Member News / Announcements

Jackie Rimmler won 3rd Place for her painting titled "Morning Light," in the 2026 10th Annual Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-Out competition in Orange County, NC. Her painting already sold! Almost 200 artists participated in the competition, judged by Lori Putnam. The judge's comments were: “Bridging a gap between abstraction and representation, this artist’s use of vertical strokes to suggest layering of grasses and horizontal marks to illustrate the light on the tree trunks juxtaposed to angular branches and random leaf shapes.” These works are on exhibit through Nov 21 at the Eno Arts Mill Gallery in Hillsborough. (https://artsorange.org/2026-paint-it-orange-plein-air-paint-out-winners-announced/) [...]

The Orange County Arts Commission presented the 7th Annual Paint It Orange Plein Air Paint-Out and Wet Paint Sale on October 4-6, 2023.   This year’s Paint it Orange hosted 75 painters from three states. The event celebrates artists of all types and all abilities and combines gorgeous scenery with the opportunity to meet other painters from around the region.   Congrats to Diff Whitmore on her 1st place finish!   Click here for more info. [...]

On December 1st “Sun Kissed” won 2nd place in the 2022 GPE Pastel Dust Off Show and November 12th won the “Associated Artist” award of Southport, NC in Oak Island Art Guild.   I created a still life of oranges on a green velvety material draped over a tabletop. This setup was inside a black box with a warm light bulb spotlight inserted into an open on one side. Sun Kissed is a 8.5″ x 10.5″ pastel painting of an orange and orange slices. I used hard pastels, a variety of soft pastels and pastel pencils on a gridded grey pastelmat paper.   [...]

Rita Kirkman had a painting accepted into the IAPS 2022 Exhibition, 8th Masters Circle Division. The 2022 IAPS PastelWorld Exhibition will take place at the 2022 IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, NM, USA from June 22-25, 2022.   Rita has also won the Gold Award in the Established Artist Division of the Austin Pastel Society Spring Non-Juried Exhibition with her painting “Seeking Social Sheep” (pastel, 30×40″)   Thank you to show judge Mike Etie!   The show continues at Artworks Gallery in Austin TX through June 11.   [...]

Rita Kirkman has won the Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Traylor Award for her painting “Cousins” (pastel, 32×32 inches) at the SAALM 92cd Annual Artists Exhibition.   The show continues through June 3rd, 2022, at the San Antonio Art League Museum, 130 King William Street, San Antonio, TX.   [...]

Rita Kirkman’s painting “Young Diana” (pastel, 12×9 in) is included in the Pastel Society of Southeast Texas 2022 Members Show, at the Arts for Rural Texas at 114 N Live Oak St in Fayetteville.   Opening Reception and Awards Presentation on March 12, 4-6pm.   The exhibit will continue through May 21, 2022.   [...]

"Sycamore Tree" won the Claude Parsons Memorial Award in the American Artists Professional League’s 92nd Grand National Exhibition in November 2020. Normally held at the Salmagundi Club in NYC, this year’s exhibition was online. AAPL shortly after offered me an Elected Associate Member status, which I accepted.     [...]

Recently, my painting, Genesis, won the Benefactor’s Award in the 29th Annual Waterway Art Association Show and Sale held in Calabash, NC. The show was judged by Kari Feuer of Wilmington, NC. [...]

Jeri Greenberg named Juror of Selection for Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod’s annual National exhibit FPO (For Pastels Only).   I will be teaching a “Behind The Looking Glass” for the PSA in NYC on May 9th, The Many Colors of White workshop for the Piedmont Pastel Society August 29th, a workshop for the Pastel Society of South Carolina September 12, and a 3 day workshop at the Jersey Shore in October.    Plus JUST ADDED: A DEMO FOR THE LEFT COAST PASTEL SOCIETY IN APRIL, FOLLOWED BY A WORKSHOP IN 2021.   GALLERY REPRESENTATION: Water+Color Gallery in Wilmington NC beginning 3/13/20 and Art In Bloom [...]

I recently won the Art Spirit Foundation Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Pastel at the American Artist Professional League’s 91st Grand National Exhibition 2019 with my drawing “In The Bag”.   The show was at the Salmagundi Club in New York in November.   [...]

I won “Best in Show” at the January 2019 Hillsborough Artists Guild Exhibit “Resolutions 2019” for my painting “Summer Fun”. [...]

Diana Coidan had two works accepted into the 311 Gallery Landscapes and Seascapes Juried Show, Raleigh, NC.   Show will run from September 7th – 29th.     [...]

“Wings,” an Arian Art Exhibit at Nicole’s Studio & Art Gallery, N. Pearson Street, Raleigh, continues until June 1st with ten of my new pastels.   Also, my pastel, “Juin en Gaisson” was accepted into another FALC Annual Exhibit at Page-Walker Art Centre in Cary. Exhibit runs from May 16-June 30 with an opening reception on May 18th from 6-8pm.   [...]

