The Sharpened Artist Vault Is Open

Winter Blues is a figurative portrait workshop exploring cool color harmony, limited palette depth, and PanPastel + colored pencil techniques on PastelMat.   In Winter Blues, you will render a sensitive winter portrait of a young girl walking along the tracks. In a fleeting moment, she turns and meets the viewer’s gaze.  The snow-filled setting creates a cool atmospheric environment — broken only by the warmth of her face.  This workshop is about subtlety.  It’s about restraint.  It’s about learning to say more with less.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (16 x 20"; not < 8 x 10")
• Alternative:  Sanded Paper

Materials*: 

• Colored Pencil
• Pan Pastel
• Sofft Tool 
• Brush and Pencil Colored Pencil Titanium White

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Pan Pastel application

INCLUDES Workbook

The heart of Sunset Cowgirl is mastering the blonde braid. Rendering blonde hair in soft sunset light requires more than adding yellow and white — it demands control of midtones, subtle shadow placement, and confident directional strokes. 

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (14 x 18"; not < 9 x 12")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Derwent Inktense blocks/pencils
• Solvent
• Paint brush
• Waterbrush for Inktense

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Water application on Inktense

INCLUDES Workbook

In the Collected Carolyn workshop, we render a classically lit portrait of a serene, strawberry-blonde model with folded arms and a quiet, reserved presence. The pose carries a subtle narrative quality — calm, thoughtful, and introspective — making it a powerful study in structure, skin tone, and dimensional shading.

Surface:

• Sanded Paper (12 x 16"; not < 8 x 10")
• Alternative: White Pastelmat

Materials*: 

• Colored Pencil
• Neocolor II 
• Blending tool
• Optional: Colored Pencil Titanium White

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Water application on Neocolor II
• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

Sydney is poised and confident in this over-the-shoulder pose, with red highlights woven into her brown hair. In this workshop, we focus heavily on structure, light logic, and skin rendering — especially creating a porcelain-like finish on a darker skin tone using a limited palette.

Surface:

• Sanded Paper (12 x 12"; not < 8 x 10")
• Alternative: White Pastelmat

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Blending Tool
• Optional:  Neocolor II

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

Newspaper Lady is a workshop that invites you into the story of an Indian woman selling newspapers, representing a rich cultural heritage.  You will build advanced colored pencil skills from the ground up.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (11 x 14"; not < 9 x 12")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Blending tool
• Optional: Neocolor II

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

H2O Havoc is a vibrant, high-energy portrait workshop focused on rendering expressive children’s faces — with the added challenge of water, shine, and movement.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (12 x 12")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Blending tool (Paint brush - soft and stiff)

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

Terry’s Touch is a figurative portrait workshop from the No Stroke Left Behind series focused on using a limited, cool color palette to create depth, warmth, and realism.  We’ll portray coffee shop owner and chef, Terry, as he prepares a delicious cup of joe for his customer.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (11 x 14"; not < 8 x 10")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Blending tool (paint brush)

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

Step into a good old-fashioned Southern kitchen and be welcomed by this young lady’s Southern hospitality in this colored pencil figurative piece rendered on drafting film. Enroll today to enhance your skills and create captivating artwork in a supportive environment!

Surface:

• Drafting Film Matte (11 x 17")

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Sofft tool for blending
• Paint brush
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheets
• Tombow Mono Zero Eraser

*Materials List included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry blending

In this No Stroke Left Behind Workshop, we’ll create a lively, expressive portrait of Oaklyn.  She's captured in that perfect mix of playfulness and mischief that makes this reference such a joy to draw. Her slight head tilt and confident little smile give us the ideal setup for learning how to bring personality and warmth to a portrait.

We’ll begin with a solid grisaille foundation to establish values and structure before moving into color. Solvent will be used sparingly—mainly in the hair for soft transitions and depth—while the skin tones will be built slowly and intentionally with dry layering to keep everything clean and controlled.

