Explore colour and atmosphere through blending, drawing and painting with soft pastels.
Join contemporary landscape painter Charli Farquharson for a plein-air pastel workshop. You will work from the natural surroundings near Luddington Village Hall, including a short walk to the river. In the case of wet weather, you will work in the village hall.
This workshop focuses on observing and responding to the landscape through composition, values, and colour. We’ll look at how to simplify what we see, build layers with soft pastels, and capture a sense of atmosphere on location.
While there will be practical guidance and demonstrations, the emphasis is on developing confidence and a more intuitive, responsive approach. We’ll move away from overworking and perfectionism, and instead explore how play, experimentation, and mark-making can lead to stronger, more expressive work.
This is a teaching-focused workshop rather than a “finished piece” session. You’ll come away with studies, ideas, and a deeper understanding of how to approach working outdoors.
Suitable for those with some prior drawing or painting experience who are comfortable working independently with their own materials. As we’ll be working outdoors, a willingness to adapt and experiment is important.
Please bring your own soft pastels and surfaces. A small selection of paper will be available to purchase on the day. You will also need to bring your own lunch.
Charli Farquharson is a Worcestershire-based painter whose work explores atmosphere, memory, and the emotional language of landscape through layered colour and texture. Alongside her studio practice, she teaches workshops that balance technical understanding with creative exploration.
