Pastel Foundations: Techniques for Expressive Landscapes

Looking for help on your pastel journey?

This two and a half-hour workshop by Bryan Jernigan provides the most essential lessons about the vibrant world of pastel art.

Bryan will start with the basics: value, color, and mark-making. Then we’ll explore how to build strong compositions, use photo references effectively, and move away from the colors in your reference photo. Along the way, you’ll learn both foundational principles and advanced techniques—perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike.

In this workshop, Bryan will guide you step-by-step. You’ll discover:

• What pastels, tools and surfaces to use
• A warm-up exercise to get you going
• Landscape reference photos to help you apply what you’ve learned

Whether you're just starting out or refining your skills, this workshop will give you the tools to create expressive, timeless pastel paintings. Be patient with yourself, enjoy the process, and let’s dive into the magic of pastel together!

This workshop takes place at the McLean Art Gallery located in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center (plenty of free parking!).

About the instructor: Bryan Jernigan is an internationally collected, award-winning artist who works primarily in pastel, acrylic and oil. He regularly offers workshops and classes and his work is held by public and private companies and individuals in the U.S., France, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Japan. Visit his website at for more information.

Also check out other Workshops in McLean, Arts events in McLean.