Course Outline:

All levels welcome

Introducing the magical world of pastel drawing .

Easy steps to create stunning pictures very rapidly including combining pastels with pen & wash..

What to Bring:

pad - cartridge paper A3

1 Artline fine line pen 0.5. 

1 no 7 synthetic watercolour brush 

2 sheets A3 tan pastel paper 

set soft pastels

2 sticks hard pastels - Conte rust & white 

kneaded eraser 

white plastic plate

tissues & paper towels.

About the tutor:

Pursuing another passion, Susan studied archaeology at Sydney University, working on field excavations in the Middle East. A keen traveller, an early fascination with the rich artistic traditions of Susan Bernasconi has developed her natural creative and communication skills working in advertising, graphic design and promotion, successfully combining her professional design work with teaching, painting and tour guiding. Susan studied drawing, painting and fine arts at the National Art School, East Sydney, painting and drawing with the late John Ogburn at the Harrington Street Gallery, The Rocks, and graphic art, advertising design and illustration. Ancient Egypt led to her first trip to the African continent. Her interest continues with Egyptian art and culture, particularly the prehistoric and early dynastic cultures, and the flowering of the revolutionary court of Akhenaten and Nefertiti at the city of Amarna. For an artist, Susan's travel diaries and sketch books are a vital inspiration for her paintings. She has held several successful exhibitions in Africa, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, the Pacific Islands, Indonesia and Australia. She captures the spirit of landscape, wildlife and people with vibrant pastels, inks and watercolour. Frequent African journeys led to Susan's involvement with organisations helping to protect endangered species and their habitats; as a result she planned and accompanied African safaris helping raise funds for a greater awareness of black rhino and wild dog research projects in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

Susan, a qualified tour guide, also conducts walking tours focusing on our early colonial history and settlement, early colonial art and Aboriginal culture of Sydney. Susan's interest in early art forms and cultures has led to her study of rock art around the world; in Africa, Europe but particularly in Australia, where the world's oldest and most extensive collections of rock paintings and engravings exist. She conducts a series of lectures on this ancient rock art of Australia, in addition to those on archaeology, painting and drawing. Susan brings her professional skills, extensive knowledge and great enthusiasm to her popular classes, lectures and tours, adding a unique artistic dimension to all her courses and projects. “I believe creating art through drawing and painting and appreciating the works of artists through time who have left their images for us to wonder at and admire, enables both beginner and experienced artists to participate in the magic of the world we see all around us."