Pastel Society of North Carolina
A group of NC who love to express themselves using soft pastels.

Archive for 2008

deadline for Greensboro exhibit is December 20th

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

A reminder: Digital images are due to Lori White by Saturday, December 20, 2008 for our exhibit in February 2009 at the Ambleside Gallery in Greensboro, NC!

Bring your digital CDs or print photographs to the Christmas party or send her an email.

PSNC Annual Christmas party!

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Today is the deadline to RSVP for the PSNC Annual Christmas party on Saturday, December 20 from 2-4pm at Chris Kanoy’s house in Carrboro. Please contact Chris for directions and to let her know you are coming. Significant others are always welcome. Hope to see everyone there!

Member News, Dan Vaughan

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Dan Vaughan has an art show entitled “Artist Journal” at the Pittsboro Library at 152 West Street from December 3, 2008 until January 31, 2009.

Maggie Price Three Day Landscape Workshop

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

The Piedmont Pastel Society is sponsoring a three day Landscape Workshop with Maggie Price. The workshop is open to beginners and experienced artists. In the workshop, you will learn how to master the techniques of this vibrant and versatile medium and watch inspiring step- by- step demonstrations from Maggie’s easel. If you are interested in attending the workshop, please contact Karen Mello at 704-365-7858.

Course Information:

  • November 10, 11, and 12
  • 9-4 daily
  • Covenant Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC
  • $400 for PPS members, $420 for Non-members (includes PPS membership)

Learn how to:

  • Create depth and movement with color
  • Paint using a range of strokes
  • Blend colors to create luminous skies and reflections in water
  • How to under-paint with Turpenoid to achieve a bold and strong composition
  • How to loosen up
  • How to avoid the perils of photographic reference
  • How to select the right materials
  • Maggie will share any new and innovative techniques that she has most recently discovered

Member News, Dan Vaughan

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

PSNC member Dan Vaughan will have a solo show at the Robert & Pearl Seymour Center (Chapel Hill Senior Center) at 2551 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill from October 2 through November 30, 2008.

Member Critiques from our September meeting

Friday, September 26th, 2008

Four members and two visitors brought in their paintings for critique, it was nice to see what people had been up to during our summer break!

Laurel Wetzork

a new visitor

Patricia Savage

Kathryn Wilson

Vinita Jain

David Boone

Color Mixing for Skin Tones workshop by Luana Luconi Winner

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Location: Artspace Studios 214 and 215 at 201 East Davie Street in Raleigh, NC
Date: Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th from 10am to 5pm
Cost: $185.00, Fee may be paid by mailing check or requesting PayPal invoice for Credit Card.

This color mixing class will give you confidence to create beautiful skin tones for future portrait and figure work. Study includes general ethnicities and distinctive color families. Each chart will contain color formulas for: skin in shadow, local color, and in light; hair in shadow, light, and highlight; lips.

Oil / Acrylic / Pastel colors will be forwarded as you sign up. Chart paper will be supplied at the class.

A palette knife will be needed – some will be available for use. Please bring a sharpie, ruler, sketch book for notes, and drawing pencil.

Space for six students in the studio.

Contact Luana Luconi Winner if you have additional questions at 919.834.2447

2008 Wake Forest Area Artists Studio Tour, September 20-21

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

The second weekend of the 2008 Wake Forest Area Artists Studio Tour will be held from September 20-21, 2008. One of the PSNC members, Suzanne Thomas, will be at the Sunflower Studio. Please come and see her and the other artists who work and exhibit there. They all have new work!

Visit the Artist’s Studio Tour website for a map and the names of all the participating artists.

Member News, Laurel Wetzork

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

From now until the end of September, Wendell artist Laurel Wetzork is showcasing a selection of her en plein air paintings at the Garner Historic Auditorium in their recently renovated lobby. Chosen from painting trips in North Carolina, New Mexico, and Georgia, this selection features her favorite and most recent en plein air works. En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air,” and is particularly used to describe the act of painting in the outdoor environment. Many artists feel that this painting technique is the only way to truly capture the beauty and colors of landscapes. Laurel completes most paintings on location and adds finishing touches in her studio.

The North Carolina paintings in the Garner show are chosen from the artist’s series “The Beauty of North Carolina Farms.” Laurel’s paintings are exhibited in juried shows and solo exhibitions, have won awards, been commissioned, and are held in private collections. Her mediums are oil and acrylic on stretched canvas or linen panels, and soft pastels on Kitty Wallis Museum-grade paper.


Grape Confusion (Green Creek Winery, Columbus, NC), oil on canvas, 18″ x 24

There is a reception on Sunday, September 14 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The artist will be bringing several other new works, and will be on hand to say hello. If you’d like to attend the reception, please RSVP.

