Melissa Walton

Beyond the Photo: Expressive Pastel Landscapes with Melissa Walton

2-Day Workshop

Saturday, February 7 & Sunday, February 8, 2026, 12pm – 4pm

Dive into the vibrant world of soft pastels with this beginner-friendly workshop designed for all skill levels! If you've ever wanted to capture the beauty of nature and move beyond the reference photo, this class is for you. We’ll be painting water, skies, trees, grasses and more!

Soft pastels are a rich, versatile medium known for their intense pigment, velvety texture, and the ability to create both bold, dramatic marks and delicate, luminous effects. They offer a direct, immediate, and incredibly satisfying painting experience. You will leave each day with a completed masterpiece, ready to frame.

Each day will begin with a demonstration and focused exercise to warm up your artistic muscles. Afterward, students can either work from their own reference photos or choose one provided by the instructor.

What You'll Discover:

Whether you're picking up pastels for the first time or looking to refine your technique, you’ll receive step-by-step guidance as we cover the essentials:

Understanding Pastel Materials and Techniques: We'll explore the difference between soft and hard pastels and how to select the best papers to achieve specific effects in your landscape paintings.
Composing with Confidence & Color Manipulation: Learn how to interpret your landscape reference photo by breaking down the composition three values. We'll also explore techniques to manipulate color to achieve atmospheric perspective and a more expressive interpretation of your subject.
Interpreting Reference Photos: Learn how to use technology to your advantage in editing and manipulating your reference photos!

Throughout the session, you'll be encouraged to develop your personal creative style and to interpret the landscape with a new perspective on color. You'll complete your own pastel painting by the end of each day, equipped with the fundamental skills to continue your pastel journey.

Supplies- Melissa Walton Pastels

· Paper size: Working in a size of 9x12 is ideal for learning. It’s large enough to explore techniques but still manageable. I don’t recommend starting smaller than this size.

· Pastel paper: Using sanded pastel paper will yield the best results and marks and allows us to explore underpainting techniques. Ideally, it’s helpful to have a neutral-toned paper as you learn (more on this during class). The brands I recommend are Pastel Premier, UART 400, Sennelier La Carte, and PastelMat. All of these are widely available online.

· Pastels: Bring as many as you can carry! You’ll want a nice range of lights, darks, and neutrals which are missing from many beginner sets. When starting out, I recommend purchasing half-stick sets, as they provide more colors for less cost than full sticks. Sennelier brand is a wonderful value- it is both professional quality and they have beautiful half stick sets. My absolute favorite is the “Paris” set which I have purchased for myself at least 3 times. If you already have some pastels but need certain color ranges, this is a great way to add to your collection! Other brands I recommend getting started are Mt. Vision, Unison, and Richeson Hand Rolled. In addition, Hard Pastels are essential for layering and I recommend a small set of Nupastels.

· Backing support for your paper- I prefer foamcore, but you can also use gatorboard or a drawing board. Easels will be provided.

· Additional: You’ll need either charcoal or graphite to sketch in your painting. Bring a humble paper for studio exercises- nothing fancy! Suggestions are Canon Mi Teintes (NOT white) or Artagain. I recommend pads of tracing paper to store completed pastel paintings, make sure the pad is a little larger than your pastel paper. Feel free to bring reference photos of anything you’d like to paint.

8 Week Pastel Class- Pastel Tapestry with Melissa Walton

Thursday, March 5 – April 23,2026 10am – 12:30pm

Cost: $265 Click Here to Register and Pay

Dive into the vibrant world of soft pastels with this 8-week course, open to all skill levels! If you’re ready to move beyond simply copying a reference photo, this class is for you. Soft pastels are a rich, versatile medium known for their intense pigment and ability to create both dramatic effects and delicate light.

Throughout the eight weeks, you'll receive step-by-step guidance, beginning each class with a short demo. You’ll gain a foundational understanding of pastel materials, and you’ll learn essential techniques. A major focus will be on manipulating color, creating texture, mark making, and teaching you how to interpret reference photos—your own or those provided—with a new, creative perspective.

