Location: Cole Art Studio, located on the lower level of Cole Gallery. 107 5th Ave S, Edmonds WA 98020 

Description: The secret to painting radiant light lies in understanding its opposite—the shadows. In this immersive pastel workshop (open to all mediums), artist and instructor Amanda Houston will guide you in exploring the beauty, depth, and mystery found in the darker side of every composition. Through live demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual feedback, you’ll learn how to create luminous light effects by studying the temperature shifts, edges, and color relationships that make shadows come alive. Amanda brings her seasoned experience teaching across three continents and her deep passion for helping artists paint with greater sensitivity and awareness. Whether you work in pastel, oil, acrylic, or gouache, you’ll gain practical tools to elevate your understanding of value, color, and form—while also exploring the symbolic “shadow work” that fuels authentic creative expression. Begin the year grounded, inspired, and ready to let your light shine brighter through The Beauty of Shadows.

PASTELS (as many as you can bring in your box!)

☐ Soft Pastels (Any brand, no oil pastels)

    ▫ Recommended: Richeson Amanda Houston sets, Terry Ludwig darks, Diane

Townsend Terrage sticks, Unison, Sennelier

☐ Hard Pastels (10-30 sticks, Girault or NUPastel)

DRAWING BOARDS:

☐ Large Board (For Studio work: that can fit a 16x20 or 18x24 paper

(Recommended: 3/16” gatorboard vs Foamcore or wood (black preferred)

PAPERS: (bring the papers you like. I will demo on the following)

☐ Plein Air Paper (La Carte or La Cart Multi media: in sand or siena color, Art

Spectrum Colorfix- in Raw Sienna, Terracotta; LUX Archival- for underpainting

technique)

☐ Black Surface Paper Choose one: (La Carte, Art Spectrum, UArt)

MISC. SUPPLIES

☐ Sketchbook (Recommended: Strathmore Toned, gray or tan)

☐ Charcoal pencils (white, medium or dark) or

☐ Tombow/Faber-Castell gray set of 4 pens (optional)

☐ Kneaded eraser

☐ 1” black artist masking tape

☐ Vine charcoal (soft or very soft)

☐ Paper towels or rags (Recommended: Viva, Shop Towels, WyPall)

☐ Wet wipes

☐ Exacto knife or straight edge (Olfa recommended)

☐ 2 medium-sized Tupperware containers (one with cornmeal for cleaning pastels) or

Swiffer hand duster for quick pastel cleaning method)

☐ Small container of denatured or isopropyl alcohol (for underpainting techniques)

amandahouston.com

BRUSHES:

☐ 1-2 synthetic brushes (Princeton Snap! or Simply Simon ¾” flat)

OTHER SUPPLIES

☐ Spray Fixative (Lascaux for finish work, or any workable fixative)

☐ Glassine paper (for protecting finished work)

☐ Photo references of shadows in andscapes (simple shapes, no intricate details)