November 2014
Features
Tucson Pastel Society
Features
Tucson Pastel Society
Tucson Pastel Society is a local arts organization devoted to art created in soft pastel. Becky Neideffer, herself a pastel artist, founded the group. She graciously agreed to an interview with Sonoran Arts Network about pastel arts and about the Tucson society. Click on images to enlarge
SAN: Becky, you are the founder and president of the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS). How do you get into pastel painting yourself and why did you choose soft pastel over other mediums?
Becky Neideffer: I had been painting in oils for about 25 years when I went to an Art Expo in Santa Fe and took a three-hour workshop with Maggie Price. I was hooked. Later than fall, I took a five-day workshop with Maggie and have never looked back. Soft pastel is pure pigment with a small amount of binder that is beautiful today and will retain its beauty for hundreds of years.
SAN: Becky, you are the founder and president of the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS). How do you get into pastel painting yourself and why did you choose soft pastel over other mediums?
Becky Neideffer: I had been painting in oils for about 25 years when I went to an Art Expo in Santa Fe and took a three-hour workshop with Maggie Price. I was hooked. Later than fall, I took a five-day workshop with Maggie and have never looked back. Soft pastel is pure pigment with a small amount of binder that is beautiful today and will retain its beauty for hundreds of years.
BNeideffer_The Watering Hole_
SAN: Although there are some very well-known artists that have worked in soft pastel – from Degas to Wolf Kahn – many artists have avoided soft pastels. I’ve read that many artists find soft pastel to be a very challenging medium and rather unforgiving as well. You can’t just cover up a mistake by painting over like you do with oil or acrylic. What are your thoughts on this? Another way to say this is: what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages to choosing soft pastels?
BN: I can’t think of any disadvantages. With oils, you mix your colors on the palette. With pastels, you blend your color on the ground (paper). Rather than cover a mistake, you remove the pastel that is a problem and lay down new pastel. With today’s sanded, velour, and textured papers, you really can do amazing things with pastel. You also have the ability to make unlimited grounds with all of the textured products available.
SAN: Please tell us how long Tucson Pastel Society has been in existence? What made you decide to found this society? How many members do you have?
BN: I founded TPS in January of 2010 because I wanted artists to have a place to share techniques and all aspects of painting with pastels. We currently have 70 members.
SAN: Tucson Pastel Society has some interesting opportunities for local pastel artists. Tell us first about the educational aspect of the society. Is it correct that TPS provides classes, workshops, and also demonstrations at meetings?
BN: I can’t think of any disadvantages. With oils, you mix your colors on the palette. With pastels, you blend your color on the ground (paper). Rather than cover a mistake, you remove the pastel that is a problem and lay down new pastel. With today’s sanded, velour, and textured papers, you really can do amazing things with pastel. You also have the ability to make unlimited grounds with all of the textured products available.
SAN: Please tell us how long Tucson Pastel Society has been in existence? What made you decide to found this society? How many members do you have?
BN: I founded TPS in January of 2010 because I wanted artists to have a place to share techniques and all aspects of painting with pastels. We currently have 70 members.
SAN: Tucson Pastel Society has some interesting opportunities for local pastel artists. Tell us first about the educational aspect of the society. Is it correct that TPS provides classes, workshops, and also demonstrations at meetings?
Elizabeth Manfredi_Pepper Sauce Canyon_
BN: We have a demo or lecture at each monthly meeting with a critique offered after each meeting by some of the veteran artists.
We are currently offering two workshop each year with well-known pastel artists. We are sponsoring a three-day workshop at the end of this month with Lee McVey, a fantastic pastel artist from New Mexico. This past spring, we sponsored a five-day workshop with Richard McKinley, a well-known pastel artist and author of pastel books. We also offer two half-day workshops that are free to our members each year. The next one in November is on framing your pastels.
SAN: Your group also has regular events that members can participate in such as art critiques, exhibits, and something called a “Paint Out.” Can you tell us something about each of these? Is a Paint Out an opportunity for plein air painting?
BN: For those pastels artists who enjoy en plein air painting, we offer two paint outs each month where we meet at a location near or in Tucson to paint and afterwards have a short critique and sometimes lunch.
