Colored Ink with a Brush (Spring 2023)

Create ink drawings using a brush! Learn how to create ink washes and work with various colored inks and ink types. Use pen and basic brush strokes to create beautiful lines and forms.

Lotus. 8x10. Colored inks paper by Christy Olsen.

Practice using an ink brush pen for travel in guided exercises on a small scale. Explore the traditional brush painting concept of “less is more” as you learn how to capture the essence of your subject using only a few strokes. Work your way up to finished pieces that explode with color!

Meets: (3) Saturdays 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Jan. 7, 14 & 21 in 2023
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N. Los Altos, Tucson, Arizona 85705)

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, lecture, hands-on studio practice with one-on-one instruction or individual feedback.
Level: No experience necessary. Absolute beginner, beginner to intermediate, all levels are welcome!

Medium: Ink & Ink washes
Technique: Demonstrations in mark-making using a brush or brush pen.
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list before the first day of class.

Read More

Pen & Ink Practice, Sketching & Scribbles (Fall 2022)

Pen & ink is perfect for sketching on the go! You'll find it's a medium worth getting to know. It dries quickly and won't smudge; however, once some marks are made, they will not budge. Switch to a brush and draw like a painter. Work through an October challenge as if it's a no-brainer.

Jug. 8x10. Ink sketch on paper by Christy Olsen.

Practice with the guidance you seek as you learn a variety of inking tools & techniques. Whether a novice or an established inker, you may discover that you're intrigued by pen & ink practice hook, line, and sinker. During this class, you will have access to the supplies you need, and by the end, you may even feel as if your challenge in pen & ink will succeed!

Meets: (3) Saturdays 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Oct. 1, 8, & 15 in 2022
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N. Los Altos Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85705) via the Art Verve Academy.

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, lecture, hands-on studio practice with one-on-one instruction or individual feedback.
Level: No experience necessary. Absolute beginner, beginner to intermediate, all levels are welcome!

Medium: Pen & Ink
Technique: Mark making, line & how to use fountain pens
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list before the first day of class.

Register or enroll at the Art Verve Academy!

Read More

Review by Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Feb. 2022)

Christy Olsen was the guest speaker for last month's Tucson Pastel Society general meeting.

Photo from th event

She is a noted Tucson pastelist, our vice president, a teacher at the Art Verve Academy, and an engineer. She has a B.A. in Art History and Anthropology and a B.S. in Computer Science.

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

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

Read More

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.

Read More

Pen & Ink Toolbox for Ink Challenge (Fall 2021)

Pen & ink is perfect for sketching on the go! You'll find it's medium worth getting to know. It dries quickly and won't smudge however once that mark is made, it will not budge. Switch to a brush and draw like a painter, work through the October/Inktober challenge as if it's a no-brainer. Practice with the guidance you seek, as you learn a whole variety of inking tools & techniques. Whether you are a novice or an established inker, you may find out that you're intrigued by InkTober practice hook line and sinker. During this class, you will have access to supplies you need, and by the end, you may even feel as if your InkTober practice will succeed!

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

This class will focus on how to perform a 30 day Pen & Ink challenge!

Meets: (2) Saturdays 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (3-hour duration)
Dates: Oct. 2, 9 in 2021 (Inktober)
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N Los Altos Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705) via the Art Verve Academy.

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, lecture, & one-on-one instruction provided during hands-on practice.
Level: Absolute Beginner to advanced, all levels are welcome!

Medium: Pen & Ink
Technique: Drawing, Hatching & Cross Hatching
Materials: Bring a sketchbook, notebook, pencil, pen, or something to take notes on.

Register or enroll at the Art Verve Academy!

Read More

Drawing in Pen & Ink (Spring 2020)

Drawing in Pen & Ink

Pen & ink is perfect for sketching on the go, you'll find that it's a medium definitely worth getting to know. Once you make a mark, it won't budge, it also dries quickly and is sure not to smudge. Switch to a brush and draw like a painter, work with ink washes to build values like it's a no-brainer. Practice with all the guidance that you seek, as you learn a variety of inking techniques. Whether you are a novice or an established inker, you may find that you're intrigued by colored inks hook line, and sinker. During class, you will have access to all the supplies needed, and by the end, you might even feel that drawings have succeeded!

Artwork by Christy Olsen

Meets: (2) Sunday Afternoons 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (3-hour duration)
Dates: Jan. 19, 26 in 2020
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N Los Altos Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705)

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, lecture, & one-on-one instruction provided during hands-on practice.
Level: Absolute Beginner to advanced, all levels are welcome!

Medium: Pen & Ink
Technique: Drawing, Hatching, Cross Hatching, Ink Washes & Working with Colored Ink
Materials: All materials will be provided. Bring a sketchbook, notebook, or something to take notes on.

Read More

Design and Composition: Notan (Spring 2019)

Whether you are drawing or painting, a strong composition will attract attention, engage the viewer or provide clarity in your message. This class covers some of the basic principles of art, simplification, and the Japanese concept of Nōtan (濃淡), a concept that evolved during the evolution of woodblock prints using a limited set of dark and light shapes. By the end of this class, you will have a solid understanding of how to simplify your shapes and arrange your values into a pleasing design.

Notan by Christy Olsen

Meets: (2) Saturday Afternoons 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (3-hour duration)
Dates: Feb. 9, 16 in 2019
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N. Los Altos, Tucson, Arizona 85705)

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, lecture, & one-on-one instruction provided during hands-on practice
Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Medium: Not media-specific, demonstrations will be performed in graphite or pen & ink
Technique: Design & Composition
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list prior to the first day of class.

Read More