Oil Pastels 101: Spring Florals and Fields w/Meadows and Skies

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Celebrate the start of spring by drawing its first blooms! From soft magnolias and bright daffodils to Washington, D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms, early spring brings vibrant colors and new life. These beautiful blossoms, especially the pink and white cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, are perfect inspirations for your artwork.

What You’ll Experience:

• Explore Oil Pastels: Discover why oil pastels are ideal for all skill levels. They’re simple to use, fun, and perfect for colorful, vibrant artwork.
• Learn the Basics: Develop key skills like blending, layering, color mixing, gradient, and stippling to capture the beauty of spring blossoms.
• Refresh Color Theory: Brush up on simple color theory to enhance your art and make your blossoms pop.
• Draw Early Spring Blooms: Use the techniques you’ve learned to draw your favorite spring flowers, guided by reference images provided in class. Your blossom photos are also highly encouraged.
• Collaborative Environment: Enjoy a warm, supportive atmosphere in groups of 2-4, sharing supplies and inspiration.

No previous experience is required—just bring your love for blossoms and creativity! This workshop is a great way to celebrate the season and create something beautiful.

Ilgi Toprak is a native of Istanbul living in Washington, DC. She is trained as an architect, with intensive art and sketching coursework. She views being creative as more than a pursuit but a way of life. That is why, in 2020, she created a piece of art every day and started the Instagram account Meadows & Skies. She finds joy in translating the everyday beauty of nature using oil pastels. Through her artwork on Meadows & Skies, she focuses on capturing fleeting moments like sunsets and sunrises. One of her sunrise drawings is featured in SHE:DC in 2024.
Ilgi is a design educator with ten years of university-level design teaching experience in Turkey and the Netherlands. She specializes in teaching architectural design studio and basic design courses that involve practical demonstrations of design techniques and concepts, hands-on experience and guidance in studio setting. She holds a Ph.D. in architecture and is currently a researcher in urban studies.

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