It was an honor to be the juror of selection for the Pastel Artists Canada Exhibition 2017. Having worked professionally in pastel for well over forty years, it is truly a thrill to see how far the medium has come. This is due in no large part to the tremendous dedication of pastel organizations such as the Pastel Artists of Canada. I commend all of you for your tireless efforts.

Acting as a juror/judge is always a humbling experience. It is never easy to be placed in the position of judging the creative merits of another artist’s work. After repeated review, my criteria for selection came down to: Originality, Command of the Medium, Personal Technique, and Compositional Design. Many paintings, beyond being technically well done, were filled with poetic expression conveying the painter’s personality. As the selection process narrowed, it became one man’s opinion on a given day and nothing more.

I want to congratulate those of you that made the cut. To those of you who did not, I applaud your courage in placing your personal artistic visions out for judgment. I encourage you to continue taking chances. When all is said and done, painting is not about the finished product, it is about the journey!