August 26 – October 1, 2018Grace Centre Gllery, Mills River, NCJuror: Luana Luconi Winner   Online Entries are Open! Deadline July 1, 2018   Download the Prospectus   Download the Digital Entry Form (or print and mail in form on the prospectus… all images must be submitted online as described in the Prospectus)   Full information and links are available on the home page of the APS Website… www.appalachianpastelsociety.org, show is for Members only… but you can join or renew at the time of entry.   For full program information, meeting dates, plein air outings, exhibitions, directions to meetings and events: Contact phone numbers and email addresses of coordinators are  on our [...]

Village Art Circle Third Annual Juried Exhibit Carolina on My Mind through November 26th, 2016   I am honored to have been awarded First Place for my painting, Hailey’s Aura. The Juror was Adam Cave, of Adam Cave Fine Art Gallery, Raleigh, NC.   Forty pieces of art out of 140 images submitted by regional artists were selected for the exhibition.   200 South Academy Street Suite 130Cary, NC 27511Hours: Wed-Sat, 11am to 5pm919 -210- 0398   [...]

Chris’ pastel, Wright Angles, was selected for the juried exhibition of the Fine Arts League of Cary.   Fine Arts League of Cary19th Annual Juried Art ExhibitionThru April 20, 2014   Page-Walker Art and History Center119 Ambassador LoopCary, NC 27513919-460-4963   Hours:10 am – 9:30 pm M-Th10 am – 5 pm Fri10 am – 1 pm Sat   [...]

Diana Coidan received the “Art Award of Excellence” at the Arts Council of Carteret County 24th Juried Art from the Heart Show in Morehead City, NC with her pastel “Sea-Aire on the Pamlico.”  The show and sale will run through February 28th. [...]

Kim Werfel and Diana Coidan received Honorable Mention Awards for their respective pastel paintings “Queen of Swords” and “Sea Aire on the Pamlico” in the Fine Art League of Cary Annual Members Show – now running through December 31, 2013 at the Page-Walker Art & History Center.   Address: 119 Ambassador Loop Cary, NC 27513Phone: 919-460-4963Hours: 10 am – 9:30 pm M-Th; 10 am -5 pm Fri; 10 am – 1 pm Sat     Queen of Swords by Kim Werfel [...]

Fine Arts League of Cary Annual Members Show   My painting was included in this exhibit. [...]

Diana Coidan was awarded Second Place for her nautical pastel, “Java Joy”, in 2D-Professional Category at “Autumn with Topsail” in Topsail Beach. [...]

From her series titled “The Children of Collodi,” Luana Luconi Winner’s 20 x 16 pastel of 30 Pinocchios called “Hanging Around” was accepted into the Pastel Society of America annual exhibition at the National Arts Club in NYC.   180 pieces were selected from over 1,000 entries this year.   The town of Collodi, Italy is where Pinocchio was written and sits right next to the town of Lucca in Tuscany where Luana’s grandparents were born.   [...]

Diana L. Coidan was juried into the Associated Artists of Southport Summer Reginal Juried Exhibition and received Second Place for her pastel “Un Bateau Rouge”.   Exhibition dates: June 27-July 24 at Franklin Square Gallery   [...]

Luana Luconi Winner participated in the 18th international juried exhibition at the International Association of Pastel Societies in Albuquerque, NM.  Her painting “Children of Collodi: Gathering” was one of 85 paintings chosen for the exhibition in June 2011.   She will also be participating in the national exhibition Pastels by Invitation 2011 at the Creative Arts Center, Chatham, MA on Cape Cod. Forty-nine national leaders in pastel including Albert Handell, Jimmy Wright, Claudia Seymour, Maggie Price, and others will be exhibited from August 4th – September 2nd, 2011. Each artist will exhibit one piece. Luana’s painting is “Captain’s Table."   [...]

Diana Coidan received an Honorable Mention for an accepted pastel in the Coastal Pastel Society of NC Juried Exhibition in New Bern and also received a Honorable Mention for an accepted pastel entitled “After the Storm” in the Beaufort County Arts Council’s 46th Annual Fine Arts Show in Washington, NC,  October – January. [...]

PSNC Member, Vinita Jain‘s, painting titled “A Fall Symphony” was selected as the third prize winner in the abstract category of the Pastel 100 competition. Along with the painting, there is a one page write up in the current April 2010 issue of the Pastel Journal. Congratulations, Vinita!   [...]

Vinita Jain‘s artwork was chosen for use in the Treadaway Cup competition. The Treadaway competition is like installation artwork done in flowers, inspired by an original painting. This competition will take place on Sunday, August 16 at the “Pastels & Petals” all floral show in conjunction with the NC State Florists Association Annual Convention at the Greensboro Embassy Suites Hotel.   Congrats, Vinita!   [...]

Sheryl Daniels had 2 paintings accepted into the Alabama Pastel Society National Show at the Soon Bok Lee Sellers Art Gallery in Birmingham, AL. The exhibit ran from June 4 to June 30.   Congratulations, Sheryl!   [...]

PSNC member Sheryl Daniels had 2 pastels accepted into the Alabama Pastel Society Show at The Soon Bok Lee Sellers Art Gallery in Birmingham, AL. The show is running from June 4-30, 2008.    Congratulations, Sheryl!   [...]

We plan to use this space to report on member news, upcoming events, call for artists and member demonstrations.   We invite any and all to participate and comment as we hope this space is used to communicate information to our members both near and far. [...]