When: August through September 2008, Monday through Friday from 1:30 to 5:30 or by appointment
Where: Garner Historic Auditorium Lobby, 742 West Garner Road, Garner, NC

Artists@Work 2008 School Residency

Friday, August 29th, 2008

DESCRIPTION: The Public Art Office of the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina seeks qualifications from artists and/or artist teams to collaborate with students, instructors and the administration of Ephesus Elementary School to create an artwork for the school during the fall of 2008.

ELIGIBILITY: Open to all artists and artist teams in North Carolina. Artists and teams may specialize in multiple disciplines and media. Artists residing in Orange County and surrounding counties are encouraged to apply. Artists should have experience working in a residency situation and/or the ability to communicate with students or community groups.

PROJECT BUDGET: $3,000 artist honoraria and up to $500.00 for supplies

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: September 30, 2008

Local and regional artists and teams are invited to apply for the fall 2008 Artists@Work residency at Ephesus Road Elementary School in Chapel Hill. The selected artist/team will plan the in-school residency (between 9 – 12 sessions) and lead 4th or 5th grade students (three separate classes of 22-24 students) in the creation of a collaborative artwork. The selected artist/team must provide a practical classroom/workshop experience for students, which engages them in art production. The experience should build teamwork, students’ problem-solving skills, and confidence in their artistic abilities, stimulate creativity, and teach decision-making related to the production of a public work of art. The art instructor and parent volunteers will assist the artist/team with maintaining classroom discipline and project coordination.

The residency will take place in early November. The selected artist/team will propose an artwork that, in theme or materials, addresses literacy, the fun of reading and learning, and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Chapel Hill Public Library and the 100th anniversary of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. The selected artist/team will participate in a preparatory meeting with Public Arts staff, members of the Public Arts Commission, school staff and parent docents. The selected artist/team will work with the Ephesus art instructor and volunteer parent docents to engage students in this project for approximately 9 – 12 instructional sessions (usually over a two-week period). The selected artist/team is responsible for completing and installing the artwork as proposed. The completed artwork may be temporarily displayed at the Chapel Hill Public Library during its 50th Anniversary celebration and then permanently installed at Ephesus Elementary School. Assistance and some funds will be provided for installation if applicable.

SELECTION PROCESS: An Artist Selection Committee comprised of representatives of Ephesus Elementary School, the Chapel Hill Public Library, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission, and the Town’s Public Arts Office will invite three finalists from the applicant pool to each submit a proposal according to provided specifications. Each finalist will be paid a $250.00 stipend for a proposal presentation. After these proposals are reviewed one artist/team will be selected to lead the fall 2008 Artists@Work program.

HOW TO APPLY: Artists and teams may send a compact disc containing application materials through the post to Jeffrey York (address provided below) or in a .zip file sent to chapelhillarts@gmail.com.

Each application must include:

  • Ten (10) Images of Relevant Work
    Each image must be a PC-compatible JPEG file at 72 pixels per inch, as close to but no larger than the following dimensions: 750 pixels wide by 560 pixels tall. Each JPEG file must be named in the following format – lastname_01_title.jpg – where the artist’s last name is followed by underscore, two-digit identification number, underscore, title, file extension. If you wish to show a detail, include it within the required number of images. Please do not present your work as a montage of images (ie., in a PowerPoint file); each image must be a separate JPEG.
  • Annotated Image List
  • A word file (.doc) listing JPEG images by two-digit identification number, followed by artist, title of work depicted, year completed, media, location, dimensions, and budget.
  • Resume
  • A word file (.doc) providing resume(s). If you are applying as a team, include all team member resumes within one document.
  • Letter of Interest
    A word file (.doc) not to exceed 5,000 characters. This statement will explain the artist’s or team’s interest in the project and past experience. If the Letter of Interest is on behalf of a team, please indicate how the individuals have previously collaborated and the nature of the collaboration. If the artist/team has worked with schools or community groups, please describe the relationships and nature of the projects.

SCHEDULE FOR ARTIST SELECTION (subject to change):

September 30, 2008: Deadline for Electronic Application Materials
October 6, 2008: Artist Recommendation Committee invites Finalists to present Proposals.
October 22, 2008: Finalists’ Proposal Presentations
October 24, 2008: Artist/team Selected
November 2008: Artist/team leads program at Ephesus Elementary
2008/2009: Artwork on display at Chapel Hill Public Library
2009: Artwork permanently installed at Ephesus Elementary School

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: To learn more about the previous Artists@Work programs, please visit http://www.chapelhillarts.org/programs_residence_ov.php. If you have questions or need any additional information please contact the Town of Chapel Hill Public Arts Office: Jeffrey J. York, Chapel Hill Public Arts Administrator, 919-968-2750.

photos from the PSNC High Point reception

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Photos from the PSNC High Point reception on Saturday, August 23, 2008.

