Learn to paint
Rocks Where They Live!
Featuring Mike Ishikawa
Ready, set, go! We are painting rocks! Our one-day workshop will be a busy and fun event!
From Mike… Everyone should plan to complete three paintings in our workshop. The workshop will be a step-by-step process. I will demo how to sketch out the scene and then you will do the same sketch. Next will be the underpainting, and you will then add yours. After that comes the fun part, layering the pastels to complete your painting.
The first painting will be a beach scene, with sand, rocks and crashing waves. The second painting will be a quiet stream in the Sierras with rocks and a small waterfall. The third painting will be rocks in a forest with pine trees, or maybe aspen trees with rocks in the foreground.
You will be copying what I complete at each step in this very structured workshop. I will be providing all the photo materials that we will be painting. I will be painting on 12 x 18 UArt 400 paper. To get the darkest tones we will be using India ink, which I will supply.
This class is not for beginners, but if you are familiar with pastels and have painted for at least one year, you will be able to have fun in the workshop.
All paintings are by Mike Ishikawa
About Mike…
Mike Ishikawa is a retired architect. During his vacations, he sketched with his pen and ink, filling many sketch books with interesting places he visited. He compiled all his sketches, from 25 sketchbooks, into a book, Sketching and Travelogue with Pen and Markers. Retirement allowed some time to think about a new interest, which led to pastel painting in early 2009. He loves using pastels, bright colors, strong strokes, bold marks and varied textures to create a painting that is inspired by the actual image, but with more interest and a “painterly” quality to the work. He paints as a hobby, and paints almost any subject that catches his eye. He is a signature member of PSWC, a Master Circle recipient of IAPS and recently won first place at the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association 22nd Annual Best of Plein Air Juried Art Show in 2025.