About the instructor: Melissa Walton is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America and American Impressionist Society. More information can be found at www.pastelsbymelissa.com

Supplies- Melissa Walton Pastels

Paper size: Working in a size of 9x12 is ideal for learning. It’s large enough to explore techniques but still manageable. I don’t recommend starting smaller than this size.
Pastel paper: Using sanded pastel paper will yield the best results and marks and allows us to explore underpainting techniques. Ideally, it’s helpful to have a neutral-toned paper as you learn (more on this during class). The brands I recommend are Pastel Premier, UART 400, Sennelier La Carte, and PastelMat. All of these are widely available online.
Pastels: Bring as many as you can carry! You’ll want a nice range of lights, darks, and neutrals which are missing from many beginner sets. When starting out, I recommend purchasing half-stick sets, as they provide more colors for less cost than full sticks. Sennelier brand is a wonderful value- it is both professional quality and they have beautiful half stick sets. My absolute favorite is the “Paris” set which I have purchased for myself at least 3 times. If you already have some pastels but need certain color ranges, this is a great way to add to your collection! Other brands I recommend getting started are Mt. Vision, Unison, and Richeson Hand Rolled. In addition, Hard Pastels are essential for layering and I recommend a small set of Nupastels.
Backing support for your paper- I prefer foamcore, but you can also use gatorboard or a drawing board. Easels will be provided.

Additional: You’ll need either charcoal or graphite to sketch in your painting. Bring a humble paper for studio exercises- nothing fancy! Suggestions are Canon Mi Teintes (NOT white) or Artagain. I recommend pads of tracing paper to store completed pastel paintings, make sure the pad is a little larger than your pastel paper. Feel free to bring reference photos of anything you’d like to paint.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember the new box of crayons on the first day of school? This is the joy I feel each time I open a new set of pastels. I must admit, it was love at first sight. Each color makes my eyes grow wide with excitement; the possibilities are endless and the colors are all there. The combinations and marks have the ability create passion and convey excitement and evoke many different moods. They are impulsive and make a statement. The painting evolves with each layer and morphs the subject into something that only the pastel medium can achieve.

I have spent the last decade perfecting my technique and honing my skills. While I experiment with many different subjects, my favorite remains the Virginia countryside and images of my children . Favorite days, happy memories, moments that take your breath away- this is what I hope to preserve through my art.

About the artist:
Melissa Walton is Richmond, Virginia-based artist specializing in the pastel medium. She focuses on dynamic compositions which convey the atmospheric perspective and have a strong pattern of light and clean composition.

Melissa has a B.S. in Business Management from Virginia Tech and is a member of the Pastel Society of America, Degas Pastel Society and IFDA. She regularly exhibits her work and has had 3 solo shows to date and numerous exhibits and awards. In addition to painting she flexes her creative muscle as an interior designer.
2024
Plein Air Unleashed, Deltaville Plein Air Festival, Deltaville, Virginia May 2024
2023
Solo Exhibit, Everleigh Vineyards, Mineral, Virginia Fall 2023
2021
Artist-in-Residence, The Steward School, Richmond, Virginia October 2021
2019
Artist-in-Residence at Palette Home in Richmond, VA May 2019 - May 2020
2018
Mid Atlantic Pastel Society Annual Members exhibit, 2nd Place Capital One Corporate Exhibit, group show
Solo Exhibit - Palette Home, Richmond, VA
Mid-Atlantic Pastel Society - Glenmore Yoga Center
2017
IAPS 30th International Juried Exhibit, Albuquerque, NM Maryland Pastel Society “Shades of Pastel” Rockville, MD Pastel Society of North Carolina “Pure Color” Online Exhibit BuyRVAArt monthly exhibit "Through the Window"
2016
Southeastern Pastel Society 17th International Juried Exhibit
Melissa can be contacted for commissions at collectedimpressions@outlook.com

Follow on Instagram @pastelsbymelissa www.pastelsbymelissa.com