Lynn Lindley is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America.
An explanation of *Signature Membership* :
Signature Membership in The Pastel Society of America is awarded based on a juried selection process. Quoting The Pastel Society of America from their Web site, www.PastelSocietyofAmerica.org :
"All artists are juried for membership in the Pastel Society of America. Those meeting the standards of professional excellence set by the Jury of Admissions are elected to Signature Artist Membership. Signature Artist members are privileged to use the PSA initials after their name, a meaningful designation in the art community and for potential art buyers."
PASTEL 101 - A short course in a special medium.
PASTEL is powdered color pigment in its purest most unadulterated form. It is the same pigment used to make all the other fine art media, with only a small amount of binder to hold it together in a stick shape for easier handling.
Pastel is a stable and permanent medium. Pastel paintings will not fade, darken, yellow, crack, blister or in any way age. They retain their hue unlike many other media, and withstand the test of time without changing. One of the oldest art forms, pastel paintings from the 16th century in existence now look just as fresh as the day they were painted. Pastel is not the same as colored chalk used by children to draw on sidewalks, or what teachers use on classroom blackboards. Chalk is a substance made of dyed limestone, and is not used in fine art application.
If you were to examine a particle of pastel pigment under a microscope, it would look similar to a cut diamond, with many facets. These “facets” reflect light much like a prism. Many pastelists do not use fixative on their work, as this material is absorbed by the pastel pigment causing it to darken and to dull the brilliance of the colors.
The term “pastel” is from the French word “pastische” or paste. It does not mean the colors are pale or delicate, as the word has come to mean in the cosmetic, fashion, and interior design sense. Pastels, in fact, have an infinite range of colors from soft and subtle, to bold and powerful, and everything in between. The arresting beauty of the pastel sticks themselves has enticed many to try them out. There is no drying time, no change in color, no paints to mix on a palette, nor brushes to clean. This makes pastel a favorite of many artists who enjoy its immediate and spontaneous nature.
A pastel work is considered a “painting” if the entire ground or support underneath is completely covered with pastel. If much of the ground is exposed, the work is termed a pastel “sketch.” Pastels are traditionally framed behind glass for protection against being smudged.
Edgar Degas is the artist whose success with pastel made him the most prolific user of the medium. Two Degas pastels sold at Sotheby’s auction in 1983 for more than $3. million dollars each. Other famous artists who worked in pastel were: Chardin, LaTour, Watteau, Copley, Delacroix, Manet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, and Cassatt.
Now, as in the past, pastels enjoy the stature of oil and watercolor as a major fine art medium.
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*Information on pastel from "Studio Notes" by Lynn Lindley ©
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Please send me an email if you have questions about pastel paintings, or the pastel medium itself. I'd be happy to share my passion for this exciting and vibrant medium with you.
Email: ARTiCREATE@aol.com
Image #1 : "Spring Break" Pastel original by Lynn Lindley ©
Image #2 : "Eucalyptus" Pastel original by Lynn Lindley ©
Image #3: "Shelf Life" Oil original by Lynn Lindley ©