Together, we’ll take this portrait from the first foundational strokes to the final details—one pencil stroke at a time.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (14 x 14"; not < 8 x 10")

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush (soft bristle)

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

In this Workshop, Orange Slice Girl, you'll draw a vivid portrait of a model captured in a quiet, contemplative moment—just as she's about to bite into a slice of orange candy.  It begins with a grisaille underlayer and using solvent throughout to build luminous skin tones and vibrant color contrast.

This project will help you refine your skills in rendering subtle facial expressions, side-profile anatomy, and color harmony using complementary hues like orange and blue.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (11 x 14")

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush (soft bristle)

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

INCLUDES Workbook

In this Workshop, you'll be drawing Olivia in a welcoming, supportive environment.   Master a unique technique that begins with a grisaille layer, then utilizes solvent throughout to create painterly effects and full coverage.

You'll enhance your portrait skills by exploring solvent use for realistic facial details, working with curly hair, and tackling expressive hands.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (9 x 11")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush (soft scrubber and flat brush)

*Materials List included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

In this Workshop, Quietude, you'll be drawing model Reagan in a welcoming, supportive environment.  Master a unique technique that begins with a grisaille layer, then utilizes solvent throughout to create painterly effects and full coverage.

You'll enhance your portrait skills by exploring solvent use for realistic facial details, working with curly hair, and tackling expressive hands.

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (12 x 12", not < 8 x 10")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Blending tools (Paint brush, Sofft Tools by Pan Pastel

*Materials List included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

Join the "Contemplation" workshop and dive into colored pencil portraiture. Learn to draw Savana against a turquoise backdrop, mastering solvent techniques for painterly effects. 

Enroll today to enhance your skills and create captivating artwork in a supportive environment!

Surface:

• White Pastelmat (12 x 12", not < 8 x 10")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Derwent Inktense
• Blending tools (Paint brush, Sofft Tools by Pan Pastel

*Materials List included with course

Techniques:

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Dry brush blending

Draw pumpkins and gourds in colored pencil while learning how to render on this beautiful surface!  There are a ton of benefits and advantages a surface like PastelMat has over a traditional cotton paper.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (9 x 12")

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush 

*Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Dry brush blending
• Solvent application on colored pencil

INCLUDES Step-by-step workbook

Learn how to draw a realistic cherry still life in colored pencil on white Stonehenge paper using the burnishing technique. In this step-by-step course, John walks you through the full process from initial layout and grisaille to layering, color building, smooth transitions, and final details.

You’ll work with Polychromos colored pencils and learn how to create the rich color, reflective shine, and smooth skin of cherries without solvents, powders, or shortcuts — just strong fundamentals and real-time instruction.

Surface: 

• Stonehenge (8 x 8")
• Alternatives: White Pastelmat, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil 

*Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Burnishing

INCLUDES Step-by-step workbook

The Dismissed Colored Pencil Workshop is a previously 2-day live recorded workshop.  Dismissed focuses on creating a realistic rendering of an old discarded truck using a combination of colored pencil and PanPastel techniques on Pastelmat.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9.5 x 12")
• Alternatives: Stonehenge, Bristol Vellum, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Pan Pastel
• Solvent
• Paint brush

*Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil
• Pan Pastel application

Create a vibrant colored pencil still life of a glass teacup filled with red tea, complete with a lime wedge, tea bag, saucer, reflections, and soft shadows. In this beginner-to-intermediate workshop, you’ll learn how to work on Pastelmat, use solvent to move pigment, build transparent glass effects, interpret color and value, and refine details like water droplets, reflections, and glowing red liquid.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9 x 12")
• Alternative: Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil

INCLUDES Step-by-step workbook

In this immersive colored pencil workshop, students will create a realistic portrait of Donovan while learning essential techniques for rendering lifelike skin, hair, textures, and values. This pre-recorded live workshop captures the full instructional experience, with step-by-step demonstrations designed to help artists build confidence and accuracy in portrait drawing.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (9 x 12")
• Alternative: Sanded Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil 

Learn how to draw smooth, realistic dark skin and soft ethnic hair in colored pencil through this previously recorded 2-day portrait workshop. Working from the “Ziah in Blue” reference, You'll walk step-by-step through the drawing process, from line drawing and grisaille underpainting to layered skin tones, facial structure, hair block-in, and the blue shirt.

