BUILDING A FOUNDATION WITH PASTELS- 5 DAY RETREAT

STUDENTS WILL LEARN 

In this Five- day intensive workshop, students will build a strong foundation of knowledge that will jump-start your exploration of the pastel medium. Students will have the opportunity to experience a variety of pastel materials through hands-on experience. There will be several short exercises that allow students to work with different pastel brands and understand what makes each unique, as well as how each feels when applied to the different types of paper.This in-depth analysis of materials will help identify the paper and pastel brands that best suit your approach to painting.

Methods for arranging, storing, caring, and transporting pastels will be discussed.

STUDENTS LEARN THE ABC'S 

Analyze - How to build a successful composition using big shapes and contrast.

Build Layers- Learn techniques for building layers using the paper and pastels selected as your favorites.

Color story - Develop a method for creating a color story that teaches a system for seeing color values, temperature, hue and saturation. 

The teacher demonstrations will be high-energy and brief, allowing you to spend more time painting. Hands-on exercises will provide the opportunity to experiment and apply the information taught. Two paintings will be completed during the workshop.

WORKSHOP SUPPLIES 

Tobi has curated a limited color palette for the Building a Foundation (BAF) workshop which includes variety of pastel brands, pastel papers and other necessary materials.

Over the years, Tobi has observed that beginning students have not yet acquired a collection of quality pastels, with a range of values and hues, softness and hardness, needed to complete a successful painting. Her carefully selected palette will supply all the brands needed for the materials exploration exercises and the specific hues needed to teach her unique color system and complete two paintings. 

This workshop will teach why pastel brands vary in softness, systems and price. Students will complete a variety of exercises using different pastel brands and different papers. Understanding materials, paper and pastel brands, and how they work together is a necessary first step toward understanding the pastel medium.

The BAF KIT  includes:

A variety of pastel brands, Girault, Schminke, Mount Vision, Great American, Terry Ludwig. Seven sheets of different pastel papers, tracing paper, 3 copic markers That students will use for the value exercises and the two paintings completed in the workshop. Kit cost $225 can be paid by cash, check or Venmo. Kits will be distributed first day of workshop. 

BAF LOCATION 

AHH HAA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

155 W Pacific Ave

Telluride, Co. 

REGISTER NOW! LINK WILL BE AVAILABLE  SOON 

THE INSTRUCTOR

Tobi Clement is an internationally recognized and professional award-winning pastel artist, known for her expressive skies. Tobi's work was featured on the cover of the annual French publication, Pratiques De Arts #50 magazine in 2019, and was invited as one of fourteen American artists to participate in a special all-woman Pastel exhibition in Montluçon, France in 2022, honoring American Women Pastellists.
She is a Distinguished member of the Pastel Society of New Mexico (PSNM), and a Signature member of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM). 

Faculty member at IAPS  2026 & PACE 2026.  

Tobi was featured in the 2020 June-July & August-September Pastel Journal with a two-part educational editorial. PleinAir Magazine showcased Tobi in an 6 page educational editorial in the November 2020 issue.  Her work has been published a variety of portfolios in both Fine Art Connoisseur and Plein Air Magazine.

Tobi participated as faculty in 2026 Plein Air Convention and In 2026 IAPS. 

TESTIMONIALS

Tobi Clement has done all the research for you! In one day at her workshop I learned more about pastel materials than I could in years of hit-or-miss experimentation. Going forward I will know which brands of pastels and pastel papers work best for me. Now I can confidently invest in materials that enhance my work and not waste money on pastels and surfaces that frustrate me. Tobi’s clear and systematic hands-on demonstrations are priceless.  Her guidance will pay for itself in your future savings on art supplies."  Karen

"Building a Foundation” pastel workshop is one of the best workshops I’ve ever attended anywhere! Tobi is full of energy and enthusiasm and is eager to share her knowledge with others. She shared many practical insights, learned over years of her own painting, about papers and pastels. I’ve attended many other workshops in pastels and other media, and I still learned a lot. I returned home from the workshop eager to put into practice the things we learned — that’s a good workshop!"  Gail

"I knew that I wanted to take a deep dive into the world of pastel and I am so fortunate to have found Tobi's workshop. She is an incredibly generous teacher.  I imagine it would be a difficult task to support all the students at different levels but she did it, attending to our individual needs while creating a fun positive atmosphere. Her personality and her paintings are so full of life and energy! I left the workshop with a solid foundation in pastels, (particularly materials) that is anchored in her experience. Everything I learned will inform my pastel journey. Most importantly, I came home from a beautiful retreat feeling motivated, supported and inspired." Sarah