ADVENTURES IN PASTEL
Welcome to our Adventure Series!
This online group activity offers our members a series of pastel painting challenges each year.
On the 3rd Wednesday of a designated month you receive a new Adventure, via Email, that challenges you to use your pastels in a unique and creative way.
You have a week to submit your Adventure painting, via Email, and then we put together an online gallery of the Adventure paintings.
Comments on how you experienced the Adventure, or insights you gain, are welcomed and included as captions in the gallery.
Adventures provide a unique chance to see how fellow APS members explore visual ideas, experiment with new techniques, and relish the joys of pastel painting.
This program is a perennial favorite of our members!
ADVENTURE I-4 ~ THE “EYES” HAVE IT!
This adventure focused on ‘windows to the soul’ and was open to all interpretations of the word ‘Eye’.
WILL EVANS ~ 5 x 7, white Pastelboard, mix of Nupastels and Terry Ludwigs - "The Luna moth has two sets of fake eyespots to deceive, intimidate or deceive an attacker. Seeing that they have no mouths to feed or defend, and they only live up to a week, are primarily nocturnal, during which time they must find a mate, they’re designed to distract attackers. Tough life!"
PAT QUIGLEY ~ Crying Eyes, 6 x 12, various hard and soft pastels on Sennelier LeCarte paper - "The close ups of the Pompeii painting did it for me – I had to try to paint “crying eyes.” Found a very teary photo online and decided to push the color intensity into Japanese comic book “manga” style. So it turned out crazy colorful - which was something I wanted to try and it was super fun. However, for capturing sadness, on next try, I think I would normalize the color and lighten the tears more. But this is why I love your challenges – they push us to experiment. Thanks APS!"
JAN COBB ~ Looks at You, 5 x 5, pastel on Maimoufin sanded paper - "My 3 year old niece. She 'Looks at You'."
CLAIRE BENTON ~ Potatoes Sprouting Eyes, 5 x 7, gray Somim Pastel Mat Pan and pastel pencils - "Don't think I'd eat these potatoes, but I might plant them!"
GWEN HETHERINGTON ~ Aspen, 6 x 6 - "Hello! This challenge has reminded me that when working or wildlife or human portraits if you get the eyes right, nothing else matters. The rest of the painting can be unfinished or may fail to pass my own critical favor but as soon as there are eyes, there's soul. This portrait of my cat Aspen is part of a series I'm working on of her in different postures, all close-ups of her face. As she's getting older I realize I have to capture these precious images!"
DIANE DE GRASSE ~ Harvey, 10 x 10 - "Another great challenge! I first thought of a storm, swirling clouds, soft curling pastel tones… but then my dog Harvey wanted to play. I took a picture of his face with his eyes asking to be tossed a toy. I did that, but then went to work on a piece of green PastelMat. I started with medium hard pastels, used pastel pencils and a touch of soft white and background of blue. The first background was yellow, but I easily covered it up since PastelMat grabs everything. This was fun, and now I have a nice portrait of my lovable rescue."
NANCY CLAUSEN ~ The Woodpecker's Eye, 5 x 7 - "This is the eye of an Asian Woodpecker. He is a Great Spotted Woodpecker with some red on his stomach, and he is about the size of a Blackbird, only slimmer. I used Ampersand Board and started with CarboOthello pastel pencils. I then used mostly Rembrandts with a few others."
CATHARIN MCCARTHY BANTHA ~ Pepper, Uart 400 and Terry Ludwig pastels - "When I first read this challenge I was a bit intimidated since I have not painted Eyes before or animals. Pepper is my sweet aging Boston Terrier. What a fun challenge! I now have more confidence than I did when I started." Catharin McCarthy Banta
MERYL MEYER ~ Eagle Eye, 9 x 12, Canson Charcoal Black Paper, soft pastel - "Eagle eyes are exceptionally sharp. They can spot small prey as far away as 2 miles. They have enhanced acuity and can perceive red, green and blue. Their transparent 3rd eyelid shields against direct sunlight and moisturizes the eye. Their eyes are well protected by the bony ridge above each eye. Painting the feathers was very challenging. I painted layers and attempted to soften them so they had a featherlike feeling. Soft pastel grays and various whites were used, like Earth, and Schminke. Other assorted medium soft pastels were used for the beak and background. Nupastels were used for sharper detail. I attempted to show the intensity of the eagle's eye which I feel was successful. I am really enjoying painting on the surface of Canson Velvet. I learned a lot about eagle eyes. Nature is amazing. Thank you for this challenge."
ANDREA STUTESMAN ~ Cat’s Eye, 9 x 12, Pastel Mat/Raw Sienna - "Cat’s eye marbles are familiar, machine-made glass spheres - typically clear - distinguished by the colorful, ribbon-like vanes suspended within them. Their simple form holds surprising visual complexity, as light bends through the glass and catches on the curved surfaces. I was drawn to paint them not only for the technical challenge of capturing transparency, light reflection, and shadow, but also for their personal meaning. Rendering glass and its subtle curves pushes my skills in observation and control. At the same time, these marbles carry a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of childhood days spent collecting and playing with my brothers. This piece becomes both a study in light and form, and a quiet reflection on memory."
TERRILYNN DUBREUIL ~ Cat's Eye, 12 x 9
MARYANN GRIB ~ Goggle Eyes, 5 x 7, Uart - "This is my granddaughter Emily when she was wearing her big red goggles while playing. She has great big beautiful brown eyes and I just loved how the goggles framed them."
JAN COBB ~ First Light - Eye of Ra, 9 x 12, pastel on Art Spectrum Colourfix Original - "The greatest power in Egyptian Mythology.”
ALEC HALL ~ Penetrating Stare, 4 x 7, UART 500 grit, Rembrandt and Carb-Othello pastel pencils - "This big cat has his eyes on something very interesting and is completely focused on his subject as only a cat can be."
LINDA MEDDERS ~ mixed pastels on Canson smooth - "New work just starting, so no name yet."
MARGARET LYN-SOROKEN ~ Owl Wink, 12 x 9, pastel pencils - "Sketch from photo taken at Nature Center where owl is living since injury. I did sketches from his cage but this was my first attempt to do a detailed study… of feather pattern and eyes."
PAT FENDA ~ Poignant Pussy, 8 x 6 - "I played with my new Castle d'Ache water double wax pastels on mixed medium paper. It was fun to try something new. Thanks always for the inspiration."
KAREN KNAUB ~ Back At Ya, 16 x 12 - "I will be traveling to Greece in a few days so I chose to paint the Greek evil eye. This was fun and fast. I painted it on Canson Mi-Teintes velvet paper. I am finding this paper nice to work with and it holds a lot of pastel. Thank you for another challenge."
KATHY HUTCHINSON ~ I've Got My Eye on You, 3.5 x 4, grey Artspectrum and various soft pastels and pastel pencils - "When I saw the topic for this Adventure I immediately thought of one of my granddaughter's eyes. They have so many colors when you look deeply. I only wish I could show that."
To become an APS Member and participate in our Adventure Challenges CLICK HERE.
To access our archives and see past Adventure Challenges CLICK HERE.
