Testimonials

Marlene is an incredible artist and one of the most generous souls you could hope to meet. Those traits combine to create a patient and thoughtful teacher who lets you be the artist you want to be... but better!

Her style of teaching is unique. There's no copying technique or style. You really lead yourself with her guidance and support. In that way you feel more empowered to let your imagination run wild and attempt work you wouldn't expect out of yourself. I am so in love with pastels after working with her and am learning to look at colors and art in an entirely new way. Thank you Marlene!! Jillian

Marlene Rye is a skillful, laid back teacher who offers me a place to create based on what I love. She has a gift for individualizing her instruction to match the learner and her joy in making Art is contagious. Take this class! Elizabeth

I was someone who had no experience or vision of myself as capable of “making art“!  As a new retiree, I was lucky to find Marlene Rye’s positive energy and sense of adventure invite me into her studio and zoom art space! My intro to making art started with Marlene discussing the various choices of paper surfaces and numerous pastel brands.  I had no familiarity with the medium, but her guidance quickly got me started towards  recognizing my own comfort with pastel materials. Marlene encourages each student to  enjoy developing their own style of creating pastel art. I’m so grateful to be learning from the artist and teacher Marlene Rye,  who genuinely gets on board with each of her students unique art journey!  Dani

Suggested Supplies

In a perfect world students would have something like

https://www.dickblick.com/items/20048-2063/

or

https://www.dickblick.com/items/20048-0369/

Other pastels will work, this is just a really high quality set with a good range.

And Sanded paper like....

https://www.dakotapastels.com/products/Sanded-La-Carte

I like working on the Sienna color paper.

You can use pastels on non-sanded paper, it is just nicer to work on it. Sanded paper grabs the pigment and makes a lot less dust. There are also many other good brands of sanded pastel paper. This is just the paper I like the best.