We are currently offering two workshop each year with well-known pastel artists. We are sponsoring a three-day workshop at the end of this month with Lee McVey, a fantastic pastel artist from New Mexico. This past spring, we sponsored a five-day workshop with Richard McKinley, a well-known pastel artist and author of pastel books. We also offer two half-day workshops that are free to our members each year. The next one in November is on framing your pastels.
SAN: Your group also has regular events that members can participate in such as art critiques, exhibits, and something called a “Paint Out.” Can you tell us something about each of these? Is a Paint Out an opportunity for plein air painting?
BN: For those pastels artists who enjoy en plein air painting, we offer two paint outs each month where we meet at a location near or in Tucson to paint and afterwards have a short critique and sometimes lunch.
Jet Shepard _Ready_
SAN: Do your members have favorite places locally to go for Paint Outs?
BN: Not really. The Tucson area has so many beautiful places that we can go a whole season or two without doubling up. Our city, state and national parks are beautiful opportunities to paint.
SAN: How about studio work? Is the TPS Open Studios mainly figurative work with models provided? Or perhaps the emphasis is on still life in these open studios?
BN: Starting this fall, we are sponsoring open studios twice a month. The second Saturday of each month is for costume with a model. The fourth Saturday is for still life with two to four set-ups, depending on the number of artists in attendance. There is a $10 fee for the 3 hour session. These are open to the public and artists are welcome to use any medium. Both sessions have member volunteer monitors.
SAN: Do you have any upcoming exhibitions planned for Tucson in the next few months?
BN: Not really. The Tucson area has so many beautiful places that we can go a whole season or two without doubling up. Our city, state and national parks are beautiful opportunities to paint.
SAN: How about studio work? Is the TPS Open Studios mainly figurative work with models provided? Or perhaps the emphasis is on still life in these open studios?
BN: Starting this fall, we are sponsoring open studios twice a month. The second Saturday of each month is for costume with a model. The fourth Saturday is for still life with two to four set-ups, depending on the number of artists in attendance. There is a $10 fee for the 3 hour session. These are open to the public and artists are welcome to use any medium. Both sessions have member volunteer monitors.
SAN: Do you have any upcoming exhibitions planned for Tucson in the next few months?
Sheridan Shrimp_Cactus Sunrise_
BN: Each
December we invite the public to our Holiday Charity Show. Each member donates a 5” X 7” pastel which
will be sold for $100 and all proceeds going to charity. In addition to the charity piece, each artist
also enters at least one painting for the month-long show with proceeds split
between the charities and the artist. The exhibit this year is being held at
The Tucson Botanical Gardens Education Building from December 2 to January
5. The charity sale and reception is
December 10, 5:30 – 7:30. The Tucson Botanical Gardens is waving their
entry fee for persons who would like to attend our show by just stating your
intentions at the gift shop. Our theme
for 2014 is Gifts from the HeART with our charity show, Small Gifts from the
HeART. Our charities are The Tucson
Botanical Gardens and Ronald McDonald House of Southern Arizona.
Adrianna Hewings_End of Summer_
Another exhibit is scheduled in April at the Northwest Mutual Financial Network on the corner of River and Campbell.
We try to schedule at least two exhibits each year. Some must be scheduled a few years in advance. We are working on an exhibit in cooperation with the Arizona Pastel Artists’ Association for the spring of 2017 at the Ironwood Gallery in the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about the Tucson Pastel Society which is near and dear to my heart. We have amazingly talented pastel artists and yet, we have some that are just picking up a pastel for the first time. We embrace them all. Our board members work very hard and are very dedicated so that we can offer so many activities to our members and the public.
To learn more, go to http://www.tucsonpastelsociety.org/
Gallery of images from Tucson Pastel Society members. Click on images to enlarge.
Gay Scheibl_105 Yankee St._
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Dian Moore_Bobcat Bright_
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Cindy Hier_This Bud's For You_
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Pat Frederick_Rooney_
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Sheridan Shrimp_Saguaro Sunset_
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Karyn Vampotic_Nandi's Sibs_
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