Oil Pastels: Versatile, Luscious, and Painterly with Stefanie Taranto

The Museum School at the Cape Cod Museum of Art presents:

Oil Pastels: Versatile, Luscious, and Painterly with Stefanie Taranto

(4) Mondays, April 1 - April 29*, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm (*no class on Patriots' Day/April 15)

Members $125 / Non-Members $150

Beginner - Intermediate

Artist Stefanie Taranto introduces students to the versatility of oil pastels, a versatile medium that adheres to a variety of surfaces such as paper, cardboard, canvas, and wood which bridges between painting and drawing superbly. The advantage of oil pastels over soft pastels is that they won't crumble, smudge, or create dust while producing intense, luscious colors with painterly results. Students are encouraged to keep a sketchbook. In class, students can work from their images/photos,  an image on an iPad, or reference examples from the Cape Cod Museum of Art Permanent Collection on display for class examples. This is a unique opportunity for students to see the Permanent Collection up close for inspiration.

Class Materials to bring:

• Sennelier Oil Pastels or high-quality Holbein. No cray-pas, please. Stefanie recommends a set of small-scale oil pastels, but you can order individually as well, with at least one large “grande” white pastel.
• Drawing board
• 1” masking tape, painter’s tape, or artist’s tape
• Paper towels or rags
• Single-edge razor blade or something for scraping
• Inexpensive hogs’ hair (flat or round)
• Baby wipes (strongly recommend having them for the first class)
• Surfaces to choose from (not regular drawing paper- it is too thin!): Mixed media paper 120lb, Bristol 100lb, hot-press watercolor paper, and/or acid-free mat board
• Mediums to choose from: Liquin original (the best) or Res-N-Gel (non-toxic)

Image credit: "Provincetown Dunes", n.d., Charles H. Richert, Oil pastel on paper, 21.25" x 24.75" x 2" framed. Anonymous Gift in Honor of Mr. Robert Duffy, Cape Cod Museum of Art Permanent Collection.

Stefanie Taranto, Fine Artist, is influenced by the process of translating observation into narrative, painting within the continuum between representation and abstraction. Stefanie received her BFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She regularly teaches at the Cape Cod Museum of Art including watercolor, oil pastel, and acrylic painting. 

Her current series are in oil pastel and acrylic; additionally, she is well-versed in watercolor, dry pastel, pencil, and pen and ink. Her works hang in private collections and corporate environments, most recently a five-piece grouping in the historic Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, 2017. Stefanie shows annually in individual and group shows as well as select fine art fairs. Recent awards include “Best in Pastel” from Art in the Barn, 2016, and the “Purchase Award” from the Schaumburg Cultural Commission, 2015.

The Cape Cod Museum of Art is committed to making Art accessible to everyone in the Cape Cod Community. The Museum School Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance to qualified, year-round Cape Cod residents ages 6 and up. Click here to apply.

Cancellation policy: CCMoA must be notified 1 week prior for refund.