Landscape Expressions in Soft Pastel

Since the dawn of time, landscapes have stirred the human spirit—calling to artists, wanderers, and dreamers alike. From violet mountain ranges fading into mist, to emerald hills rolling endlessly beneath glowing skies, to sunsets that shimmer and dissolve into gold—nature offers a poetry that begs to be painted.

In the heart of Italy’s Le Marche region, beauty unfolds at every turn. Medieval hill towns rise from the countryside like stories carved in stone. Vineyards stretch toward the horizon. Light spills across terracotta rooftops and lush valleys. It is here, in Montelparo, that we will slow down, observe deeply, and allow the land itself to guide our creative journey.

This course invites you into an exploration of soft pastel that is both expressive and immersive. Using the landscape as our muse, we will experiment boldly—layering watercolor and acrylic inks to create luminous underpaintings that breathe beneath the pastel surface. We will explore the dance between looseness and realism, discovering how gesture and structure can coexist beautifully within a single painting.

Working primarily with PanPastels and pastel pencils—while incorporating traditional sticks—we will build depth, atmosphere, and form through thoughtful value relationships and confident mark-making. Stencils and unexpected tools will encourage play, texture, and spontaneity. Each layer will be an invitation to trust the process.

Our daily wanderings through the countryside and villageS will become the seeds of our studio work. Sketches gathered in the open air will serve as foundations, as we learn to simplify the vastness of the landscape into essential shapes, light, and shadow. Rather than seeing complexity, we will learn to see harmony. Rather than intimidation, possibility.

Above all, this experience is about courage—about embracing experimentation within a supportive and nurturing community. Together we will cultivate fearlessness, curiosity, and joy in the creative process.

Join Jennifer in Montelparo, where ancient villages, rolling hills, and ever-changing light will shape our work and awaken new artistic expression. Let the land speak—and let your pastels answer.