Instructor: Mary Jane Erard
Ages: Adults, Teens 14+
Experience level: All
Sunday, December 8, 2024 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
-OR-
Saturday, December 28, 2024 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Everybody loves their pets! In this three-hour class, pastel instructor extraordinaire Mary Jane Erard will lead you through the process of sketching and drawing your pet's portrait in soft pastel. Don’t have a pet? Bring a source photo of any animal! Most materials provided. Participants should buy a sheet of 9x12" sanded pastel paper or Ampersand Pastelbord (any brand is fine, available at both Depo locations for $5 - 15 depending on what you choose).  Students are welcome to bring their own pastel supplies if they have some on hand, and would like MJ to teach them how to better use what they own.

Please bring a source photo of your pet, 8 1/2" X 11", in color, on "regular" thin copy paper. Please see the graphic included in the image bank for this workshop that shows you the best source photo needed to make a great pet portrait. Print your image is on an 8.5" X 11" copy or computer paper.  It can be on black and white, as long as you have an image in color.  Your pet's image should be large and centered on your paper. Small images, as in the sample photo on the right, are not recommended. You will want your image to fill most of your paper.  Remember, these images will be transferred to your pastel paper and this image is what you will use to create your pet's portrait.

Necessary Supplies to bring or buy: A printed 8.5 x 11 photo of your pet and a sheet of 9x12" sanded pastel paper or Ampersand Pastelbord (any brand is fine, available at both Depo locations for $5 - 15 depending on what you choose).

Mary Jane will help students draw or trace their pet on pastel paper during the first part of the of class, followed by a short demo of how to use pastel and plenty of one on one instruction. Assistance will be given to all students, as per your need. This class is SUPER FUN and often sells out quickly. All students, regardless of skill level, leave this workshop with a very cute pastel portrait of their pet.

About the Instructor:
Mary Jane Erard is an award-winning artist painting mostly in soft pastel and mixed media with acrylic. Her works are usually rural landscapes of the US and Europe. Mary Jane's artwork is owned by many private collectors and included in several corporate collections. She has exhibited in many group and solo exhibitions since the mid 1990s.  Ms. Erard's artwork has been published several times in national magazines and books including Best of American Pastel Painters and Southwest Art magazine. Mary Jane is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America. For over 20 years, Mary Jane has been represented by the Collector's Corner at the Toledo Museum of Art. 

In addition to her painting career, Mary Jane is a sought after art educator in Ohio and Michigan. As a working professional artist, Mary Jane offers helpful insight to private students who are looking for both art instruction and helpful career advice in the visual arts.

Mary Jane Erard is a co-creator of the 2020 Drive Through Art Loops and the 2021 Art Loop Art Fairs. She is also the co-creator of the Schedel Gardens Art Loops. And Mary Jane was nominated as "Best Art Teacher" in the 2021 and 2022 Toledo City Paper's annual "Best of Competition".

She has served as a juror for many exhibits and competitions including, a 2017 judge for the AICUO's Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts for the State of Ohio, the Crosby Festival of the Arts, and the 2021 Ann Arbor Art Festival in Michigan.

Cancellation Policy: We will refund 50% for any cancellation made at least eight days before the class. After 8 days, we are unable to provide refunds for any reason, including illness. If you cannot attend after registration, you are welcome to gift your tuition to a friend at no charge. We do not transfer tuition from one class to another.