Petunias: Pastels with Deborah Shea — A Soft Pastel Journey into Vibrant Florals
Petunias: Pastels with Deborah Shea — A Soft Pastel Journey into Vibrant Florals
If you’ve ever been captivated by the quiet power of flowers in art, Petunias: Pastels with Deborah Shea offers a rare opportunity to explore floral painting through the expressive and timeless medium of soft pastels. This immersive class invites artists to step into a creative journey inspired by one of the most iconic floral painters of all time—Georgia O’Keeffe—while developing their own unique voice under the guidance of a nationally renowned pastel artist.
This class will take you through a soft pastel journey to learn about Georgia O’Keeffe’s style of creating vibrant florals. O’Keeffe’s work is celebrated for its bold compositions, simplified forms, and striking use of color, and this workshop thoughtfully examines how her approach can inform contemporary pastel techniques. Through discussion and hands-on practice, students will gain insight into how florals can move beyond representation and become powerful expressions of energy, emotion, and form.
About this Event
Designed for beginning to intermediate artists, this class offers a supportive and enriching environment where participants can build foundational skills while refining their artistic confidence. We will discuss some of her paintings and learn about basic art terms including value, composition and color. These essential concepts form the backbone of strong visual storytelling and are presented in a way that is both accessible and immediately applicable.
The creative process unfolds step by step. We will work with sketches, underpainting and layering to create our own beautiful pastel paintings. By learning how to build depth and luminosity through layering, students will experience how pastels can achieve both softness and intensity. The focus on petunias allows for exploration of gentle pastels, flowing forms, and subtle color transitions, while still encouraging personal interpretation and artistic freedom.
This is a beginning to intermediate class, making it ideal for those new to soft pastels as well as artists looking to strengthen their technique and compositional skills. All supplies included, so participants can arrive ready to create without worrying about materials. At $110 per class, it offers excellent value for a professionally guided, hands-on art experience in an inspiring studio setting.
A Creative Community at Art Bias
The class takes place at Art Bias, Studio 114, 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos, CA., a welcoming and well-equipped space known for fostering creativity and artistic growth. The studio environment encourages exploration, conversation, and connection with fellow artists who share a passion for learning and expression.
This class is part of a recurring, monthly (3rd Saturday) pastels class taught by Deb Shea. Every month, the pastels journey will continue with new themes and techniques, allowing returning students to deepen their skills over time while exploring fresh creative directions. Whether you attend a single session or commit to the ongoing series, each class stands alone as a complete and fulfilling artistic experience.
An event photo will be available to capture the spirit of the workshop, highlighting both the creative process and the finished works that emerge from this guided exploration.
About Deborah Shea
Deborah Shea is a nationally renowned and award winning pastel artist, recently exhibiting her work at the Triton Museum, Chan Zuckerberg Community Space and Society of West Coast Artists, among other locations. Her work is celebrated for its vibrant energy, confident abstraction, and deep connection to the natural world. In addition to her exhibitions, Deb is also a regular teacher at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico, bringing exceptional depth and authenticity to her instruction.
Deb had a successful career in graphic design, and now devotes herself full time to her studio art. She says, “I am inspired by the natural world. I love to capture all the beauty in the florals, working with the abstract shapes of the flower centers and the petals. Flowers have long been symbols of energy and hope of this engagement and reinvigoration.” This philosophy is woven throughout her teaching, encouraging students to see flowers not just as subjects, but as symbols and sources of creative vitality.
Deborah received a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Design at the University of California at Davis where she studied in a summer course with Ruth Asawa, Wayne Theibaud, Roland Peterson, and Frances Butler. She is currently working on her MFA at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Deb has exhibited her work in dozens of exhibitions locally and nationally, establishing her as both a respected artist and an inspiring educator.
Learn more about Deb on her website at https://deborahsheastudios.com/
Date & Location
Petunias: Pastels with Deborah Shea will take place on Sat, 17 Jan, 2026 at 09:00 am to 12:00 pm (GMT-08:00) at ART BIAS, 1700 Industrial Road, San Carlos, United States.
Whether you are beginning your pastel journey or seeking to refine your floral techniques, this class offers a meaningful blend of art history, technical instruction, and creative exploration. Join Deborah Shea for a morning of inspiration, learning, and artistic renewal through the beauty of pastels and petunias.
See other interesting events in San Carlos. You may also check the main calendar for the dates of these, or to save them on your personal calendar.
About San Carlos
About San Carlos Life
Mark Martinho and Vivienne Kelvin are the hosts of San Carlos Life and have been residents of San Carlos for years. While running San Carlos Life together with an awesome team, Mark and Viv are also in the business of real estate. They are the co-owners of Vabrato, a luxury real estate brokerage serving the City of Good Living and the whole of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
With over 30 years of combined experience in the business and 95% of their clients coming in from referrals, Mark and Viv take great pride and joy in exceeding your expectations.
Need help in buying or selling a home in San Carlos?
We’re never too busy for you or your referrals. If you know anyone who needs help in buying or selling a home in San Carlos, we’d love to chat with them!
Contact Mark and Viv of Vabrato Real Estate
Related Events
