Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2024 i The Pastel Journal

Whether marking the years of a marriage, an important historical event or the years a business has been in operation, an anniversary is a chance to pause and reflect—with the benefit of hindsight—on a starting point and the distance traveled. This year, for example, Facebook turns 20 and The National Gallery, London, turns 200. 2024 also marks 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall as well as the 75th anniversary of NATO. In January, the Euro celebrated 25 years as a currency. That was 1999, the year that also saw the launch of a small but mighty new publication called The Pastel Journal, or Pastel Journal, as we know it today. So many people have been instrumental in the making and flourishing of this magazine, beginning with the…

CHINESE ARTIST YANG ZHAO is best known for his evocative and richly colored portrayals of people. Yet this year's winner of the Pastel Gold Award, Plaster Room, extends the motif. The plaster models are of human or semi-human figures— mythical gods, historical busts, a winged victory and a nude torso— but it's not their humanity that we notice. Stripped of color and individual character, mostly facing away from us, jumbled together in a dusty storage room, the plaster models become anonymous objects in a cool, shadowy space. Further study reveals how each shape subtly reflects the warm light visible through the open door and adjacent window. The mood is calm and meditative; the space beckons us forward. We feel we could walk toward that open door, trailing our fingertips over…

NEW (TECH)NIQUES You don't have to be a technology guru to find constructive, often surprising, uses for apps, online programs and platforms that can expand a creative practice. A CRITIQUE WITH THE MASTERS Like many artists, I've been using my computer to edit images of artwork and reference photos for some time. More recently, though, I've been using it as a viewing tool for self-critique of my work. If I get stuck in a painting, I find a work of art by one of my many art heroes—contemporary or historical—that offers a masterful version of the subject or painting skill with which I'm struggling. I put both images up on my screen—mine and theirs—for a side-by-side comparison. I carefully lookforwhat I'm getting wrong by assessing edges, color palette and editing…

WHEN BEIJING ARTIST JIA WEI WAS A CHILD, a favorite pastime was watching cartoons of Saint Seiya, who was one of five mystical warriors who originated in the manga series by writer and illustrator Masami Kurumada. Sworn to defend the Olympian goddess Athena in battles against those who sought to conquer Earth, the Saints wore sacred cloths, channeling their powers from stellar constellations. Thus, they were known as the “Knights of the Zodiac.” “I still have some models of Saint Seiya's golden vestments at home,” says Wei. Naturally, when the artist designed the figure's headwear and armor-like clothing for his futuristic painting New Human, he opted to paint them gold. “It's a material that symbolizes eternity and immutability,” Wei says. These two traits strike a deep chord within this artist.…

FIRST PLACE ZHONGSHI WANG Grand Dreams (Spring and Autumn Dreams) by Zhongshi Wang suggests a strong narrative, even as the subject's eyes are closed, and it appears as if the world within the painting is preparing for hibernation. The composition was the result of an unplanned collaboration that occurred when a friend stopped by Wang's studio and began paging through a book of pastels that was out on a coffee table. “We started discussing theme choices for pastel paintings and the use of expressive techniques,” says Wang. It was noon, and the artist's friend was feeling sleepy. “My own consciousness was blurry and drifting,” he says, “still immersed in the atmosphere of our discussion.” The artist found himself drifting off to sleep. “Then suddenly, a breeze blew in from the…

Workshops Pastel Journal accepts advertisements for workshops, but does not endorse or recommend any workshops listed. Artists considering participating in any workshop are encouraged to conduct their own investigations. Alain J. Picard, PSA, IAPS MC Are you eager to overcome obstacles that may be hindering your creative growth so you can thrive as an artist? Equipping and empowering artists like you with practical solutions to creative challenges is my passion. I offer a wealth of resources, free video lessons and inspiring live and online workshop experiences so you can flourish on your creative journey. Whether you love to paint the landscape, portrait, still life or figure, I'll teach you breakthrough techniques that will elevate your artwork to new heights and help you create the paintings you've always dreamed of. Through…

For a quarter century, the annual Pastel 100 Competition has been recognizing the incredible skill and artistry of today's pastel talents. By bringing forward 100 works in the medium every spring in the Pastel Journal, we have-after 25 years-been able to bring 2,500 works of pastel into the spotlight! Thanks to generous sponsors past and present, our Pastel 100 winners have also been the recipients of fabulous art materials that fuel their ongoing efforts. We're grateful for the many pastel luminaries who have served as jurors over the years and for the many, many artists who have participated in this annual event. Together, we've created a prestigious, highly anticipated showcase that not only applauds artistic excellence but also celebrates a thriving pastel community that just keeps getting stronger. Special thanks…

CALIFORNIA ARTIST SARA GALLAGHER BRINGS A SOFT TOUCH to hard subjects. Using a mixed-media approach that combines the sharp detail of graphite with the gentle layers of PanPastel, she seeks to provide images that encourage viewers to explore their inner landscapes. Gallagher, who studied with German hyperrealist Dirk Dzimirsky after graduating from San Francisco State University, has chosen to apply her talents to a specific purpose. “This work, like all my works, is part of my exploration of mental health issues through art,” she says. “The process is what really brings the work alive. It starts when I sit down with a group of participants and listen to their emotional experiences. That experience anchors the visual representation, and it then propels the work forward through further dialogues.” FRAGMENTS OF MEMORY…

NANCIE KING MERTZ'S award-winning pastel, Jim Scott's Garden, is “one of those pieces that seemed to paint itself,” says the artist. Even so, her portrayal of a blue cache pot perched amongst a mass of green leaves and flourishing pink azaleas evokes a presence that's timeless and still. Dappled light effects and interlaced linear elements, which steer renewed interest toward the main focal point, accentuate the scene's informal elegance. Yet Mertz isn't given to overdescription. Instead, her spontaneous and lively strokes energize nearly every part of the painting. “The intentional mark-making in pastel is what always pulls me to this medium,” she notes. Landscape & Interior juror Desmond O'Hagan was captivated by the artist's effective treatment of her subject, along with her distinctive design. “This pastel has a beautiful combination…