels like NuPastel, and as many softer pastels as you can afford. All the nice, soft, expensive pastels come in sets, and you can save by buying sets instead of individual sticks. I use a variety of pastels: Sennelier half-sticks, which come in gorgeous darks, you can find them on sale at Dick Blick. I also use pastels from Terry Ludwig, Unison, Schminke, etc... If you don't want to invest yet in a lot of expensive pastels, Michael' carries a good inexpensive sets from Faber-Castell, Rembrandt, and various NuPastel sets. Unlike oil or acrylic, the more colors the better with pastels. Make sure you buy some good, deep darks in various hues 7. A container for your pastels: If you don't already have a commercially available pastel box with individual compartments, you can find good ones HeilmanDesigns.com or JudsonArt.com and other art supply stores. If you don't have a pastel box, you can improvise with a large size Tupperware container with a top filled with a bag of plain cheap grits, corn meal, or rice. This keeps the pastels clean and protected. 8. Masking tape (not blue) 9. Scissors 10. Pastel Paper: I recommend bringing to the workshop 11"x14" or 12"x16" sized pastel paper or larger, and we can tape off into smaller sections. We will be doing various exercises on these small taped off sections, along with several larger pieces. I recommend for this workshop using UArt 400 or 500 grade which can be found online at various sites such as: Jerry's Art-A-Rama and Dick Blick or Dakota Pastels. Other papers I use- Art Spectrum pastel paper, Sennelier La Carte paper, Pastel Mat. Please bring whatever pastel papers you usually use, and I will have several kinds of paper on hand for students to try out, and will demonstrate how to make your own pastel paper. 11. Baby wipes. Get the big pack... 12. Drawing board or boards larger than paper sizes. I use store-bought Masonite painting boards 13. Rubbing Alcohol and old paintbrushes to tone paper and to under-paint. Denatured alcohol or 90-percent isopropyl alcohol is best. 14. Apron QUESTIONS? Please email: Academy@artleaguehhi.org. |
| Instructor: | Susan Mayfield |
| Instructor Bio: |  SUSAN MAYFIELD is an award-winning artist known for her use of bold pastels and oils. A native South Carolinian, she has divided her time between the coast of Carolina and the high mountain desert of her home in Salida, Colorado. Mayfield's career has included solo and group exhibits in galleries such as the Wells Gallery and the Gibbes Museum in Charleston, SC, the Joyce Robins Gallery in Santa Fe, NM and The Red Piano Gallery in Hilton Head. Recent awards include 2019 Best in Show award at South Park Plein Air Festival, Best in Show and Southwest Magazine Award at the 2018 Mile High Pastel Society of Colorado National Exhibition, the Quick Draw Award at the 2018 Central City Colorado Plein Air Festival, Quick Draw Award at the 2017 Red Rocks Plein Air Festival in Moab, Utah, the Elizabeth Mowry Poetic Landscape Award at the 2017 Mile High Colorado Pastel Society Exhibition, "People's Choice" and "Quick Draw" awards at the 2016 South Park Plein Air Festival, and the Best in Show award at the 2015 Show Park Plein Air Festival. Mayfield's pastels have been chosen for the Art in Embassies program. Mayfield teaches art classes and workshops throughout the country and her paintings can be seen at the Edward Dare Gallery in Charleston, SC, the Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan's Island, SC and at her studio in Salida, Colorado. WEBSITE: SusanMayfield.Net EMAIL: susanmayfieldart@gmail.com IG: SusanMayfieldArt |
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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.
