California Central Coast Pastel Society (3CPS)

We want to welcome you to our California Central Coast Pastel Society (3CPS) website! Here you will find lots of information about our organization, its members, the latest pastel news and events. We hope you enjoy your visit, and come back often to stay informed. Feel free to contact us about anything related to soft pastel art. More in depth information about all 3CPS activities is available in the current 3CPS Newsletter. The Shows and Events Page contains a list of upcoming shows, events and requirements.  Thanks for visiting!

Happy painting!

From the President’s easel……Summer 2020

Thank you for being a part of 3CPS! Our 2020 Members’ Exhibit online and it is impressive!

See where we’ve been painting plein air and where the next paintouts will be. They are all in open nature, so plenty of space to feel comfortable together but alone.

As your new president, my goal is to continue building our community of artists, to inspire and to help us become the best artists we can be!

I’m looking forward to meeting each of you in 2020.  Your participation and ideas are what makes 3CPS such a vital and growing society of pastelists. Join us for these great events!

California Central Coast Pastel Society Presents 2020 All Member Fall Show

September 1- November 30 Beginners to Professional Artists!

“Changing Seasons”

 Click Here to View Show

“Twilight Sparkle”by Denise Schryver

Upcoming Online and Outside Workshops

Sadly, all 2020 in person workshops and demos have been cancelled due to Covid-19.  For more information in these troubles times about workshops, please contact Denise Schryver at info@3cps.org.

Liz Haywood-Sullivan

October 2020

California Central Coast Pastel Society

Online Demonstration and Workshop with Liz Haywood-Sullivan

Painting Brilliant Skies and Water in Pastel (Two Options)

The sky is the most emotional aspect of any landscape painting.  It sets the mood, time of day and the attitude of your painting.  Water makes up 70% of the earth’s surface and is a popular eye-catching subject of landscape painting.  Beginning with a demonstration and following up with a three-session workshop we will investigate the individual characteristics of sky and water and how to capture them in pastel.

The Online Demo and Workshop

Workshop Dates: Three consecutive Thursdays: October 8, 15, 22

Time: 10:00-12:00 PST, 1:00 – 3:00pm EST

Enrollment: limited to 12 students

Workshop cost: $200, members  $225, non-members. Price includes the demo.

This workshop and demo has been adapted to take advantage of the benefits of being online. Specifically, it allows you the liberty of working in your own studio, on your own timeframe, with all your equipment at hand. The workshop is a total of six hours online over three weeks and will take you through all the stages of a single painting. You will do your painting offline and send Liz your progress before each meeting. Each meeting will include a full class critique of your work in progress, as well as a demonstration by Liz and time for your questions. Each week’s video will be available to you for from 5-7 days after the class.

Spring Marsh by Liz-Haywood Sullivan

Albert Handell

Albert Handell – 4 Day – All Outdoor workshop in beautiful Cambria, CA & Surrounding Area

WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY, MAY 12 -15, 2021

Registration is open directly through Albert Handell’s website:

For questions contact Denise Schryver, workshop coordinator, at info@3cps.org

Cost: $750

Click Here to Register

Join Albert in this exciting 4 day OUTDOOR painting workshop. In the morning demonstrations in oils and pastels you will see and learn what to select and emphasize and what to play down or even take out of your paintings in order to make a strong design statement, and then work sensibly towards finish. It will be an opportunity to see how a Master Artist works on location.

All painting and demos will be held outdoors and we typically have gorgeous weather in May but if there is inclement weather we have available a huge, airy outbuilding we will use with more than enough space.

General Meetings

Due to Covid 19 no meetings are scheduled at this time.

Paint Outs

Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in Los Osos

Sunday, September 13 starting at 9:00 am

Sweet Springs is owned and maintained by the Audubon Society.   It has great views of the back bay and sand spit, Morro Rock, paths, boardwalks, creeks, and lots of birds.  There are no facilities, but there is a shopping center with gas stations and Starbucks 1 mile away.  Parking is along Ramona Avenue.  There is a short trail which leads to the bay views.

At these locations, it’s easy to maintain social distancing while still enjoying the camaraderie of other artists.  If you’re new to plein air, this is a good opportunity to give it a try.  You don’t need a fancy  set of equipment to start; chances are you already have enough.  If you have questions about equipment or the painting process, just write back and we’ll have one of our plein air artists call you to help you out!

Remember that masks are required in open spaces where there is a risk of close contact, so please bring your mask just in case it’s needed.

Contact Jim Tyler (jimtylerfineart@gmail.com, for questions and to RSVP.  Carpool coordination has been temporarily suspended.

Be a part of the growing California Central Coast Pastel Society. Click here to join!