paint-alongs
The 2026 Pastel Society of Colorado Paint-Along Series is hosted on the 4th Saturday of each month (January–October) from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM MST on Zoom. When permitted by the artist, recordings will be made available to registered participants for later viewing. Please note that recording availability varies by artist, and PSC will fully respect each artist’s preferences.
Creating a Textured Underpainting for Pastels With Tom Christopher
Students will learn Tom Christopher’s award-winning technique for creating an acrylic textured underpainting designed specifically for pastel application. The session will also include instruction on painting fundamentals such as composition, correct value structure, and effective color choices.
This intermediate-level paint along will guide participants through creating a textured underpainting using house paint, acrylic paint, and Golden Fine Pumice Gel. Students will finish with a final pastel layer to complete the painting.
A recording of the event will be sent to all registrants in the week following the event.
Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. – Noon, MDT
11am EDT | 10am CDT | 9am MDT | 8am PDT
Artist Statement – Tom Christopher
The Midwest has always been my canvas. Growing up in central Iowa, I spent countless hours exploring riverbanks and woodlands, where I first discovered the quiet drama of sunlight shifting through the trees. Those early days instilled in me a lasting fascination with the way light and shadow transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.
Today, that same curiosity carries me into the landscapes along the Iowa River each morning, sketchbook in hand. These familiar places continue to surprise me, offering endless variations of color, atmosphere, and form. My goal is simple yet challenging: to take everyday landscapes and reveal their hidden drama, quiet poetry, and enduring beauty.
I work primarily in pastels and oils, drawn to how each medium captures mood and texture in different ways. Most finished pieces begin with plein air studies and reference photographs, but the heart of each painting lies in the memory of being there—in the crisp air, shifting light, and stillness of nature.
As a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a Master Circle Member of the International Association of Pastel Societies, I remain dedicated to pushing my work further while sharing what I’ve learned through workshops. For me, painting is both preservation and invitation—an invitation to see the extraordinary in the everyday.
DEADLINE to sign up is Wednesday, March 25th at 9 p.m. However, to make sure you get the supply list and reference in time, sign up soon!
Cost is only $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Minimum of 20 registrants.
