Color the Great Outdoors: Create Beautiful Landscapes with Oil Pastels

Hosted by DeSoto State Park & Little River Arts Council​
​​​Explore the vibrant world of landscape art using oil pastels! Learn a variety of techniques for creating beautiful skies, fluffy clouds, rolling hills, mountains, trees, grass, and more while developing the skills to create your own unique landscape scenes. Designed for beginners—even those who think they can't draw a stick figure—this class focuses on simple, easy-to-learn techniques. You'll discover how to blend colors, build texture, and layer oil pastels to create rich, expressive works of art. No prior art experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to experiment. By the end of the class, you'll have a collection of colorful landscape drawings and the confidence to continue exploring your creativity with oil pastels.
​About the Instructor:  Courtney Kinneman is a self-taught artist originally from Herscher, Illinois, who has called Alabama home since 2000. A lifelong lover and creator of art, Kinneman put her artistic pursuits on hold for 20 years while raising four incredible boys. Now that three of them have grown and started their own lives, she is ready to dive back into her art career with renewed energy. Art is deeply embedded in Kinneman’s soul, and she believes it is where her heart truly lies. Kinneman’s ultimate goal is to share her work with the world and inspire others to discover and nurture their own hidden talents. She recognizes the immense beauty in the world and believes that art is essential for people’s well-being. Art has been a source of solace and strength for her during the darkest times of her life, and she is passionate about helping others experience the same transformative power.
​​Date: August 22, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm-5:00 pm (CST)
Where: DeSoto State Park-Fort Payne, AL. Nature Center next to DeSoto’s Country Store & Information Center on Co. Rd. 89
Fee: $55.00 -includes all supplies. Ages 12 to adult. Class space is limited to 10, pre-registration is required for attendance in this class. Pre-registration link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/3cyAVcVmft
​