The Number One Reason to Love Pastel

I've spent the last 9 posts or so covering some of the most lovable things about pastel.

My personal favorite: it shows the artist's unique touch.

Brushstrokes are beautiful, and also unique to the artist.  Pastel strokes are made directly by hand, with no brush in-between.  To me, this conveys the artist's power directly onto the surface, making a clear connection between the artist's energy and the medium.  My favorite types of pastels to look at are those with obvious pastel strokes, so that the picture almost quivers with life.

A quick, textured pastel study holds so much more power to me than a detailed, well-blended painting.  Everyone has their own taste in art; for me, the immediacy of a rough pastel sketch is like getting a quick peek into the artist's mind.  Some think that pastels might be the first type of art medium used (think of cave art, most likely created by sticks of pigment).


I can appreciate almost any type of hand-created art, in just about any medium-- the pastels always jump out at me though, which is probably what inspired me to sign up for that first pastel class ten years ago this spring, and why I'll always keep a supply of pastels within quick reach if I'm going to be somewhere for any length of time.

Here are a couple of pieces, re-worked with soft pastel after I put them aside some time ago:

"Night View"
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"Balboa Gardens"
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On the shows and festivals front, I was happy to receive an honorable mention for one of my paintings in the Fallbrook Art Association Open Juried Spring Show for The Road to Reno.
Click here to view details


In addition to the two pieces in the spring show, I have two pieces in the Art of the Avocado show at Brandon Gallery.  All will be on display through the end of the month.

I also got to meet some great people at the Avocado Festival last Sunday-- both as booth visitors and fellow vendors!  My next event will be Oceanside Days of Art, April 26th-27th in downtown Oceanside, California.

Click here to visit my website.  Subscribe to my newsletter for your chance to win a pastel painting of water lilies in my drawing on April 30th!  Newsletters will be in your email 3-4 times a year, and your information will never be shared.

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