Portfolio | Chalking Up Awards

Meet a few of the artists recognized in this year’s 
Pastel 100 competition
One of Southwest Art’s sister publications, Pastel Journal, sponsors the annual Pastel 100 competition for artists from across the country and around the world. Out of the thousands of entries received, 100 winners are selected by a panel of distinguished jurors. The winners include a handful of overall awards, as well as five awards and numerous honorable mentions in five categories. For details about the winners and the competition, please visit www.artistsnetwork.com.

This story was featured in the May 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art May 2014 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story!

Janis Ellison
Anna 
Wainright
Jane Ditri
Linda Mutti
Roberta Combs

Janis Ellison

Janis Ellison, Summer Blush, pastel, 16 x 20.

Janis Ellison, Summer Blush, pastel, 16 x 20.

Honorable Mention, 
Landscape & Interior

“I am most inspired by the mystery of the path, the bend in the river, the distant view, water flowing and churning, and the light falling on the earth. One example of this is SUMMER BLUSH, painted from a plein-air study done on the Rogue River in southern Oregon. This piece depicts the twilight or ‘magic hour’ of the day, when the light infuses the air with atmosphere and brushes the distant shoreline with light, creating the color and contrasts that engage the viewer to linger awhile and follow the water’s path to the distant shore.”
Summer Blush, pastel, 16 x 20.

representation
Haystack Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR.

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Anna 
Wainright


Anna Wainright, Dusk After the Snow, soft pastel, 12 x 18.

Anna Wainright, Dusk After the Snow, soft pastel, 12 x 18.



Honorable Mention, 
Landscape & Interior

“When I paint, I am usually inspired by something that involves light, atmosphere, and nature. What struck me most about this scene was the cold blues of the snow contrasting with the warm reds and pinks coming through the limbs of the trees as the last touch of sun hit them. Quite often the painting evolves into a combination of the memory of the scene and the colors I choose to express that scene. Often my paintings become a more abstract expression of the landscape, using nontraditional color combinations to express the mood.”
Dusk After the Snow, pastel, 12 x 18.

representation
The Artful Deposit, Bordentown City, NJ; The Connoisseur Gallery, Bedminster, NJ.

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Jane Ditri

Jane Ditri, Spring Shadows, pastel, 9 x 12.

Jane Ditri, Spring Shadows, pastel, 9 x 12.



Honorable Mention, 
Landscape & Interior

“The play of light captivated me as I climbed the path on the wooded dune. It was early May, the trilliums were out, and so was I! This was a favorite spot for me to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the woodland. The shadows of the trees seemed to reach across the road. It was this reaching gesture that I wanted to capture in this painting. I have always been drawn to nature, and since I was a child, I have gone to the woods to commune with her. Now, I paint to connect with her. Painting best satisfies my need to communicate her energy and beauty.”

representation
Gallery 22, Suttons Bay, MI; Good Harbor Gallery, Maple City, MI; Glen Arbor Old School House Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI.

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Linda Mutti

Linda Mutti, Evening Glow, pastel, 12 x 16.

Linda Mutti, Evening Glow, pastel, 12 x 16.

Honorable Mention, 
Landscape & Interior

“EVENING GLOW is a studio piece done from a study that I painted at a hilltop winery in Los Gatos, CA, where I was participating in the Los Gatos Plein Air show. It was a gorgeous, warm summer day coming to an end, so I was hurrying to capture the scene unfolding in front of me. I was inspired by the golden draping of light across the landscape and the glowing hills in the distance. I wanted to convey that warmth and luminosity on my paper. In addition to the gorgeous scenery, I could hear Cyndi Lauper’s band warming up; she was to give a concert at the winery that evening. The music made the experience even more memorable.”

representation
Gallery Los Olivos, Los Olivos, CA; Bronze, Silver & Gold Gallery, Cambria, CA.

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Roberta Combs

Roberta Combs, Passionate, pastel, 12 x 24.

Roberta Combs, Passionate, pastel, 12 x 24.

First Place, Still Life & Floral

“PASSIONATE was inspired by two colors of passion fruit I purchased. I wanted the painting to convey the sunny warmth of the yellow and not diminish the cool presence of the purple tones. The addition of the golden-orange Chinese lanterns added a texture that collected the light, pulling it across the length of the painting. Reflective surfaces of glass and silver added structural levels while the velvety jewel tones of the fabric contributed to the richness and drama I wanted to convey. The exotic fruit, the rich tones, and the sensuous mood inspired the painting.”

representation
Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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