The Gregory James Gallery in New Milford, CT, has announced a series of invitational shows that will be devoted to the pastel medium, siting a surge in the medium's popularity in recent years as the motivation for the events. Gallery director Greg Mullen says, "I've been working with pastel artists for many years and I've grown to really appreciate the medium. It offers a vibrancy and luminosity unlike any other medium." Featured artists will include Rainie Crawford, Frank Federico, Julie Hopkins, Dick McEvoy, Alain Picard, Peter Seltzer, Joel Spector and Liz Haywood-Sullivan. Sounds like a phenomenal show!

Ken Gofton, our contributing writer from England, has a suggestion for anyone contemplating a Spring Break vacation: "A springtime trip to England might be just what is needed to lift the spirits," he writes, and goes on to suggest a couple of dates of particular interest to pastelists. First, there's the Pastel Society UK's annual exhibition, which opens in central London, at the Mall Galleries, immediately after Easter, April 7 to April 17. "Among the paintings to look out for, in particular" Ken writes, "will be invited submissions from some prominent artists, including Royal Academicians Tom Phillips and Anthony Eyton [whose work appeared in the June 2009 issue of The Pastel Journal] and artist Andrew Hemingway [whom we featured in the magazine in 1999, and will be revisiting in the upcoming June 2010 issue of the magazine]." See Hemingway's pastel, Tattooed Tulip and Northern Glass (pastel on board, 13x11), pictured here.

According to Ken, a number of exciting events will coincide with exhibition, including demonstrations with Ann Wilkinson [featured in the August 2008 issue] on April 8 and charcoal specialist Roy Wright on April 13, as well as an evening event, on April 15, in which several other leading members of the society UK will be demonstrating their skills. For more details, visit the Society website at www.thepastelsociety.org.uk.

And, if you can't make the trip in April, consider May, when 10 prominent members of the Society will take part in a group exhibition at Galler le Fort in the charming, historic city of Bath. This show runs throughout the month, from May 1 to May 29. "The published list of participating artists," writes Ken, "includes Jeannette Hayes, Felicity House and Moira Huntly [featured in the magazine in December 2007, October 2009  and June 2006 respectively]. Also taking part are Victor Ambrus, Sarah Bee, Michael Norman, Norma Stephenson, John Tookey, Peter Brown and Peter Vincent."

For those of you whose next impulse matches my own, here's some links to Travelocity and Expedia! It's worth a look, right?!

Following up on Jessica's post from last week, we did indeed put on our snow boots and head into downtown Cincinnati last Friday for the opening of a new three-artist, all-pastel show at the Fifth Street Gallery. It's a great show with fantastic work by Brian Mathas Burt, Kay Hurley and Jay Wilford, running now through March 12. See Jessica's photo of me with Brian (on left) and Jay (on right).

I was pleased to be introduced to Jay and his soothing pastel landscapes. The artist has worked primarily in oils (check out his work on his website), but likes to do pastels as well—mostly when he wants to enjoy himself. It was also great to catch up with Brian and Kay who have both been featured in the magazine; Brian in the October 2008 issue and Kay in 2004. We've posted both features on our website here and here for you to read or revisit.


If you're a Kay Hurley fan, you'll be interested to know that she's teaching a 3-day workshop this spring, May 14-16 (you can contact her through her website for more information). And, if you can't make it to Kay, you can watch her demonstrate her pastel techniques on DVD, available on our site. 

Frost and Fog (left; 11x14) by M. Katherine Hurley

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The latest word from the pastel front is that the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) exhibition currently taking place at the City of Brea Gallery is a blast.

Pastelist Joe Mancuso demonstrated at the gallery last weekend and has this to share: "This exhibit, in my opinion, represents the highest quality that pastels can produce. A show like this is an education for those who have not seen a pastel exhibit. It was a reminder for me of what an amazing medium pastel is."

The result of the artist's demo, Early Morning Sun, appears above. (You'll also find Mancuso's inspiring winter landscapes in the February issue of The Pastel Journal, along with the artist's thoughts on painting snow scenes.) The exhibit runs through March 5, 2010 with artists from the Southern California Pastel Society offering a pastel demo for the public every Saturday. Good times!

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MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

* Online Seminars for Fine Artists
* Instantly download fine art magazines, books & video workshops
* Sign up for your Artist's Network email newsletter & receive free fine art tips & demos

An Art Invitational Exhibition and Sale, honoring the late Glenna Hartmann, will be held February 20 and 21 (10 am to 5 pm) at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This is the premiere of an event to occur bi-annually with proceeds benefitting the science education programs at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and The Nature Conservancy program on Santa Cruz Island—two programs which were dear to the artist, whose heart was devoted not only to painting but to the land and natural world that inspired her.

The exhibition will feature 100 new works created by nearly 60 of California’s foremost landscape artists, including Elizabeth Tolley (see her oil painting, California Spring, above), plein air colorist Camille Przewodek, pastelists Ann Sanders and Clark Mitchell, and many others. See a complete list of participating artists here.

What a beautiful way to honor a beautiful painter and person. If any of you West Coasters make it to the show, comment here to tell us about it!