Fine Art Instruction, Articles, Art Videos & Art Resources | Artist's Network » The Pastel Journal Blog

Last Weekend to Enter Strokes of Genius 5! Deadline May 16, 2012

Sarah Laichas, Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:17 +0000

The deadline for the Strokes of Genius 5: Best of Drawing competition has been extended through May 16, 2012. The theme of this year’s contest is “composition.” Artwork can be in any dry medium, or wet medium applied in a linear fashion that would be traditionally considered drawing. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, pencil, charcoal, Conte, pen and ink, scratchboard and silverpoint. Colored pencil, pastel and even some paint mediums are acceptable if used in a drawing-like manner. Visit our competitions page to enter your art today!

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In Memoriam | Three Recent Losses in the Pastel World

anneh — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:44:02 +0000

I recently got the sad news of the passing, in December, of Mary Silverwood (1932-2011), a pastel artist from New Mexico with whom I spoke for a feature story back in June of 2008. Mary was an inspiring artist and fascinating person, and she is the third pastel artist we’ve lost in about as many months. The artist Ann Templeton, of Texas, whose expressive landscapes and creative insights were greatly admired, passed away in October, and Sheila Rieman, of Montana, died in November. We had Rieman, who painted lovely scenes of western landscapes and wildlife, tapped for a feature story in Pastel Journal this year. We still hope to be able to share her story, if posthumously. And, we’ll be working on tributes to all three women for the magazine. Meanwhile, here are some of their wonderful pastels to enjoy right now:

Golden Pond Elk (pastel, 22x34.5) by Sheila Rieman

Acey Icey (pastel, 18x23) by Ann Templeton

Purple Hills (pastel, 20x26) by Mary Silverwood

This content was originally posted by Pastel Journal Editor Anne Hevener on Jan. 6, 2012.

UPDATE: Look for a feature on Sheila Rieman by Aaron Schuerr in the August 2012 issue of Pastel Journal. Subscribe to the magazine and don’t miss an issue.

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Perfect Your Pastel Landscape Painting

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:43:34 +0000

Whether you’re a beginning artist exploring pastel or a longtime devotee to the medium, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on our Pastel Landscape Premium Palette Collection, the kit of the month in our online shop.

The package features tutorials, books and downloads by today’s top pastel landscape artists (Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Maggie Price, Colleen Howe, Margaret Evans, and more), along with pastels and surfaces with which to implement your newfound techniques.

For one month only—or until the 60 remaining kits are gone—get $10 off. Click here to begin perfecting your pastel landscape painting!

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Win, Place and Show in The Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition

anneh — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:49:58 +0000

We might be tempted to doubt our chances of winning awards and recognition for our artwork, but we have no chance at all if we don’t take the trouble to enter. So, don’t let your latest pastel masterpiece go unseen. Enter it into a juried show or competition for a chance to share your painting with a crowd of art-lovers. Right now, with an extended deadline through May 21, you have the opportunity to enter The Artist’s Magazine’s 29th Annual Art Competition (see guidelines here). Open to painters working in every medium, the competition offers more than $25,000 in cash prizes plus the possibility of publication in the magazine. I, for one, would love to see some beautiful pastels in their competition-results issue. Who’s with me?!

Prairie Rainbows by Frederick Somers took first place in the Landscape/Interiors category.

Our own Richard McKinley, Pastel Pointers columnist and blogger, was a juror for the Landscape/Interiors category in last year’s Annual Competition. Check out his thoughts on the experience in this article.

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Inspire Your Art with the June Issue of Pastel Journal!

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:10:31 +0000

For any artist obsessed with the dramatic displays of light, the sunrise and sunset are enticing subjects, but translating this eye candy onto canvas or paper can be tricky. In this issue, three landscape painters share their insights and secrets for capturing dramatic effects of light in pastel. Their enthusiasm and advice may rekindle your interest if you’ve given up on the subject, or—if you’re a professed sunrise/sunset aficionado—it may inspire some new ways of working.

On the cover: Mendocino, CA, No. 1 (pastel; detail and mirrored, 14x10) by Albert Handell

We take the conversation a step further in the magazine with our must-read step-by-step demo for painting light and shadow; share a master pastel artist’s tips for taking a painterly approach to rendering buildings in a landscape; and take you inside a once-forgotten treasure trove of jewel-toned impressionist landscapes.

