A Gentle Introduction to Pastels – Day Retreat

A Gentle Introduction to Oil Pastels – Day Retreat
(Studio Series)

Join us for a relaxed, creative day in our studio — a gentle introduction to oil pastels, designed to help you explore colour, texture, and expressive mark-making in a calm, supportive environment.

When: Thursday 10th September
Time: 10:00 – 14:00

In this immersive session, you’ll be guided through the foundations of working with oil pastels — learning how to layer, blend, and build colour to create rich, expressive artwork.

We’ll begin with simple, hands-on exercises to help you get familiar with the materials, before gradually building towards your own finished piece.

This day is all about building confidence, loosening up, and enjoying the process — no pressure, no perfection.

What we’ll be doing

We’ll gently guide you through:

• Exploring how oil pastels feel and behave on the page
• Using pressure, layering, and blending to build colour
• Creating texture and expressive marks
• Working with light and dark to add contrast and depth
• Developing a simple composition for your final piece

You’ll create a series of small studies, a warm-up piece, and a final guided artwork — all broken down into simple, manageable steps.

Do I need to know how to draw or use pastels?

Not at all. This session is completely beginner-friendly and gently guided throughout. Whether you’re trying something new or just want a relaxed creative day, you’ll feel supported every step of the way.

What’s included

We provide everything you need:

• Oil pastels
• Paper and materials
• Tools for blending and texture
• Step-by-step guidance
• Apron

You’ll leave with a collection of studies, your finished artwork, and the confidence to keep exploring at home.

Refreshments

We’ll have tea, coffee, cake and biscuits ready for you to enjoy throughout the session - help yourself and settle in for a cosy, creative few hours.

There will be a 30–45 minute break for lunch during our full-day courses. You’re very welcome to bring your own food, and we have a fridge and microwave available for you to use. Alternatively, you can order from The Farmers Arms (just a 2-minute drive away) to collect or enjoy there, and there are also a number of lovely local cafés and shops nearby if you’d prefer to head out for a little break.

Accessibility
If you have any specific access or learning needs, please contact us at hello@imaginators-creative.com — we’ll always do our best to support you.

Finding Us

Our postcode (CW6 0TE) may take you to the top of the road.

Once you arrive, continue down the hill — you’ll find us on the right-hand side at Legend House, just before the bottom.

For extra accuracy, you can also use What3Words:
///trending.nightcap.revisits

Other Important Info

Clothing: Paint can stain, so please wear something you’re happy to get a little creative in.

Photography: By attending, you grant The Imaginators permission to use event photos for promotional purposes across social media, print, and our website.
Prefer not to be photographed? Just let us know on arrival and we’ll make sure you’re not included.

Refunds: Tickets are non-refundable, but if you let us know at least 48 hours in advance, we’re happy to issue a voucher for a future event.

Suitable Age: Our sessions aren’t typically designed for young children due to materials and instruction level. However, if you feel your child would enjoy the experience, we’d love to welcome you both — just ensure they have their own ticket and are accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information or any questions don't hesitate to get in touch with us via email at, hello@imaginators-creative.com