June 25, 2023

What Can You Do With Walnut Ink? (Oct. 2023)

Explore walnut ink and its rich sepia tones. Rembrandt, DaVinci, and Van Gogh all used it in their sketches and drawings. Discover what they found so enchanting and why they used this extremely forgiving water-soluble medium.

One dip of a brush will get you a wide variety of tones or lighten up dark areas with a wet brush. Create quick, playful sketches on the go or finished pieces.

Original by Christy Olsen
Lucca. 7x10. Walnut Ink on toned paper by Christy Olsen.

Meets: (3) Saturday Afternoons, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Oct 7, 14 & 21, 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: Walnut Drawing Ink or Similar
Technique: Sketching, working with dip pens and or brushes
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list before the first day of class.

Click to register or enroll!

February 5, 2023

The Power of Pastel in Ironwood Gallery
(Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2023)

Was accepted into the show!

Pastels have been a long-established medium in art history since its beginning in 16th-century Europe. Even as trends and tastes ebb and flow with the times, pastels have remained a constant among artists of every age for their versatility of use and effects.

Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen
Rush Hour in Caye Caulker. 9x12. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

Pastels are unique in that their matte finish, with its painterly quality, is combined with the immediacy of drawing. This powerful combination makes this medium a staple in the contemporary artist's toolbox.

Juried Exhibition & Art Sale

This event is open to the general public. Artist's reception is at no charge. Admission to the museum is required for other dates and times.

This juried exhibition showcases the unique characteristics of pastels, as each artist expresses their inspiration through landscapes, structures, still life, portraits, and abstractions. Some works are created en plein air, rendered quickly with their subjects in real-time, while others are painstakingly executed in the studio over considerably longer periods. This collection of works by members of the Tucson Pastel Society truly reveals "The Power of Pastels."

Sixty-six paintings were accepted out of the one hundred and five submissions from multiple art guilds. Subject matter genres include landscapes, culture, structures, still life, etc., not necessarily limited to the Sonoran Desert region. The exhibition showcases some of Arizona's most accomplished pastel artists.

Juror

Desmond O-Hagen
Fine artist and master pastelist.

Dates

March 11, 2023 - June 4, 2023

Artist's Reception

Friday, March 10, 2023 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Refreshments will be served. Admission is free to the reception. If you go to the reception, enter through admissions and tell them you are there to see the show. They will admit you at no charge. You may also park in the side parking lot that is closer to the gallery. Directions are listed below.

About the Host

Tucson Pastel Society (TPS)

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

About the Gallery

Ironwood Gallery is an upscale art gallery and beautiful space that is transformed for each unique exhibit. It is located on the grounds of the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona, which includes live plants and animals to further the conservation message of its exhibits.


Inside Ironwood Gallery

Location

Ironwood Gallery
On the grounds of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743

Ironwood Gallery

Available Parking

Parking for the artist's reception will be available.

Parking for the Artist's Reception
Friday, March 10, 2023 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Gallery Hours

Daily (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

Sale

Artwork may be purchased during the show but must stay hung throughout the exhibition.

For Purchasing Information:
Phone +1 (520) 883-3024

Collaborative Challenge Piece

The challenge piece was accepted into the show!

One collaborative piece featuring nine different interpretations of a shared subject is featured. This final work is for sale during the show. Proceeds benefit ASDM and the TPS.

Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen
Art challenge. 8x8. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen.


The Event

Image from the installation.

Opening Artist's Reception

Framed Collaborative Piece

Opening Artist's Reception

Opening Artist's Reception

Opening Artist's Reception

Rush Hour in Caye Caulker received an honorable mention award.

Painting in Gouache Basics & Essentials
(Spring 2023)

Learn how to paint with gouache! This versatile, fast-drying water medium, also known as opaque watercolor, is simple to set up and easy to clean up.

The colors are rich & exceptionally vibrant because each tube has a high concentration of pigments. Use it in multiple ways, including travel sketching, color studies on the go, or paint your own miniature masterpiece!!

Blue & Orange, original painting by Christy Olsen
Blue & Orange. 8x10. Goauche on paper by Christy Olsen.

Learn the basics & essentials to paint in gouache, or build on your current painting skills with some guided practice. You only need a few primary colors to get started.

Meets: (3) Saturdays 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Apr. 8, 15 & 22 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: Gouache or Opaque Watercolor
Technique: Includes scumbling, impasto, veiling & washes.
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list before the first day of class.

Register or enroll at the Art Verve Academy!


Link to post event photos: https://www.artverve.xyz/2023/04/painting-in-gouache-basics-essentials.html

January 3, 2023

Art from the Heart in Murphey Gallery
(Group Exhibition & Art Sale 2023)

Will be in this Show!

Art from the Heart is a charity art sale and exhibition. All proceeds directly support other non-profit, local art charities selected by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS). The art guild members will also exhibit and sell original pastels in Murphey Gallery.

Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen
Near Gale. 9x126. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen

Charity Art Sale & Exhibition

All original artwork will be in the pastel medium, created by the Tucson Pastel Society art guild members. Originals in various subjects will be displayed in multiple sizes, from small to large. The event is free and open to the public.


Small original artwork less than 11x14 (with the frame included) is priced at $100.00 or less. The following original was donated to the charity art sale.

Roses. 5x7. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen. Donation for charity.

Donation for charity with frame

Dates

Feb. 5 - Mar. 31, 2023

Artist's Reception

Feb. 5, 2023 (12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Refreshments served.

About the Host

Tucson Pastel Society (TPS)

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium and have fun doing art in the communities it serves. TPS is an active and vital art organization for pastel artists to flourish, fostering the skills and camaraderie of its members while encouraging community awareness of dry pastel fine art by offering exhibitions and events. For more information, visit the Tuscon Pastel Society.org.

About the Gallery

Murphey Gallery is located on the grounds of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church in the Foothills of Tucson, Arizona. Visit the gardens or see Koi pond. Follow the beautiful columns in the architecture to the gallery entrance.

Murphey Gallery
Murphey Gallery
On the St. Philip's Episcopal Church grounds in the Foothills

Murphey Gallery
Murphey Gallery gardens and Koi pond

Location

Murphey Gallery
4440 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85718
Located on the grounds of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church in the Foothills.

Hours

Sundays (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) or call for an appointment.

Sale

Original artwork may be taken immediately after the transaction is complete.

For Purchasing Information:
Phone +1 (520) 299-6421


Artist's Reception

Image from the event.

The Reception

The Reception

Show Installation

Image from the galley.

The Show Installation

The Show Installation

December 31, 2022

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, original painting by Christy Olsen
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.

Register or enroll at the Art Verve Academy!


August 1, 2022

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, ink sketch by Christy Olsen
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)

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!


January 2, 2022

Guest Speaker & Demonstration
Tucson Pastel Society (TPS)
(Spring 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. It is open to the general public and members of the guild. Admission is at no charge.

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.

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

Date & Time

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

About the Host
Tucson Pastel Society (TPS)

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium and have fun doing art in the communities it serves. TPS is an active and vital art organization for pastel artists to flourish, fostering the skills and camaraderie of its members while encouraging community awareness of dry pastel fine art by offering exhibitions and events. For more information, visit the Tuscon Pastel Society.org.

Location

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