I managed to persuade 10 artists at the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Convention to say a few words on video in answer to one question. This post will include half the IAPS interviews, the next, the rest. (One interview went way over the one-to-three minute mark and the story was so fascinating that I thought, hey, this would make a great guest blog so look for that next month!)
Along with the IAPS interviews, I have included two pastel examples by each artist. A few of the artists attached words along with the images they sent and these are included in the captions below each painting.
First up is Sandra Burshell who is well known for her luminous interiors. Most notably, she won the IAPS Prix de Pastel (the highest honour ) in the 18th IAPS Juried Show. Now take a look at these beauties! I feel as if I’m in the scene, bathed in the atmosphere and light.
I asked Sandra about why she paints Interiors, or Roomscapes as she calls them:
Next we have my lovely friend Stephanie Birdsall. She has become well known for her intricate and delicate as well as bold and direct florals. Here are a couple of her delightful floral pastels. I could just put my hand in and pick up the blossoms!
Given that Stephanie’s expertise lies with painting flowers, I asked her if she had a couple of tips to share:
This year’s IAPS Prix de Pastel (the highest award) winner was Christine Swann. And just by the way, Christine won the Gold Award at the 22nd Juried Exhibition at the 2013 IAPS Convention. And if that wasn’t enough, she also won the Maggie Price award at the 24th Juried IAPS Exhibition. (I wrote about the pastel last year. You can read about it here.)
Rather than show you Christine’s winning piece (I’ll put a link to the IAPS website when they have the show available online and you’ll be able to see it there), I thought it would be interesting to view two pieces I hadn’t seen before. Christine’s work is all about the story they tell beyond the surface content.
I asked Christine about the most important element in her paintings:
Arlene Richman does stunning abstracts. She’s won many awards for them including numerous ones in the Pastel Journal’s Pastel 100 annual competition. Arlene has also been a guest blogger here at HowToPastel and you can read her article here. Let’s have a look at the two pieces she sent:
You can hear how Arlene starts these marvelous pastels:
And finally for this post we come to the work of Duane Wakeham. I’m always awed by how deceptively simple they look – so clear in their intention. When you look closely at Duane’s work, you see shapes. The abstract underpinnings of his work help to make our experience of them that much more (unconsciously) satisfying. And although the colours, when you look closely at them, may be stretched away from what we might think we see, the paintings seem to reflect reality perfectly. Often, there are such subtle shifts in colour and temperature and values that unless you observe the pieces closely, you won’t notice them. Duane sent me four options: I had the dickens of a time picking two! Here they are:
You get the feeling when looking at Duane’s work that in each painting, every part of it has been considered. Listen to what Duane has to say about how he builds a painting:
And that’s it until next time when I’ll bring you the other four IAPS interviews. I also want to thank these artists for sharing their time and expertise with us. They are all such darn lovely people!
Let me know what you learnt from watching the videos. Yes, you. Go on, leave a comment!
Until next week,
~ Gail
PS. And if you know me, I just can’t stop. I realized I hadn’t chosen one of Duane’s warm glowing landscapes and since this is my blog and you know, I can break my own rules, here’s another Wakeham pastel.
20 thoughts on “IAPS Interviews – Questions Answered!”
So enjoyed those interviews, Gail. I can’t wait to see the next four!
Thank You. Sandi
Glad you liked them Sandi. Look forward to your comments on the next four. I only wish I could have done even more!!!
I loved this! Arlene Richman has been a favorite of mine for a while, and loved hearing her approach! And discovered a new love, Duane Wakeham! Love his work and hearing about how he approaches his paintings as shapes! Thanks!
Yay!! Glad I could introduce to another fabulous painter Becky 🙂
Wonderful to see Sandra Burshell was one of your choices for an interview. She is such a sweet person and very willing to share her knowledge of pastel. I get to visit with her at our DPS membership and Biennial National shows. Her use of color is always a draw for me but it is her portrayal of light that grabs me and makes me walk across a room to her work.
Duane Wakeham, in his quiet way, made me think about an important point in the painting process. Before adding color, make sure the bones are correct because once you’re into the work you are reluctant to give it up.
Love all your blogs!…and the IAPS artists videos chosen were so interesting…putting a face to their fabulous art! Thank you for all the time and energy you put into your blog! K
Kathryn, thanks so much for your enthusiastic confirmation of what I am doing. Makes it all worthwhile!!
And yes, it is fun putting faces (and personalities) to art isn’t it?
Thanks so much, Gailen. I truly believe light is EVERYTHING! Color helps!
Christine Swann’s work just “blows me away”! She is just fabulous.
Gailen, you are so right!!
Thanks for sharing this with me, I am just beginning in pastels and looking forward to learning more on your site!
Glad you enjoyed it Susan. Look forward to sharing lots of good stuff with you. Thanks for subscribing 🙂
Thanks Gail for reinforcing all that IAPS is about – the learning and sharing of ideas and skills.
Awww thanks Lyn. I wish I had had the chance to interview you!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was nice to see these wonderful artists speak about their work.
So glad you enjoyed it Mary 🙂
You are truly amazing to introduce me to the artist and at the same time show me their works. As usual it’s all new to me and outstanding Thanks S.
And as usual Sandy, thanks so much!
After I was an Art History student of Duane Wakeham’s many years ago at College of San Mateo.
I went on to earn degrees in Art History, Photography and a MA in Poetry.
In Paris, I am having a second one-man-show of the abstract expressionist photographs
I’ve made over the last 12 years in the canals of Sète France, where I live.
Today, writing a piece for a catalogue, I spent the afternoon looking over my notes
from the three art history classes I took from Duane and I wanted to thank him
for the clarity & soundness of the foundation he gave to all of his students, but
especially for the painterly incites that so generously enriched his lessons —
they expanded my vision & my vocabulary in photography. Really, Thank you.
Cordialement,
Joey Tranchina
If you can forward this to him, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you…jt
Joey, thank you so much for sharing your history and experience with Duane. He certainly is a very special human being. As well as posting this here, I will forward your words to him.