Workshops and Presentations
I am available for in-person or Zoom workshops across the United States, and for in-person or Zoom presentations in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. For either a workshop or a presentation, my goal is for your group to learn a lot and leave energized to go draw! Following are workshops and presentations that I have already prepared. Contact me to discuss your needs, or if you have a particular aspect of colored pencil in mind that isn't mentioned here.
Workshops
"Denise Howard is one of the very best colored pencil artists in the nation. Just to see her work is inspiring. Her workshops on colored pencil techniques are informative. She is friendly, approachable, and gladly answers any and all questions." -- Roger A.
Magnificent Metals
Colored Pencil on Dura-Lar Film
Textures in Nature with Colored Pencil
Monarch Butterfly in Colored Pencil
Textures Galore with Colored Pencil
Vibrant Realism With Colored Pencil
Presentations
"I want to be sure you know how much I appreciated your talk. It was fabulous! Absolutely “right on” for so many things I wanted to know about colored pencils. Your organization was great, the printed–out notes most helpful, and you stuck to your plan incredibly well. I learned SO MUCH!!" -- Sally G.
Colored Pencil As A Fine Art Medium
Speeding Up Colored Pencil
Making Time for Your Art
Workshops
Workshop: Magnificent Metals
Whether it's reflective, shiny, dull, flat, or rusty, in this one-day workshop you'll learn how to analyze the appearance of different metals and then render them well.
Workshop: Colored Pencil on Dura-Lar Film
In this one-day workshop, we will use the unique Dura-Lar translucent polyester film which very readily accepts colored pencil and allows for rich color and sharp details with little effort. Because of its translucency, you can work on both sides for richer effect or even stack layers for an atmospheric effect. Learn how to use this surface to create colored pencil images that pop! When you’re finished drawing on it (both sides!) you mount it to an opaque background and frame it under glass or acrylic.
Sunday, September 10
10 AM - 4 PM
Pacific Art League
668 Ramona St.
Palo Alto, CA
Click here for more details and to register
Workshop: Textures in Nature with Colored Pencil
Does the idea of trying to draw convincing rocks, leaves, bark and grasses with colored pencil seem too overwhelming to even attempt? In this two-day workshop, learn how easy they can be with some techniques that anyone can master. Open to all levels.
"I just wanted to drop you a line, saying how much I enjoyed your two-day workshop. Your work is very inspiring, and I think I shall start incorporating more landscapes into my work." -- Bill S.
"I've been thinking a lot today about how much I enjoyed your workshop. Thank you for sharing your skills!" - A.S.
"So many INVALUABLE techniques and helpful mental procedures. Observation seems like such a "duh" idea, but I really think my depth of observation has increased by leaps, and my awareness of color and texture as well. I believe you have shortened my learning curve considerably. Seriously, many thanks for such a killer day. It was worth far more than I paid, and beyond worth the the drive." - Sue D.
Workshop: Monarch Butterfly in Colored Pencil
In this one-day workshop, we will focus on how to create:
- A soft, blurry background
- The roughness of tree bark
- The furriness of moss
- The delicate features of a monarch butterfly’s wings that you may not have noticed before
You will take home a 5"x7" finished drawing suitable for framing! A $10 materials fee made payable to instructor will include Stonehenge drawing paper with the outline drawing already transferred and a step-by-step booklet.
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Workshop: Textures Galore with Colored Pencil
In this two-day workshop, you'll learn how to create a variety of believable textures with colored pencil, from the roughness of tree bark, to the sheen of metal, to the wispiness of a spider web, and many more! Denise is the author of 101 Textures in Colored Pencil, full of practical step-by-step drawing techniques for rendering a variety of surfaces and textures. She will share lessons from the book, including her knowledge of tools and color selection, to help you conquer textures that may have baffled you before.
"This put everything I have learned so far from You Tube and books (lots of books) in a more logical order and cleared up a number of areas that I can improve upon."
Workshop: Vibrant Realism with Colored Pencil
In this half-day workshop, you'll learn how to use a variety of techniques and tools with colored pencils to create glowing color and details that blur the distinction between drawing and painting. Colored pencil offers the control and portability of pencil and the color of paint! Open to all levels.
Presentations
Presentation: Colored Pencil as a Fine Art Medium
Is your San Francisco Bay Area art group looking for interesting new presentations? I give a 90-minute presentation about the wonderful medium of colored pencil titled "Colored Pencil as a Fine Art Medium".
- Why might an artist use colored pencils?
- What is the history of colored pencils, and who are some very famous artists who used them?
- What types of colored pencils are available?
- Surfaces
- Tools
- Techniques
- Problems and solutions
- Good books for learning more
I bring along examples of my work on a variety of surfaces, paper samples, and some of my favorite technique books.
"Really enjoyed your presentation...very thorough and entertaining." -- Linda O.
"I watched your Caran d'Ache demo at Riley Street Art in Santa Rosa today and I was quite impressed. Thank you for all the great info!" -- Miguel C.
Presentation: Speeding Up Colored Pencil
For those who might be familiar with traditional colored pencil rendering techniques but are put off by how long it takes to produce a finished piece, I offer a 90-minute presentation about some additional techniques and surfaces which can dramatically speed up the process. I demonstrate and discuss both their advantages and disadvantages.
I bring along examples of my work which were done using these techniques and surfaces.
"Thank you so much for the demo and showing us the newer speedier techniques in colored pencil drawing! I had no idea.....and I think a lot of eyes were opened wide according to the comments I heard." -- Linda W.
"The presentation with examples and the specific information given in Denise's handout made for an excellent learning opportunity about the developments affecting colored pencil art and how it can be used in a faster manner." -- Ginny S.
Presentation: Making Time for Your Art
Many people view a work of art and recollect how they drew when they were younger, but life got in the way. You hear the frustration and wistfulness in their voice. Or they're recently retired, or are empty nesters and have the time to pursue art but don't know where to begin. Or they think they have no creative abilities so they don't even try. In this presentation, I'll give ideas and resources to help people jumpstart their art journey.
Presentation: Speeding Up Colored Pencil
For those who might be familiar with traditional colored pencil rendering techniques but are put off by how long it takes to produce a finished piece, I offer a 90-minute presentation about some additional techniques and surfaces which can dramatically speed up the process. I demonstrate and discuss both their advantages and disadvantages.
- Drafting film
- Sanded surfaces
- Heat (Icarus board)
- Solvent
- Water-soluble additions
I bring along examples of my work which were done using these techniques and surfaces.
"Thank you so much for the demo and showing us the newer speedier techniques in colored pencil drawing! I had no idea.....and I think a lot of eyes were opened wide according to the comments I heard." -- Linda W.
"The presentation with examples and the specific information given in Denise's handout made for an excellent learning opportunity about the developments affecting colored pencil art and how it can be used in a faster manner." -- Ginny S.
Presentation: Making Time for Your Art
Many people view a work of art and recollect how they drew when they were younger, but life got in the way. You hear the frustration and wistfulness in their voice. Or they're recently retired, or are empty nesters and have the time to pursue art but don't know where to begin. Or they think they have no creative abilities so they don't even try. In this presentation, I'll give ideas and resources to help people jumpstart their art journey.