Drawing Red Chalk Portraits with Susan Lyon

Since Renaissance times, red chalk has been a beautiful medium for portraiture. Award winning artist Susan Lyon teaches her method for producing beautiful portrait drawings using red chalk. The course includes explanation of materials and a step by step process. You will learn the fundamentals of portraiture in order to confidently create an expressive portrait. Open to all levels, beginner or advanced.

Susan Lyon grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. Her initial interest in art was sparked by a television show on Georgia O'Keefe. "I hadn't seen art like that before. Her work touched me emotionally and seemed so personal. I saw a television program on her life and that inspired me to take drawing classes." 

Lyon studied painting at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and was an active participant in Chicago's 100 year-old Palette and Chisel Club. It is there she first began exhibiting and selling her work; at twenty-three she was the youngest winner of the prestigious Gold Medal which she won two consecutive years in the annual Oil Painting show plus a third place in the Silver Medal Watercolour show. She entered the Oil Painters of America show once and got 7th place. In 1998 and 2000 she won an artist choice award in the Northwest Rendezvous Show.

Beginners through advanced students are welcome. You are met at whatever your skill level. Limited spaces available.

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Materials Required

Faber-Castell Pastel Pencils

• 3x Sanguine #188

Conte’ a Paris Pastel Pencils

• 3x Bordeaux #31 
• 1x White #13
  
• 2x Burnt Sienna
• 2x Burnt Umber

Paper

• 3x Sheets of Cream #407
• 3x Sheets of Pearl Grey #120

Other

• 2x Kneaded Erasers
• Sand Paper Fine Grit
• A Small Sketchbook
• Soft Pencil
• Board to tape the paper to, same size as paper 19" by 25" (you can use a light weight Gator foam board or canvas board that doesn’t have any blemishes - it’s good to have a smooth board to work on)
• 2x Clips #3 2½" to hold paper to the board
• A few Razor Blades to sharpen Pastel Pencils (please bring razor blades and not knifes with handles)
• Zippered Case to keep pencils safe and protected (this is very important so they do not break on the inside)
• Paper Towels (Viva paper towels are ideal for softening edges, other paper towels are too stiff - if you can’t find Viva, bring soft facial tissue like Kleenex)
• A Wide Soft Sable Brush, Largest Size (to soften edges and for washes - a large soft watercolour brush will work)