35th Annual Purely Pastel Exhibition

It was a great privilege to be invited to serve as a juror alongside Cathy Cullis and Jessica Masters in this year’s 35th Purely Pastel Exhibition. During the evaluation of the submitted pieces, the following criteria were considered: quality, design and composition, visual impact, technical skill, originality, and creativity. Given that we are assessing the pieces from a computer screen rather than in person, it is paramount that the piece initially generates a strong visual impact and exhibits significant value changes. Originality and storytelling cannot be overstated in the final selection process.

We extend our gratitude to all who participated in this year’s exhibition. The collection showcased an exceptional array of pieces, making the experience itself an artistic journey. If your work was not selected for this exhibition, it is important to remember that the artistic journey is a continuous process of learning and growth. We encourage you to continue submitting your work.

Pastel painting is truly a passion for me, so I considered it an honour to be a juror in this exhibition. It was exciting to see what was created by our members. The quality of work was very high, making jurying a difficult but interesting process. I am amazed at how each artist has a unique way of working with this one medium. The opportunity to view the collective efforts of the PAC artists in one space is an opportunity to see the vast possibilities this medium can offer.

This year’s exhibition is full of exceptional work, with uniquely expressed ideas, and as a group we should all feel very proud. We are surrounded by artists that are bold, and don’t hold back in their expressions, this is inspiring. Congratulations to all of the artists in this show, it was a joy and honour to be a part of this exhibition. 

It’s was an honour to be invited to jury the 35th Annual Juried Open Purely Pastel Exhibition. I want to thank all who were brave enough to submit your work for this show. It was a challenging task to choose from all the entries which pieces would be accepted.

There are may factors to consider when assessing submitted artwork for inclusion in an exhibition. Originality or creativity in the way the artist’s personal vision was expressed is key as well as visual impact. Were the elements and principles of design such as, contrasting colors, values, directional marks or positive and negative shapes, employed. Were any of these elements applied to show emphasis in a particular area of the painting to draw the eye to its importance? Technical skill must be assessed as well. Is the artists expertise in the use of the medium, strong drawing skills or confident mark making evident? Personal choices in color and values or the use of lost and found edges, can make or break a painting. The elements and personal choices made should pull all areas of the painting together into a cohesive, balanced and noteworthy painting.

Congratulations to all accepted artists and bravo to the award winners!