Service Description

We are delighted to invite you to a pastel workshop with the internationally renowned French and Ukrainian artist, Olena Duchêne: https://www.instagram.com/olena.duchene/ Olena has extensive experience working with pastels, watercolors, and gouache. Her style is fresh and expressive; she enjoys blending techniques and has her own unique way of preparing a textured surface for painting. The central theme of this workshop will be the magnolia. We will paint them both outdoors and in the studio, depending on the weather. Over the two days, we will also explore different outdoor locations to discover and paint various magnolia varieties. A significant portion of the workshop will be dedicated to practical exercises focusing on volume, floral geometry, and tonal values. These studies will provide a solid foundation for confidently exploring and depicting any flower or floral composition in the future. DATES: April 4 and 5, 2026 SCHEDULE: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (lunch break) 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (6 hours each day, 12 hours total) LOCATION: Artiloft, Avenue des Alpes 104, 1820 Montreux (indoor and outdoor) PRICE: CHF 320 with your own equipment (recommended equipment is listed below) or CHF 350 with equipment provided LANGUAGES: French, English, Ukrainian, Russian For those of you who participated in Olena's workshop last year, new photographic techniques and references will be used. Please note that online registration here is mandatory due to limited space. Materials: - Sketch paper (e.g., Canson Mi-Teintes), or sketchbooks - Canson Mi-Teintes Velvet paper (Light Gray), Pastelgrain, or Pastelmat paper in neutral or mid-tones, e.g., Light Gray (Velvet), Sand, maximum size 40x40cm. Or, for example, Canson Mi-Teintes Velvet albums in shades of gray, 32x41cm. - Tracing paper (to protect the pastels) - Adhesive tape for securing the sheets, clips - Tripod or easel, drawing board - Kneaded eraser - Charcoal (natural sticks and charcoal pencils) - Absorbent paper (roll), wipes, apron - Dry pastels in a more compact format or your usual assortment - Pastel pencils - Color wheel - Clothing appropriate for the season P.S.: You can purchase the paper and pastels directly from Artiloft (upon request at info@artiloft.ch).