A sampling of artists who were recognized in this year’s Pastel 100 competition
This story was featured in the May 2013 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art May 2013 print issue, or get the Southwest Art May 2013 digital download now…Or better yet, just subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!
One of Southwest Art’s sister publications, Pastel Journal, sponsors the Pastel 100 competition every year for artists from across the country and around the world. More than 3,000 entries were received this year. The top awards are the Grand Prize, which went to Elaine Lierly Jones of Kansas; the Gold Award, to Anatoly Dverin of Massachusetts; the Silver Award, to Mike Beeman of Wyoming; the Bronze Award, to Astrid Volquardsen of Germany; and the Ruth Richeson/Unison Pastels Award, to Parag Borse of India. In addition, five top winners and numerous honorable mentions were selected in each of these categories: Landscape & Interior, Portrait & Figure, Still Life & Floral, Animal & Wildlife, and Abstract & Non-Objective. For many more details on this year’s winners, please visit www.artistsnetwork.com.
Gary Huber
Gary Huber, May Snow and Megaliths, pastel, 16 x 20.
“I’ve been in love with the great outdoors all my life, and I especially like woodsy mountain streams. This setting intrigued me with the individual character of the henge-like boulders; the play of light between rock, sky, snow, and stream; and their contrasting textures in late winter’s muted tones. There’s a feeling of warmer weather on its way! My work strives to have some mystery, feel peaceful, and invite you in to explore and make your own discoveries.”
representation
Apple Frame Gallery, Bountiful, UT; Bradford Brinton Museum, Big Horn, WY; Deselms Fine Art, Cheyenne, WY; Hitching Post Gallery, Buffalo, WY; Mountain Trails Gallery, Cody, WY; Occidental Hotel Gallery, Buffalo, WY; www.garyhuberart.com.
Barbara Szkutnik
Barbara Szkutnik, 73 North, pastel, 12 x 16.
“Miles above the earth, political divisions disappear and what becomes visible is a more fractal view. As an international airline pilot I’m able to see the world as shapes and lines, beautifully braided rivers, mountain ranges, or even a sudden flash of meltwater on an ice field in Greenland—the source of inspiration for 73 NORTH. Sketches are often no more than a few abbreviated lines on an index card. The finished works are sometimes small, echoing an often too-brief glimpse of land below.”
representation
Aurora Gallery, Vancouver, WA; Ballard & Call Art Gallery, Camas, WA; The Gorge White House, Hood River, OR; barbaraszkutnik.com.
Donna Catotti
Donna Catotti, Chilkat River Autumn, pastel, 19 x 25.
“The scenery in Haines, AK, provides an endless amount of inspiring subject matter. Located at the upper end of the Inside Passage fjords, the mountains with hanging glaciers rise straight out of the ocean. This location, where the Chilkat River flows into the ocean, is on the road near town. I have sketched here in pastels, oils, and watercolors. The sea grasses die back in autumn, turning a beautiful orange color and inspiring yet another composition.”
representation
Catotti & Goldberg Art Studio, Haines, AK; Extreme Dreams Gallery, Haines, AK; The Wild Iris, Haines, AK; Sitka Rose Gallery, Sitka, AK; donnacatotti.com.
D. LaRue Mahlke
D. LaRue Mahlke, Summer Idyll, pastel, 9 x 12.
“The light in New Mexico really is different. That is what my friends and I said over and over again as we drove through New Mexico not long ago. The cloudless sky and bright afternoon light made this whole scene sparkle. I was immediately drawn to the water zigzagging through the meadow. I am drawn to quiet scenes such as this but also love the little bit of story that is hinted at with the distant plowed field and the road.”
representation
InSight Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX; M Gallery of Fine Art, Charleston, SC; Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts, Mount Carmel, UT; www.dlaruemahlke.com.
Nancie King Mertz
Nancie King Mertz, Randolph Revealed, pastel, 18 x 20.
“Capturing the action in a city scene has always been a personal challenge. What also draws me to a scene is the light and interesting shadows. I often use a panel with a heavy gessoed texture. I apply strokes of dark colors and wash them in with alcohol that drips to create cohesive shapes, then I apply mid tones and lights. I work quickly, chasing the light.”
representation
Art De Triumph & Artful Framer Studios, Chicago, IL; www.nanciekingmertz.com.
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