FRED SOMERS WORKSHOP
OCTOBER 13, 14 & 15, 2025

“Paint what you love, walk in the light.”
~Fred Somers

The Lake Country Pastel Society is excited to announce that our very own Fred Somers will be teaching a three day in-studio workshop Monday-Wednesday, October 13-15, 2025. It will be held in his home studio near Northfield, MN.

Fred has painted in pastels for almost 50 years and has been a member of LCPS since its beginning 25 years ago. After teaching drawing, painting and printmaking at St. Olaf and Carlton College, he moved to his farm home studio and began his adventure as a freelance artist, painting in pastel and oil. His paintings, known for their peaceful sensitivity, reflect themes from the land. In Fred’s words, “I love painting woods, fields and streams, interpreting vistas and intimate views.” He incorporates goldleaf into many of his paintings, giving a luminosity unique to Fred’s work. His pastel paintings of the Big Woods State Park, which is near his home, were chosen for the 1996 Minnesota State Park permit design. Fred continues painting as well as teaching workshops throughout the US and in Sweden.

His numerous awards include the 2020 induction into the Pastel Society of America Hall of Fame. An IAPS Master and Eminent Pastelist, Fred is also a signature member of the PSA and an Associate of Oil Painters of America. He has been named American Swedish Artist of the Year and Great River Greening’s Landscape Artist of the Year. Fred’s paintings have been featured in many books, magazines and journals.

This will be a hands-on workshop with demonstrations, slide presentations and plenty of one-on-one instruction. Fred will introduce materials and techniques that he has developed, including dry drawn and wet poured pastel pigment. Students will explore new ways of seeing that can enhance each individual’s style. There may also be an opportunity to do some plein air painting.

Working in Fred’s studio and gallery, students will be surrounded by his beautiful paintings and immersed in his creative space. An inspiration in and of itself, this will truly enhance the learning experience. Having painted full-time from this farm site since 1975, Fred proudly states, “Painting this rural place I call home, this one spot where I’ve been planted like a tree, by the streams of water, I paint what I love, I walk in the light.”

This workshop is bound to fill up fast so don’t hesitate to register! Download the application form from this link.

Becky Jokela and Gwen Solberg
Workshop co-chairs

LORENZO CHAVEZ WORKSHOP
May 14, 15 & 16, 2025

“It is the simple glimpses into nature that move me to create.”
~Lorenzo Chavez

The Lake Country Pastel Society hosted internationally known award-winning painter, Lorenzo Chavez for our Spring 2025 workshop on May 14-16, 2025 at the New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton, MN.

Chavez is a renowned fine artist specializing in pastel and oil landscapes. He is also a sought-after instructor who teaches workshops across the United States.

Born and raised in New Mexico, Lorenzo Chavez has been a professional artist for over 35 years. His first inspirations and foundations as a young artist were formed by the local landscape and the art history of the area. Lorenzo now makes his home in Parker, Colorado and uses his location as a base to travel and paint throughout the region and across the country.

His award-winning work is featured in prestigious exhibitions, galleries and publications, as well as private and corporate collections throughout the US and internationally. He has been a recipient of awards from notable groups as the Pastel Society of America, California Art Club, and the American Impressionist Society and is an active member of Rendezvous of Art, Signature member of The Plein Air Painters of America and the Pastel Society of America, the California Art Club Signature Member, American Impressionist Society, and the Pastel Society of Spain.

Lyn Asselta Workshop
September 30-October 2, 2024

The Lake Country Pastel Society hosted instructor and award-winning artist, Lyn Asselta for our fall workshop. It was held on September 30, October 1 and 2, 2024 at the New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton, MN.

Aline Ordman Workshop
May 13-15, 2024

The Lake Country Pastel Society hosted award-winning Aline Ordman for a workshop in the spring of 2024.

Workshop Description

Dynamic Pastels: Using Abstract Thinking to Create Illustrative Paintings

Painting is learning to see. Often, we paint what we think we see because we all have preconceived notions of what something looks like. However, to really paint what you see, you must break down everything you are looking at into just abstract shapes. Don’t see a “house”, see a series of interlocking shapes.

Aline is known for her vivid paintings and creative use of color. Working from their own photo references, students will transform these into pastel paintings using the principles of color and design. Along with daily painting demonstrations, Aline will emphasize the understanding of color in terms of temperature, intensity and value while translating those ideas using pastel techniques. We don’t have to paint green grass just because that’s what is in a picture. Experimenting with exciting different color while maintaining the value and intensity will serve as a great exercise in helping students expand their color sensitivity. Let’s say goodbye to overworked tight pastels and learn to create loose, bold but still illustrative paintings. Aline gives a lot of personal attention and works to develop the individual style of each student.

Bio

Aline grew up outside New York and received her early education at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, graduating in 1975 with a BFA. She subsequently moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and eventually attended The Academy of Art College (now University) in San Francisco receiving an additional BFA in illustration. Upon graduation she taught figure drawing there for about 8 years before moving to New England, specifically the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Aline is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, an Eminent Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel societies, a Signature Member of The American Impressionist Society and a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America. Her work has appeared in various publications, receiving awards in the Pastel Journals, including the Founders Award. She is a featured artist in this year’s February issue. In 2017 she received the Prix de Pastel in the International Association of Pastel Society’s National Juried Exhibition.

Aline currently lives in Vermont and teaches workshops throughout the country and Europe. Her studio is in Quechee, Vermont and her work can be seen in Camden Falls Gallery in Camden, Maine and The Blue Heron Gallery in Wellfleet, Massachussetts.

Her website is www.alineordman.com.

The workshop was held at the New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton, MN.

LCPS Fall Workshop

"CAPTURING LIGHT-
Interpreting Values and Shapes"

with Desmond O'Hagan.
October 9-11, 2023

Desmond O'Hagan is an award-winning artist who has exhibited nationally and internationally. He is listed in Who's Who in American Art, is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America and has achieved Eminent Pastelist status with IAPS. His work can be found in museums and private collections worldwide.

O'Hagan's workshop is designed to help participants reach their next level in pastel painting, emphasizing composition and technique through a more painterly approach. Individuals will explore subjects in a new light, refining shapes and edges with minimal strokes. Desmond works with participants individually to critique and offer new directions in completing their paintings. Check out his website at www.desmondohagan.com.

The workshop was held at the New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton, MN.

Dawn Emerson Workshop
May 8-10, 2023

Title: "The Spirit of Innovation" with Dawn Emerson

Description:

This 3 day workshop will present many approaches to painting additively and subtractively using soft stick pastel and PanPastel with mixed media. Underpainting with water mixable oil, transfer techniques, monotype as underpainting, "carving" techniques, stencils, frottage, and much more. The class will expand your visual vocabulary and re-ignite your passion for the pastel medium.

Dawn's playful attitude and energy, together with her love of experimenting, will make you fall in love with drawing all over again! All levels, subjects, and styles are welcome. Dawn is the author of "Pastel Innovations," and has produced 7 instructional dvds about pastel. She is a signature member of PSA and is represented by the PCA (Peterson Contemporary Art) Gallery in Bend, Oregon. Her website is https://dawnemerson.com.