Pastel Art

Artists Describing Their Art:

Enaile D. Siffert - Most of my inspiration comes from nature, literature, movies, music, mythology and folklore. My artwork goes from stylized to realistic and from fantasy to classic themes. I work with several mediuns: oil on canvas, graphite, soft pastels, pen and ink, watercolors, colored pencils, etc.

E S Desanna - I paint outdoors to force concentration, to achieve a rapid, lucid response to the parameters set by the changing light... I sometimes travel to distant locales, paints in hand, to use the novelty of location to insist on a more intense concentration. A change of scene sharpens my vision and forces extreme focus. But every outing is an adventure. Atmosphere and light effect a mood and sense of place that I try to capture in my work. Even the most familiar sight can be especially alluring in certain weather or light conditions. ...

Marsha Savage - My paintings are about the journey and the expresssion of a chosen moment in time. I hope my paintings elicit feelings of warmth, cheerfulness and comfort, also reflecting the beauty and complexity of what I observe and feel about those moments. Capturing an effect is capturing the emotion of a place, recognition, and a feeling that one can identify with what the artist was trying to record. To make you see what I have seen is part of my objective; but to have you feel what I have felt is the ultimate goal. I am mainly a pastel artist and have been producing paintings for over 35 years. Originally painting in oils and acrylics, about 20 years ago pastels became my passion. Just recently, I started painting in oil again, and love doing them. I produce somewhere between 45 to 75 paintings per year in sizes ranging from 3" x 4" to 36" x 48" and have been selling 40 to 50 per year. The paintings are mostly landscapes with a few still life and nudes sprinkled in. I am essentially a self-taught artist, but in recent years, I have found many talented art teachers and studied as often ...

Patrice Stephens-Bourgeault - Patrice's first introduction to painting occured in France, where she lived for three years during her mid teens. The Impressionist painters and the areas they painted influenced her greatly. Then in her early twenties, a few years in a small High Eastern Arctic settlement brought her attention to the interaction of people with their environment. These two influences of France and the High Arctic made her realize that anthropology could be expressed through painting. Her career in painting is supported by an Honours B.A. from the University of Toronto, specializing in Canadian anthropology with a minor in studio arts; and also a four year special arts program from Central Technical School, Toronto. During university she was the President of the Anthropology Students' Union at U of T. Patrice was also given the Innis College medal from Innis College of the University of Toronto for scholastic achievement and cultural participation. She has continued to contribute to the community by being a night school and supply teacher for figure drawing, still life and portraiture and volunteering at community activites. Patrice's versatility in medium and subject matter is shown in her landscapes, still life and portraits done in French pastels ...

Ric Hall And Ron Schmitt - These pastel paintings are collaborative work by artists Ric Hall and Ron Schmitt. Ric and Ron work simultaneously, standing next to one another. They start each piece with no conscious plan as to what the final result will be. Rather, they rely on spontaneous collaboration in the moment to allow the images to develop. Working literally over and around each other, both artists develop all areas of the image. They work with little verbal discussion or debate, allowing their strokes to do the talking. At various points in the process they apply an anhydrous alcohol fixative to keep the pigment from shifting and ready it for the next layer of color. Ric and Ron have been painting using this method for over 25 years, even as their technique and perspectives have matured....

Colette Theriault - New Website: visit www.colettetheriault.com for complete portfolio gallery! Growing up surrounded by the rugged wilderness of Northern Ontario, my love of nature began at an early age. I was inspired by my family who's love of the outdoors manifested itself by countless days of fishing, hunting and camping. Drawn by the beauty and mystery of nature, I was always on the lookout for wildlife, exploring every inch of the forest floor or tree canopy. As a result, I had a need to express this beauty through my drawings and paintings. This undying urge to learn as much as I could about the living world around us later led me to an Honors Bachelor of Science Degree specializing in Biology while I continued to paint and draw part time. My favorite mediums include graphite pencil and watercolor but I also work with acrylic, oil and pastel. I am a self-taught artist and enjoy very much experimenting with different forms of art. My other interests include photography, furniture designing, small mammal husbandry and gardening. To learn how to build your own custom wood frames, visit my woodworking site at: