Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Apr. 2025)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

Sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), this event will be held in the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona. I

It's all about the Underpainting!

Combine the spontaneity of drawing, painting, or printmaking using ink in your underpaintings. Underpaintings may be seen in the final piece or covered completely. Join us for an interactive demonstration where we'll use a gel plate, brayer, or brush to create your own unique aesthetics or mark-making, which does not require a lot of expensive materials.

This demonstration will have some materials available for the audience to experiment with throughout the demonstration.

Caught on a Limb.
Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On archival paper. 9x12.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Date & Time

April 16, 2025 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event was open to the general public and TPS art guild members. Admission was free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Nov. 2024)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

This event, sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), will be held at the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona.

PanPastel® Crash Course

Pastel is a medium, used for sketching, drawing, or painting since the Renaissance, not an aesthetic. PanPastel® is the world's first range of pastel colors that can be mixed and applied like paint. They are professional artists' quality soft pastel colors in a unique cake-like or pan format. They may be used by themselves or with the pastel medium.

This demonstration will have PanPastels® available for the audience to experiment with throughout the demonstration. We'll do some mark-making exercises focused on techniques specific to PanPastel® medium and then demonstrate how to use them with regular pastels.

Donatello. 5x7. Pastel and panpastel on paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

November 20, 2024 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event is open to the general public and TPS art guild members. Admission is free.

Announcement

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Nov. 2023)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

Sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), this event will be held in the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona.

All About Degas!

Join us for an interactive demonstration! We'll cover Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917), a master pastelist during the late 19th century. It's well known that between 1874 and 1886, Degas participated in seven shows, now known as the infamous Impressionist Exhibitions.

However, what is less known is that Degas used monoprints as the underpainting for his pastels! Monoprints have a unique aesthetic, using a painterly process that does not require a large printing press or expensive materials. Try some of Degas' techniques. You'll be amazed by its simplicity and perhaps make a few discoveries yourself!

Before We Could Vote. 11x14. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

November 15, 2023 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event is open to the general public and art guild members. Admission is free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Jan. 2022)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture! Sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), this event will be held in the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona.

How to Find Your Colorfulness

Painting can be lots of fun; however, working with color is highly complex, with many elements to consider. Have you even introduced a new color in your artwork only to discover that something else is suddenly out of whack? Let’s try a new approach by introducing neutrals next to highly intense colors to make them more vibrant.

Feeder. 9x12. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

January 19, 2022 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event is open to the general public and art guild members. Admission is free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Modern Quilt Guild (MQG) (Aug. 2016)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

Sponsored by the Modern Quilt Guild (MQG), this event will be held in the classroom of the Quilt Basket in Tucson, Arizona.

The Language of Color

Christy will walk us through color theory, including hue, intensity, value, complimentary colors, triads, and more, including some hands-on exercises.

Cactus. 5x7 Ink sketch on paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The mission of Modern Quilt Guild (MQG) is to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community. For more information, visit themodernquiltguild.com.

Event Date & Time

August 11, 2016 (6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

Location

The Quilt Basket (Classroom in the Store)
6538 E Tanque Verde Rd # 130, Tucson, AZ 85715

Admission

This event is open to the general public and guild members. Admission wis free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Southern Arizona Artists Guild (SAAG) (Sep. 2015)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

Sponsored by the Southern Arizona Artists Guild (SAAG), this event will be held in the Kiva building at the Junior League in Tucson, Arizona.

Bringing Color Harmony into Your Paintings

Painting can be lots of fun; however, working with color is highly complex, with many elements to consider. Have you even introduced a new color in your artwork only to discover that something else is suddenly out of whack?

Let's try a new approach, choosing colors in the context of relationships rather than in isolation. With excellent tips and packed with lots of information, Christy Olsen will demonstrate her painting techniques and cover all of the basics needed to create a successful painting using the pastel medium.

Yellow Roses. 9x12. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Southern Arizona Arts Guild strives to provide a forum for the appreciation and advancement of the arts. Members of SAAG meet and socialize to facilitate the practice, improvement, and display of our talents. Composed of painters, sculptors, and creators of all manner of fine art, SAAG welcomes seasoned and new artists and individuals interested in the perpetuation of the arts in our community. For more information, visit southernarizonaartsguild.com.

