VPS has a scholarship program available. 

Members of VPS for more than a year are eligible.  A VPS WorkshopScholarship Application Form must be filled out ASAP in order to apply it to this workshop.  Full payment still needs to be made.  Scholarship funds will be received after the workshop is over. https://vermontpastelsociety.com/vps-workshop-scholarship-application-form/.

 

Cancellation Policy: To reserve a space a full payment is required immediately.  Full payment is due within 2 weeks of sign up. No refunds will be given within 60 days of the workshop unless we are able to fill your space. Cancellation requests must be in writing. 

• In the case of low enrollment or if the workshop needs to be cancelled due to unforeseen situations, VPS will refund 100% of the fee. Workshops will run based on adequate enrollment.

• Please note that we will determine whether a workshop will run approximately 30 days prior to the start date unless the contract with the artist states otherwise. Please make your travel plans accordingly. (Look for refundable rooms).

• Exceptions will be made by discretion of the VPS Workshop Chair and/or VPS Board for a death in the family of an immediate relative or a personal emergency medical situation.

 

STUDIO WORKSHOP:DESCRIPTION:

Three days of working with pastels beginning with a discussion of materials, including soft pastel choices, paper samples and details of storing and framing pastels. Methods and various tools used will also be discussed. Frequent demos, group exercises and individual instruction.

 

This workshop emphasizes balance and values to describe the vibrant Autumn landscape of fall. From initial sketches to determine composition, to under-painting with pastels, sometimes using water or alcohol, to a completed work, looking as part of process is stressed. All levels. 

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Materials List:

• Pastels - Sennelier, Schminke, Unison or any SOFT pastel will be fine,  please include Fall palette.

• Mounting Board - (if you do not have one) 1/2” Foam Board is light and therefore very portable, and should be at least 1” larger than your paper.

• Easel or tabletop easel

• Masking tape

• Soft Vine Charcoal - several sticks

• Tortillions (optional) or any blending materials you use.

• Kneaded Erasers - 2

• Small sketch book and #2, #6, #8 pencils for value studies

• Glassine sheets - slightly larger than your paper

• Baby wipes, paper towels

• Gloves in a Bottle (recommended hand lotion found in drug stores)

• Paper: at least four sheets 9”x12”

• UART 400 Sanded pastel paper is recommended.

        Colourfix, Richeson, Ling, Wallis or other sanded papers will be fine.

        Canson MiTeintes is also acceptable, but not recommended.

 

About Marlene:

Marlene Wiedenbaum PSA-MP, IAPS-MC attended the Arts Students League in NYC under Harvey Dinnerstein. Her award winning paintings have been exhibited internationally, including the International Pastel Artists Invitational in Taipei, Taiwan, the Xian Art Museum, China. Her work is featured in text books commissioned by the Taiwanese government and she is an International Honorable Member of the Beijing Pastel Research Academy. Wiedenbaum has been selected by Hudson Valley Magazine as Best Artist 2022, and was awarded Master Circle Status by the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) in 2022. In 2025 her large format pastel paintings were featured in the Pastel Journal. Her work was in the Newsletter of the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia, and Fine Art Connoisseur featured her exhibit of Hudson Valley Landscapes in Fine Art Today. Wiedenbaum has been profiled in Art Times, and American Artist. She teaches pastel at the Woodstock School of Art in the Hudson Valley. An award winning MASTER Pastelist & Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, and an Elected Member of the Audubon Artists Org., Marlene is currently serving on the Board of Governors of the Pastel Society of America and her work was included in 2024 at the Butler Institute of American Art, Giffuni Gallery in Ohio. Her work is in private and public collections throughout the world.