Introduction to Soft Pastels
Beginner Course · 4 Weekly Classes
Date and time
Friday, 11. September 2026, 15.30
Further dates
Overview
Beginner
No previous knowledge required for this event.
DE & EN
Our Instructor speaks fluent English and German.
Studio Zürich
4 × 2.5 hours
Weekly classes over 4 consecutive weeks
Multi-day Course
A structured learning journey over multiple sessions, where you'll learn new techniques and develop a solid foundation in the chosen art form.
Guide: Valeri
Valeri is our Kursentwicklerin & Kunstlehrerin
Description
Pure pigment. Endless colour. Creativity at your fingertips.
Soft pastels are one of the most vibrant and expressive drawing mediums an artist can work with. Rich colours, incredibly smooth blending and the freedom to work directly with your hands make them both wonderfully intuitive and surprisingly versatile.
In this four-week course, you’ll discover everything you need to confidently begin your journey into soft pastel art. Whether you’re completely new to the medium or looking to strengthen your artistic foundation, we’ll guide you step by step through the essential techniques that make soft pastels so unique.
Throughout the course, you’ll learn how to blend colours seamlessly, build depth through layering, create light and atmosphere, and explore the fascinating balance between precise mark-making and expressive gestures. You’ll experiment with different papers, blending techniques and artistic approaches while gradually developing your own style.
Every class combines demonstrations, practical exercises and plenty of individual creative time, allowing you to immediately apply what you’ve learned while receiving personal guidance from your instructor.
Soft pastels invite experimentation. Some artists create delicate, realistic landscapes, while others produce bold, expressive works full of colour and movement. This course gives you the technical foundation to confidently explore whichever direction inspires you most.
✏️ What to Expect
- A structured four-week introduction to soft pastels
- Weekly guidance from a professional artist
- Live demonstrations and practical exercises
- Plenty of individual creative time with personal feedback
- A relaxed and encouraging atmosphere to experiment and grow
- Step-by-step exploration of colour, blending and layering techniques
🧠 What You’ll Learn
- Understanding the unique properties of soft pastels
- Colour blending and layering techniques
- Creating light, depth and atmosphere
- Working with different papers and textures
- Expressive mark-making and composition
- Building confidence with one of the world’s most colourful artistic mediums
🤔 Is This Course Right for Me?
Absolutely.
Whether you’re discovering soft pastels for the first time or looking for a structured introduction to this beautiful medium, this course is the perfect place to begin.
No previous experience is required. All you need is curiosity, creativity and a willingness to experiment with colour.
More Infos
Not at all!
Our courses are designed for the level indicated in the course description, whether you’re a complete beginner or already have some experience. All you need is curiosity, motivation, and the willingness to learn and improve in your new creative hobby.
No. We provide all the materials and equipment you’ll need throughout the course.
If you already own high-quality art supplies or would simply like to learn using your own brushes, paints or other materials, you’re very welcome to bring them along. Otherwise, just turn up and we’ll take care of the rest.
Yes—and that’s part of the fun!
Soft pastels are pure pigment, so colourful fingers are almost unavoidable. Most artists blend colours directly with their fingertips, making this one of the most tactile and enjoyable artistic mediums.
Of course, you’re also welcome to use blending tools or wear gloves if you prefer.
To make transport easier, we’ll keep all of your artworks and practice pieces safely stored in your personal folder throughout the course.
At the end of the final class, you’ll receive everything you’ve created during the course, including your finished projects and all your practice work.
The date shown during booking is the first class of your course.
All remaining classes take place on the same weekday, at the same time, over the following consecutive weeks, and normally at the same location.
Should there ever be an exceptional change of location, everyone in the course will be informed well in advance.
Our courses are generally scheduled on consecutive weeks, including public holidays. We find this creates the best learning experience and helps everyone maintain momentum.
Unless stated otherwise in the course description, classes will take place as scheduled, even if one of the dates falls on a national or public holiday.
Don’t worry.
If the same course is offered again and there are free places available, you’re welcome to join the missed class. Simply let us know by email beforehand.
In many cases, an even better option is to attend one of our Studio Classes. There, you can continue working on the project you missed while receiving support from the tutor. As Studio Classes are designed for independent projects, the tutor will assist you alongside the other participants working on their own artwork.
Our courses are taught by highly trained, active artists who combine their own artistic practice with teaching at Paint It Easy.
They’ll guide you through the course, share their knowledge and techniques, and help you develop your artistic skills in a relaxed and encouraging environment.
To ensure plenty of individual attention, our courses are limited to a maximum of 12 participants.
There is no homework.
That said, as with any creative skill, the more you practise, the faster you’ll improve. If you enjoy creating between classes, we can only encourage it!
Our courses are all about developing your creative skills, but we wouldn’t want to lose the Paint It Easy atmosphere.
Tea, coffee and water are always available during your classes, and before the very first session we usually celebrate the start of the course together with a glass of Prosecco—or a non-alcoholic alternative.
Cheers!
The natural next step is joining one of our Studio Classes. Studio Classes are designed for hobby artists who want to continue developing their skills while working on their own projects in a creative community. Your tutor is there to support and guide you whenever needed.
If you’d like to explore a different artistic medium, you’re also welcome to join one of our introductory courses. Or, if you’d like to continue in the same medium, our intermediate and advanced courses are the perfect next step in your creative journey.
What are PIE multi-day course?
Learn art in 4-6 weeks for sustainable learning
Learn more about PIE multi-day courses
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