Date & Time

September 31, 2015 (9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)
Refreshments served.

Admission

This event is open to the general public and art guild members. Admission is free.

Location

The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. is a private, nonprofit educational women's volunteer organization aimed at improving communities and civil society's social, cultural, and political fabric. For more information, visit the Junior League.

Junior League in Tucson, Arizona

Address

Junior League (Kiva Auditorium)
2099 E River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85718

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration The Drawing Studio (TDS) (May 2015)

Invited to demonstrate drawing!

Sponsored by The Drawing Studio (TDS), this event will be held in Tucson, Arizona.

Open House

The Drawing Studio (TDS) will be having an Open House at its new location! Come see their new digs! See samples of Christy's work and learn more about the classes that she will be offering. Beginners to Advanced Are Most Welcome! Other faculty will also be present with samples of their own artwork to discuss adult and youth classes offered this summer.

Jug. 9x12. Tinted charcoal sketch on paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Drawing Studio (TDS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that enriches people's lives by providing artistic inspiration and studio art instruction for people at any age (from 9-90+) at any level of experience. For more information, visit TheDrawingStudioTDS.org.

Event Date & Time

May 17, 2015 (1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Refreshments served.

Location

The Drawing Studio (TDS)
2760 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, Arizona 85716
+1 (520) 620-0947

Admission

This event is open to the general public. Admission is free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Jan. 2015)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture.

Sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), this event will be held in Tucson, Arizona at the TPS Art Center.

A New Approach to Color

Painting can be lots of fun; however, working with color is highly complex, with many elements to consider. Have you even introduced a new color in your artwork only to discover that something else is suddenly out of whack?

Let’s try a new approach, choosing colors in the context of relationships rather than in isolation. Packed with excellent tips and lots of information, Christy Olsen will demonstrate her painting techniques and cover all of the basics needed to create a successful painting using the pastel medium.

Italian Crystal. 16x24. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

January 15, 2015 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event is open to the general public and art guild members. Admission is free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Pastel Society of New Mexico (PSNM) (Sep. 2014)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture for Pastel Society of New Mexico (PSNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Albuquerque Museum!

A Systems Approach to Painting

Written by Christy Olsen

Painting can be fun; however, it is a highly complex process with many elements to consider, such as line, value, shape, size, space, texture, and color. Have you ever modified something in your artwork to discover that something is suddenly out of whack?

Winged Victory with Roses. 19x25. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

Let's try a new approach! Packed with excellent tips and tons of information, Christy Olsen will show us how to work through the elements in the context of relationships rather than in isolation. She will also demonstrate her pastel techniques and cover the basics needed to create a successful pastel using a systems approach.

PSNM Newsletter Announcement

About the Host

The Pastel Society of New Mexico (PSNM) is a nonprofit art guild or organization formed in 1989 by a small group of artists seeking to promote the appreciation of the soft pastel medium and contribute to the growing arts community in New Mexico. Although PSNM is based in New Mexico, its membership now includes artists from more than half the states in the nation. For more information, visit www.pastelsnm.org.

Event Date & Time

September 13, 2014 (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
Refreshments served.

Location

Albuquerque Museum (Auditorium)
2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104

Admission

This event is open to the general public and art guild members. Admission is free.

About the Museum

The Albuquerque Museum, formerly known as the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, is a public art and history museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The museum is located in the Old Town area and is operated by the City of Albuquerque Department of Arts & Culture. For more information, visit the Albuquerque Museum website.

Albuquerque Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Nov. 2013)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture! The event, sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), will be held in the St.James United Methodist Church classroom in Tucson, Arizona.

Art Marketing in the 21st Century

The rise of the digital age has turned the art market upside down in the past decades. Explore past, present, and future art market trends. Learn how to sell your work online and the basics of success. No prior computer experience is required.

Elephant. 8x10. Pastel sketch on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

November 13, 2013 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Classroom at St.James United Methodist Church
3255 N Campbell Ave. #2304, Tucson, AZ 85719

Admission

This event is open to the general public and art guild members. Admission is free.

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