Robert Carsten
An immensely popular workshop instructor, known for his friendly demeanor and clear, informative teaching style, Robert K Carsten is an enthusiastic promoter of the pastel medium. A signature member of the Pastel Society of America, he is a frequent writer for The Pastel Journal and The Artists Magazine. His work has garnered top awards at national and international shows and has been featured in books such as Pure Color/The Best of Pastel, and in many catalogs, journals and magazines, including American Art Review. His work was on the cover of, and was featured in, the December 2004 issue of the Pastel Journal. Robert has been the Awards Judge for the Northeast National Pastel Exhibition and the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod’s National Juried Exhibition, and was on the selection jury for the Connecticut Pastel Society’s 2007 Annual National Exhibition, among others. He received the Best in Show at the 2007 Northeast National Pastel Exhibition, as well as the Thorne Biennial. Robert is the first prize winner in pastel for Prismacolor’s 2008 national competition. His work is frequently exhibited in galleries and museums nationally.
Classes taught by Robert Carsten
Paint Great!-Concept and Process Equals Content
This exciting, intensive workshop is designed for all levels working in any two-dimensional medium who wish to work with a process that inspires the development of ideas, and vigorously exercises those ideas to form a core visual concept, nurturing content. The plan is to develop several small explorative works to identify the parameters of a visual idea and then to assemble and refine these into the creation of a master work. Following this, several small, related works will offer the artist future opportunities to explore the content area. Carsten will also include instruction on his 14 pointers toward well-composed, strongly painted expressions, as outlined in his acclaimed article “Be Your Own Best Critic” in the Pastel Journal (June 07). Genres are up to the individual participant, including landscape, still life, street scenes, abstraction. The instructor will demonstrate in pastel or mixed media, but is adept at working with all major media.