Pastel Impressionism – Sunset & Degas

Description:
A fully resourced two-part lesson designed for Middle School / KS3 Art students, introducing Impressionism through pastel techniques. Students explore colour, light, and atmosphere by creating a sunset/sunrise artwork, before progressing to a Degas-inspired mini gallery piece.

This lesson is highly engaging, visually driven, and ideal for mixed-ability and EAL learners.

What’s included:

Complete PowerPoint (2 lessons)
Starter task (structured and scaffolded)
Step-by-step guidance for:
Creating a sunset/sunrise artwork from a photo reference
Developing a Degas-inspired pastel piece
Mini gallery planning activity (4–5 artworks)
Reflection opportunities
Teacher tips and common mistakes

Learning Objectives:

To experiment with pastel techniques to create atmosphere
To understand how Impressionist artists use colour and light
To develop an artwork inspired by Edgar Degas’ pastel style
To begin constructing a mini art gallery presentation

Why this resource works:

Strong visual learning focus (great for EAL learners)
Clear structure with teacher-led + student-led balance
Encourages creativity while maintaining technical control
Builds towards a final outcome (mini gallery)
Adaptable for Year 7–9 / KS3

Perfect for:

Cover lessons
Non-specialist teachers
Mixed ability classes
Building confidence with pastels