Congratulations to William A. Schneider, one of our featured artists in the February issue. His painting, Third Floor Studio (at right), recently earned the Jack Richeson & Co./Pastel Society of America/The Pastel Journal Award at the Pastel Society of New Mexico’s 16th annual national exhibition. The jurors were Alan Flattmann, Paula Lawson and Maggie Muchmore, and Duane Wakeham served as judge.

Schneider says the painting was created during an open studio session at the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. "I was intrigued by the model's contemplative mood and the dramatic backlighting,” he says. “What was she thinking about?"