Christine Berndt

Toni Lindahl

31st Annual NC Artists Exhibition

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

dog portrait pastel demo by Leandra Ganko

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

PSNC member Leandra Ganko will be doing a live pastel demo of her dog portraits at Jerry’s Artarama on Sunday, August 31st from 1-4pm. So come out and say hello!

39th Annual River Road Show

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

CALL FOR ARTISTS

The Louisiana Art and Artists’ Guild announces the deadline for its 39th Annual River Road Show as Tuesday, September 2. This is a national juried show exhibited from December 2 – December 31, 2008, in the beautiful Louisiana State Archives Gallery, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The competition is open to all United States artists over the age of 18.  Any original two-dimensional art is acceptable except photography and digitally-created or enhanced works.

Cash prizes are $2800. The show is juried and judged by Judi Betts, an internationally known artist. Entries must be submitted in slide or CD formats. Entry fee is $35 for three entries and $5 for each additional
submission up to 10.

Visit the Louisiana Art and Artists’ Guild website for a prospectus, more information about the show, and pictures of the 2008 show. Direct questions to Betty Efferson, RRS chair, at (225) 293-9793.

2008 groundSPARK street painting festival

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

The 10th annual groundSPARK Raleigh Street Painting Festival will be held in Moore Square on September 19-21, 2008. Visual Art Exchange produces the festival, which last year had a record number of artists (over 400!) chalking for an intense 27 hours and transforming Martin Street into a work of art.

10,000 visitors came to watch the artists and participate in the many creative (and free!) components of the festival including People’s Choice voting, The Scrap Exchange, and KidsCHALK. This year’s festival will boast additional activities including a weaving wall, Image Slam, free face painting, and even a visit from the Chalk Princess.

DEADLINE to sign up is September 5, 2008, but register by August 29th and the $5 registration fee is waived! See the groundSPARK website for more details and to download a registration form.

Theatre Arts Gallery reception in High Point

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Mark your calendars for the Theatre Arts Gallery reception for the PSNC exhibit on Saturday, August 23, from 5-7 PM. This is undoubtedly our best exhibit ever!

Pastel 100 Competition

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

For 10 years, the Pastel 100 Competition has rewarded artists for their finest work. And this year, they are celebrating our 10th Anniversary by giving away even more great prizes!

Sponsored by The Pastel Journal, America’s leading magazine devoted to pastel artists, and sister publication of The Artist’s Magazine, this annual competition offers cash, prizes and publicity to its lucky winners.

All entries must be postmarked by September 1, 2008. Enter now and your work could win huge cash prizes, like the $5,000 Jack Richeson/Unison Pastels Best of Show Award!

Other top awards include:

  • The Ruth Richeson/Unison Pastels Award, featuring a 402-piece set of Unison Pastels— worth $2,067, plus 750 worth of Richeson Co. products
  • The Pastel Journal Grand Prize—$2,500
  • The Art Spirit Foundation/Dianne B. Bernhard Silver and Gold Medal Awards for Excellence—$1,000 to $1,500

You can also compete to win more cash prizes in any of these 5 categories:

  • Landscape & Interior—juried by Lorenzo Chavez
  • Portrait & Figure—juried by Desmond O’Hagan
  • Still Life & Floral—juried by Christina Debarry
  • Animal & Wildlife—juried by Dustin Van Wechel
  • Abstract & Non-Objective—juried by Frank Federico

All top prize winners will be featured in the April 2009 issue of The Pastel Journal. Don’t miss this opportunity to publicize your work!

To learn more about the competition, for complete information, additional entry forms, or to enter online please visit www.artistsnetwork.com/pasteljournalcompetition

For any questions, you can contact pjcompetitions@fwpubs.com.

PSNC on the radio: updated

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Herb Slapo and Toni Lindahl will be interviewed by public radio on Wednesday, August 20th at 12 noon at the High Point Theater Art Galleries.

The actual interview will be aired on Friday, August 22 from 1:30pm-2:00pm.

Tune into WFDD (88.5) or you can listen online.

The Richeson 75 Pastels Competition

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Seventy-five two-dimensional works of art and several alternates will be selected to represent the finest examples of pastel painting and drawing being produced by today’s visual artists.

The following prizes will be awarded:
BEST IN SHOW – $2,000 CASH AWARD
FOUR HONOR AWARDS: $500 Richeson Art Material Certificates
ONE UNISON PREMIUM PASTEL SURFACE AWARD: $500 Richeson Art Material

Certificates and the artwork will be featured in a Unison Premium Pastel Surface National Advertisement.

International Postmark Deadline November 15, 2008

Download the prospectus (pdf)

Winner workshop photos

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Here are some photos from the workshop with Luana Luconi Winner at the High Point Theater Art Galleries on Saturday, July 12. We had 12 participants and they all seemed to have a great experience.