Daud Akhriev, “Considerations,” pastel Daud Akhreiv and his wife, Melissa Hefferlin (also an artist), have been making an annual trip from their home in Tennessee to the town of Frenchboro, on Long Island, in Maine, for many years. It was there that Akhriev first had the inspiration for a series of nautical-themed paintings.  After years of painting port workers, the artist has developed a sense of his subjects’ strong features. He describes their appearance as having “a beautiful imperfection,” a captivating asymmetry. “I see this in how their faces move and eyes squint when talking,” t ..read more

“Down in the Meadow” (pastel, 12 x 12 in.) “Early in my art journey I avoided painting wildflowers,” says Karen Margulis. “I was afraid they would make my landscapes too sweet or too pretty. But the muse kept calling me until finally I embraced my truth and chose to showcase the wild tangles of grasses and wildflowers that captured my imagination.” PASTEL TUTORIAL THUMBNAIL SKETCHTHUMBNAIL SKETCH I begin by making a quick thumbnail sketch on an index card, simplifying the subject into a few big shapes and assigning a value to each shape. I limit the total number of values in the study to three ..read more

Perhaps no one knows better the beauty awaiting us just outside our doors than the plein air painter. Here we share the work of five pastel artists who found inspiration close to home in a variety of gardens, yards, and greenspaces. Giverny — Pond in Spring (pastel, 18 x 24 in.) by Maria MarinoHillside Color (pastel, 10 x 8 in.) by Bonnie GriffithWater Lily (pastel, 16 x 20 in.) by Marcia HolmesThe Queen and Her Court (pastel, 12 x 12 in.) by Jill Stefani WagnerMorning Sunflowers (pastel, 8 x 10 in.) by Julie Skoda Karen Margulis’s “Expressive Pastel Painting” video workshop is PERFECT for yo ..read more

In this episode of Art School Live, Eric Rhoads welcomes Susan Kuznitsky with advice for adding texture to a pastel painting of flowers. Susan Kuznitsky has previously been on the faculty of the annual Pastel Live virtual art conference. Watch: Adding Texture to Your Pastel Painting “As an artist, I find solace in the belief that words often fail to capture the true essence of our existence,” Susan says in her Artist Statement. “I am convinced that painting possesses a language of its own. It is through my brushstrokes, mark making, and color that I strive to communicate the beauty that sur ..read more

By Christopher Volpe Zaria Forman at work on one of her large-scale soft pastel paintings. (Source: artist’s website) At five and a half feet wide by seven and a half feet long, Zaria Forman’s pastel paintings are hard to ignore. Within them, art, science, and beauty mingle in equal measure. For two decades, Forman has traveled with and without scientists to remote regions all over the world collecting images and inspiration for her work, which is exhibited worldwide. Her highly detailed pastels meticulously document and bring attention to these rapidly changing landscapes. Saria Forman, Fell ..read more

In celebration of the vibrant and complex medium of soft pastel, the Northwest Pastel Society is holding its annual exhibition of Signature members. Judith Smith, this year’s judge, selected 56 pastel paintings by 37 different artists. She had this to say about the award-winning works: “Radiance” by Deborah HendersonBest of Show: Radiance by Deborah Henderson “It’s timeless; you’ll never get tired of looking at that little painting. It’s got strong bold color balanced by neutrals. It has an emotional impact that comes not from what the artist painted but how well she painted it, and ..read more

This week, the highly anticipated 5th Annual Plein Air Live included two of our favorite pastel landscape painters: Natasha Isenhour and Lisa Skelly. If you missed this event, join us with even more of today’s best pastel artists sharing all of their secrets, explaining their materials, methods, and more at Pastel Live, September 18-20, 2024 (with an Essential Techniques Day on September 17). There, we’ll enjoy demos and sessions with Albert Handell, Carol Peebles, Alain Picard, and more! Here’s a glimpse at Natasha and Lisa’s recent demos: From Natasha Isenhour’s plein air pastel demonstrati ..read more

Terry Ludwig, creator of Terry Ludwig Pastels, passed away on February 20, 2024 at the age of 82, leaving behind an incredible artistic legacy and a profound impact on pastel art. Terry Ludwig A statement released by Terry Ludwig Pastels recalls “Terry’s infectious humor and kindness that made quick friends out of strangers. He was never without a pencil and sketchpad, often drawing portraits of the many people he met.” Terry studied art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he received rigorous training in classic art techniques, including color theory. Terry’s pastels gained recog ..read more

Nancy Silvia at Acadia National Park, Maine “I began painting outdoors at around 45 years of age,” says 81-year-old Nancy Silvia. “I was living in rural New Jersey at the time and just beginning to concentrate on landscape as my primary subject. Working large —  22 x 30 or 29 x 40 inches — in pastel, I mainly painted looking out of the windows of my house and thought that might be a kind of plein air painting. I also did small sketches on location, but the weather was never ideal — too hot and humid, too cold, too much rain, or too clouded with mosquitos. “Sunset and Rain” (pastel on ..read more

“Gold Rustle” (pastel, 9 x 12 in.) by Janet Kohler Gold Rustle by Janet Kohler won Best Plein Air Pastel in the November PleinAir Salon art competition. What she has to say about her award-winning painting might inspire your next painting and put you on the path to greater recognition for your own work. Inspiration: The extremely bright-yellow leaves, rustling in the wind and the complementary violets in the fall grasses grabbed my attention on this warm, sunny day. I enjoy experimenting and using complementary colors in my work.  Challenges: The intense primary blue sky and all the prima ..read more