The Pastel Journal

Pastel Journal covers topics of interest to working pastelists as well as those who work in pastel as an additional medium along with those who are just experimenting with the medium.

Go With the Flow

The Pastel Journal

A Collection Grows • The Van Gogh Museum has added two impressive pastels to its collection of works on paper.

A Modern Take on the Traditional • After the Bath celebrates Mary Cassatt’s signature theme.

The “White” Answer • Barbara Jaenicke addresses whether white is a color—and how to paint without using it to achieve a luminous effect.

All in the Family • A mother and daughter share a passion for pastel and creative ingenuity.

Water, Water, Everywhere • Quiet ponds. Meandering streams. Rushing falls. Crashing waves. Water takes many forms, and all of them make an interesting addition to a composition. This makes it a popular subject for landscape painters, but it’s also one of the most complicated. We asked five pastelists to offer their insights and a few pointers for tackling specific types of water in the landscape.

Rising TO THE Challenge • NATALIE RICHARDS PUSHES HER LANDSCAPE PAINTING PRACTICE WITH A SENSE OF EXPLORATION AND A PLAYFUL, CAN-DO SPIRIT.

EMBROIDERING A PATH TO PASTEL

PERFECT Contrast • JANET SCHWARTZ EXPLORES AND CONTRASTS DIVERSE APPROACHES TO ELEMENTS AND THEMES, CREATING DYNAMIC COMPOSITIONS AND DRAMATIC EFFECTS.

LISTENING TO THE LAND • THROUGH PATIENT EXPLORATION, CAREFUL RESEARCH AND AN INTUITIVE USE OF PASTEL, KATY BAILEY UNCOVERS THE HIDDEN HISTORIES AND EMOTIONAL CURRENTS THAT SHAPE HER DEEPLY REFLECTIVE LANDSCAPES.

ILLUMINATING EMOTION • FOR ALLISON KRAJCIK, A METICULOUS PROCESS OF COLOR HARMONY, LAYERED TECHNIQUE AND LOVE OF THE NATURAL WORLD CONVERGE INTO LUMINOUS PASTEL PAINTINGS.

CHARTING COLOR HARMONY

POD-SIZED DRAMA

Through Beauty and Chaos • DRAWN TO PAINT IN WILD SPACES WHERE VEGETATION STRUGGLES FOR EXISTENCE UNDER HARSH CONDITIONS, MARGARET LARLHAM IMBUES HER PAINTINGS WITH VITALITY AND SENSITIVITY, CONVEYING THE STRUGGLE AND DYNAMISM REQUIRED TO LIVE AND FLOURISH.

The Science of Seeing • Create smart, impactful painting compositions using these two timeless tools.

SCALING UP OR DOWN

Drawing Your Own Path • By seeking out community, staying open to unexpected opportunities and being willing to stretch the boundaries of the work you currently do, you’ll discover that a career in illustration allows your creativity to flourish.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Artists Marketplace.

Full-Bodied Seeing