This workshop is ideal for artists who want more confidence drawing darker skin tones with depth, warmth, and subtle color variation.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9 x 12"; smallest side not < 7")
• Alternatives: Sanded Paper, Stonehenge, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil 

Learn how to draw soft, smooth baby skin and subtle baby facial features in colored pencil through this previously recorded 2-day portrait workshop. Using the Baby Luke reference, you’ll work through a step-by-step process for building a realistic portrait with a grisaille underpainting, controlled color layers, soft transitions, accurate values, blue eyes, delicate facial features, and lightly textured baby hair.

This workshop is a great study in patience, subtlety, and control — especially for artists who want to improve their ability to render smooth skin without overworking the surface.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9 x 12"; smallest side not < 7")
• Alternatives: Sanded Paper, Stonehenge, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paint brush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil 

Learn to draw mature skin in colored pencil on Pastelmat with step-by-step instruction focused on skin tones, wrinkles, texture, and realistic portrait form.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9 x 12"; smallest side not < 7")
• Alternatives: Sanded Paper, Stonehenge, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paintbrush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil 

Create a dramatic colored pencil portrait from start to finish as you draw Danica’s portrait on Pastelmat.

In this previously recorded live workshop, you’ll follow along through a complete portrait process, beginning with the line drawing and grisaille underpainting, then building luminous skin tones, expressive eyes, facial features, hair, and the dark background. This workshop is especially helpful for artists who want to better understand portrait structure, subtle skin color shifts, and how to create mood and drama in colored pencil.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9 x 12"; smallest side not < 7")
• Alternatives: Sanded Paper, Stonehenge, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paintbrush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil 

Draw a realistic colored pencil portrait on Pastelmat while learning how to simplify values, build convincing skin tones, and capture subtle facial features with confidence.

In this previously recorded live workshop, you'll journey through the full process of drawing “Ryan,” using a grisaille/value-first approach before layering color. You’ll study facial structure, skin tones, hair, clothing, and the small value shifts that bring a portrait to life.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (~9 x 12"; smallest side not < 7")
• Alternatives: Sanded Paper, Stonehenge, Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paintbrush

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Solvent application on colored pencil 

This is a 1.5-hour composition presentation with an interactive follow-along exercise session.  This recorded presentation is perfect for artists looking to add stronger compositional design elements to their artwork.

You'll get access to the video link and the downloadable pages to fill out as you watch it!

This 3-part masterclass walks you step by step through drawing the mouth in colored pencil, with a strong focus on rendering teeth, lips, and surrounding skin with believable depth.

You’ll learn how to understand value relationships, especially when working with teeth, and how to build layers gradually to create a natural, realistic result. We focus on simplifying shapes, managing contrast, and using color to create the illusion of form—without overworking the details.

Surface: 

• Strathmore Paper 400 Series (6 x 6")

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Electric Eraser

 *Materials List included with course

Techniques: 

• Highlight creation using electric eraser

INCLUDES Step-by-Step Workbook

Tiny Titan is a relaxed portrait workshop designed for artists at any stage — whether you're brand new to colored pencil or just need a refresh on portrait basics.

Walk step-by-step through rendering the face, focusing on soft transitions, structure, and layering techniques that build confidence and realism without overwhelm. You’ll leave with foundational skills that apply to any kind of drawing — and the belief that yes, you can do this.

Surface: 

• White Pastelmat (8 x 10")

Materials*:

• Colored Pencil
• Solvent
• Paintbrush 

*Materials List (in workbook) included with course

Techniques: 

• Dry brush blending
• Solvent application on colored pencil

INCLUDES main and booster workbooks

In this journey, you'll master the skills to transform a family heirloom portrait into a beautiful drawing.  You know the one that's been sitting there on your hard drive or put away in a folder-- but you've had your eye on it for years! Yes- That one. :)

Learn how to edit the photo so you can draw from it. Walk through creating the workable line drawing. This workshop is perfect for artists at any level seeking to capture the essence of their loved ones in art.

Begin crafting your next legacy drawing!

INCLUDES downloadable workbook