This is one art magazine that’s sure to inspire your boldest painting aspirations for the season. Click here to preview the June Pastel Journal or to order your copy.

MORE RESOURCES FOR PASTEL ARTISTS

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• Online seminars for fine artists

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Introducing | Art Books for Your Digital Library

anneh — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:57:41 +0000

Our fine art community at F+W Media has just launched a terrific new resource for artists: Artist’s Network eBooks. Offered as an annual subscription, participants will have online access to a full art instruction library of more than 100 (and growing) art books from North Light Books. Subscribers can look at any book in the library and as many books in the library as many times as they wish. And the digital format allows readers the ability to save their place with digital bookmarks, take notes and organize their thoughts for quick reference in the ebook library.

Click here to watch the “How It Works” demo video to see how easy it is to use the online ebook reader. For the moment, the service is most suitable for a personal computer, but apps for iPad/iPhone as well as Android devices are on the way.

And note: Until April 30, to celebrate the launch, enjoy 10% off the price of subscription. Enter the coupon code WELCOME during checkout and save. To find out more, visit the website at http://ebooks.artistsnetwork.com.

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• Study art at home with the authors of your favorite instructional art books. NEW online courses are now available from Artist Network University!!

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

Google Art Project Adds 134 Museums

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:28:15 +0000

Fans of the Google Art Project will want to revisit the site: 134 new art museum partnerships brings the total of art works in the virtual collection to more than 30,000, with Street View images for 46 museums, and more on the way, says Google.

Check out the video below for a quick tutorial on how to use the site, or click here to jump right in.

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Spring Savings

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:00:11 +0000

Whether you’re eager to watch the new video workshops featuring Liz Haywood-Sullivan or get your hands on the gorgeous coffee table book Art Journey America: Landscapes or reader-favorite Pastel Pointers by Richard McKinley, there’s a pastel bargain waiting to be claimed. Starting today, take an extra 10% off everything in the North Light Shop (use code SPRING2012 at checkout).

Hurry, the sale ends April 1 (no fooling)! Click here to shop the pastel treasures.

MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

• Online seminars for fine artists

• Instantly download fine art magazines, books, videos & more

• Sign up for your Artist’s Network email newsletter & receive a FREE ebook

New Art Videos | Pastel Masters Demonstrate Their Skillls

anneh — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:02:23 +0000

Three definite highlights of last spring’s International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Convention were the live painting demonstrations with three of today’s pastel legends: Albert Handell, Elizabeth Mowry and Richard McKinley. Anybody who has had the privilege of watching these pastel artists in action, as I have, knows that it is a magical experience. IAPS planners had the foresight to capture these events on video, and the DVDs are now available on the IAPS website (www.pastelinternational.com).

Get all the latest pastel painting & techniques with the Pastel Journal email newsletter. If you sign up now you’ll also receive a free downloadable issue of Pastel Journal.

IAPS president Maggie Price and vice-president Liz Haywood-Sullivan also have video demonstrations available of their pastel painting techniques at the North Light Shop. Watch a free preview of Haywood-Sullivan below, and then check out details about her three new videos on painting skies, painting water and reflections, and mixing greens in our shop. And don’t miss Price’s latest videos on painting sunlight and shadows, and working from photographs, also in the shop.

MORE RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

• Don’t miss the Huge Warehouse Sale Going On Now through Sunday in the North Light Shop. Enjoy 50-80% off great items such as the first 10 years of Pastel Journal available on a single CD!

• Watch art workshops on demand at ArtistsNetwork.TV

• Online seminars for fine artists

• Instantly download other pastel resources, such as issues of The Pastel Journal, instructional books on pastel techniques, video demonstrations & more

• Sign up for your Artist’s Network email newsletter & receive a FREE ebook

March Closeout Sales on Your Favorite (Pastel) Magazines

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:53:11 +0000

Besides the Renior exhibition at The Frick and Degas and the Nude at Musée d’Orsay, we’ve got a little something else to celebrate: major sales in our online shop.

You’ll find favorite back issues, such as entire years’ worth—2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009—of Pastel Journal magazines in CD archives, the First 10 Years DVD (at 62% off), plus great instructional North Light books.

Take advantage of these amazing deals through March 18. Click here to shop the bargains.