Member News / Announcements

A 3-day virtual workshop with Rita Kirkman hosted by the PSWC  February 23-25, 2024   $285   In this virtual 3-day workshop, you will learn how to create a vibrant sense of glowing light in your pastel paintings. Instruction emphasizes value and temperature as keys to unlocking the light.   Learn an underpainting method to “nail the values!” The workshop is appropriate for adventurous beginners all the way to advanced pastelists.   [...]

Fun and informal pastel instruction and inspiration in Rita’s Virtual Open Studio.   Exclusively on her Patreon, Bunny Buddy level $10 and up.   Live Zoom invites and instant access to over 170 full-length videos, and more!(The highest tier now includes monthly critiques! 🙂   If you’re not yet ready to join as a member, you can join for free to follow the frequent public posts, quick vids, art tips, progress pics and other cool stuff.   https://www.patreon.com/RitaKirkmanStudio   “You can’t use up creativity. The more the you use, the more you have.” –Maya Angelou   [...]

$25 Explore vibrant color with a batch of mini sunsets! Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 1pm Central Time.   Register here: https://www.ritakirkman.com/workshop/33711/tiny-summer-sunsets-paint-along-on-zoom   Rita will be using pastel, but you can use the medium of your choice. For this paint-along Rita will be pasteling directly on a variety of sanded pastel surfaces/papers, mostly dark or black. This paint-along will primarily focus on vibrant colors and values, and interpreting your photo reference loosely.   When you register Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, reference photos, painting samples and some suggested materials.   The paint-along will start at 1pm Central Time and will last about 2 hours.   (PS: Registration includes a link [...]

In this intensive 3-day workshop, you will learn how to create a vibrant sense of glowing light in your pastel paintings. Instruction emphasizes value and temperature as keys to unlocking the light. Learn an underpainting method using pastel primers to “nail the values!” Multiple small works are encouraged for speedy artistic growth. For adventurous beginners all the way to advanced pastelists.   Rita will demo an average of twice daily, and at least three hours each day will be devoted to individual feedback and critiques.   This workshop is not subject specific. Students can work from their own photos, and Rita will bring some of [...]

$25It’s the Year of the Rabbit! Perfect time for another fuzzy bunny painting! Paint this lazy bunny with us on Saturday, Feb 18, 2023, at 1pm Central Time.   Rita will be using pastel over an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can use the medium of your choice. Plenty of focus will be on value and temperature which is universal to all art mediums.   Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses, and even a [...]

Who! Who!… wants to paint this Screech Owl?   $25Dive in to all these fab feather textures on Saturday, Nov 19, 2022, at 1pm Central Time For this owl, Rita will be going back to her early years and using mostly hard pastels and pastel pencils on a toned sanded paper, but you can use the medium of your choice. She’s had some attendees enjoy use oil, acrylic, and even watercolor with her paint-alongs. (You can even do her usual warm underpainting if you’re familiar with that!) This paint-along will focus on feather textures in a variety of tones and lines.   Register early to have [...]

“Don Keyfurry” Paint-Along with Rita Kirkman, on Zoom $25 Paint this shaggy long haired donkey with us on Saturday Oct 15th, at 1pm Central Time   Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses, and even a line drawing that you can use to transfer to your board or paper in case you don’t have time to freehand your drawing. No drawing skills required!   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can [...]

$25 How adorable is this!? ❤ Paint this sweet little baby bunny with us on Saturday Sept 17th, at 1pm Central Time   Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses, and even a line drawing that you can use to transfer to your board or paper in case you don’t have time to freehand your drawing. No drawing skills required!   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can use the [...]

“Highland Cow” Paint-Along   $25   Paint this cute “Heilan coo” with us on Saturday, June 4, at 1pm CT. Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, and some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses.   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can use the medium of your choice. Plenty of instruction will focus on values and temperature which are universal to all color mediums. The paint-along will last about 2 hours.   (Registration includes a link to the video which [...]

Rita Kirkman had a painting accepted into the IAPS 2022 Exhibition, 8th Masters Circle Division. The 2022 IAPS PastelWorld Exhibition will take place at the 2022 IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, NM, USA from June 22-25, 2022.   Rita has also won the Gold Award in the Established Artist Division of the Austin Pastel Society Spring Non-Juried Exhibition with her painting “Seeking Social Sheep” (pastel, 30×40″)   Thank you to show judge Mike Etie!   The show continues at Artworks Gallery in Austin TX through June 11.   [...]

$25   Come paint this colorful donkey with us on Saturday, May 21, at 1pm CT.   Register early to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses, and even a line drawing that you can use to transfer to your board or paper in case you don’t have time to freehand your drawing. No drawing skills required!   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can use the medium of your choice. Plenty of instruction will [...]

Rita Kirkman has won the Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Traylor Award for her painting “Cousins” (pastel, 32×32 inches) at the SAALM 92cd Annual Artists Exhibition.   The show continues through June 3rd, 2022, at the San Antonio Art League Museum, 130 King William Street, San Antonio, TX.   [...]

April 16 – $25   Take a virtual walk in the park and paint some springtime park trails with us! (we might even add some flowers!)   Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, some reference photos (or you can use your own) and materials suggestions.   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting or a variety of pastel papers, but you can use the medium of your choice.   Rita has had some attendees enjoy use oil, acrylic, pastel pencil, and even watercolor with her paint-alongs. Plenty of instruction will focus on values and temperature which are universal to all color mediums. The paint-along will start [...]

Gotta love this sweet face! Paint along with us on Saturday, March 26, at 1pm CT. $25   Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses, and even a line drawing that you can use to transfer to your board or paper in case you don’t have time to freehand your drawing. No drawing skills required!   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can use the medium of your choice. [...]

Rita Kirkman’s painting “Young Diana” (pastel, 12×9 in) is included in the Pastel Society of Southeast Texas 2022 Members Show, at the Arts for Rural Texas at 114 N Live Oak St in Fayetteville.   Opening Reception and Awards Presentation on March 12, 4-6pm.   The exhibit will continue through May 21, 2022.   [...]

$25, Saturday, Feb 19, 1pm CT Paint this lovely dove with us!   Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, and some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses.Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting.   Plenty of instruction will focus on values and temperature which are universal to all color mediums. The paint-along will last about 2 hours.   (PS: Registration includes a link to the video which will be ready just a few days later, so if you miss the date, [...]

$25, Saturday, Jan 15, 1pm CT on Zoom   A Horse… Of Course!   Jump start your Creative New Year with this Happy New Yearling paint-along!   Register EARLY to have time to prep your drawing. Rita will send you the Zoom invitation, the reference photo, some surface prep info, and some tips that include alternative underpainting methods in case you don’t have what she uses.   Rita will be using pastel with an acrylic-based underpainting, but you can use the medium of your choice. Plenty of instruction will focus on values and temperature which are universal to all color mediums. The paint-along will last about 2 hours.   (PS: Registration [...]