Review by Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Apr. 2025)

Christy Olsen was the guest speaker for last month's Tucson Pastel Society general meeting. She is a noted Tucson pastelist, our vice president, a teacher at the Art Verve Academy, and an engineer. She has a B.A. in Art History and Anthropology and a B.S. in Computer Science.

2025 April Program Review

Review by Ellen Cholski,
Published by Tucson Pastel Society,
Newsletter, April 2025. Vol. 4, p. 2.

Published Newsletter Article

Christy explained the different pastel painting types, which include blended and smooth, broken color techniques, and underpaintings created with alcohol and a brush. Using alcohol with a brush can create a look similar to oil paint.

The ink underpainting process begins with a brayer. You can create random marks on any color of paper, let the ink dry, and then set it aside for later use in planning a pastel painting.

Gel Plates and Botanicals

Ink can be applied over botanicals, household items, or stencils. By using a Gelli plate, with a softer and more yielding surface, you can achieve clearer and more defined images in your ink prints.

Demonstrating ink underpainting with expressive marks

Different brands of ink can provide either a shiny or matte finish when dry, and using various colors of ink adds interest to your work. Your imagination is the only limit, often leading to surprising results.

You can access information about inks and pastels on the Art Verve Education blog website at artverve.info. The Art Verve Academy website at artverve.org has information on classes taught by Christy and other teachers.

Thank you, Christy, for an informative, interesting, and fun program!

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

April 16, 2025 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

TPS Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event was open to the general public and TPS art guild members. Admission was free.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Apr. 2025)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

Sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), this event will be held in the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona. I

It's all about the Underpainting!

Combine the spontaneity of drawing, painting, or printmaking using ink in your underpaintings. Underpaintings may be seen in the final piece or covered completely. Join us for an interactive demonstration where we'll use a gel plate, brayer, or brush to create your own unique aesthetics or mark-making, which does not require a lot of expensive materials.

This demonstration will have some materials available for the audience to experiment with throughout the demonstration.

Caught on a Limb.
Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On archival paper. 9x12.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Date & Time

April 16, 2025 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event was open to the general public and TPS art guild members. Admission was free.

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Tucson Desert Art Museum and Four Corners Gallery(Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2025)

Seeking New Pastures and Daisies Unite were juried into this museum art gallery exhibition!

Seeking New Pastures.
Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On toned paper. 18x24.

Daisies Unite.
Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On toned paper. 18x24.

Museum Juried Exhibition & Sale

For the spring 2025 season, the Four Corners Gallery will host a spectacular juried art show and sale, Pastel Expressions, in collaboration with the Tucson Pastel Society. The exhibition opens on March 19 and runs until April 26. Jurors selected sixty fine art pieces in the pastel medium, which include a wide range of subject matter, such as landscape, figure, abstract, or still life.

Website Announcement

Exhibition Dates

This juried art show and sale is open to the general public from Wednesday, March 19, through Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Admission

Admission to the gallery and the exhibition is free. Admission to enter the Museum is required.

Artist's Reception

The exhibition awards, sponsored by Holbein and Uart, will be announced at the artist's reception on Saturday, March 22, 2025 (12:00 PM—4:00 PM). Refreshments and live entertainment from Christopher Archer will also be provided.

Live Entertainment

Christopher Archer is a professional musician, and his chosen instrument is the 4-string plectrum banjo. He prefers to play soft background music with familiar songs from the 1930s through the 1960s. His music career began at age 15, winning 2nd place in the American Banjo Competition. Since then, he has played everything from Ragtime to Beethoven, headlining shows in Branson, Montana, and he spent years as the starring act on Holland America cruises and stints at Disneyworld.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Jurors

Tony Allain and Jen Evenhus are internationally recognized fine artists and master pastelists.

About the Gallery and Museum

The Tucson Desert Art Museum presents thought-provoking exhibitions that explore the Southwest's art, history, and cultures. Nowhere else in Tucson will you find such a variety of regional art drawn from many cultural traditions. Find them online at TucsonDArt.org.

The Museum hosts national exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution, Women Artists of the West, and American Women Artists to display various artistic styles and intriguing artwork. The Museum artifacts features a world-class collection of Native American textiles, classic and contemporary paintings, photography, and digital media.

Tucson Desert Art Museum Complex Front Door,
located in Santa Fe Square, advertising the show.

The Museum rotates special exhibits annually, and the Four Corners Gallery offers original paintings and sculptures for purchase, as well as Native American jewelry and pottery.

Tucson Desert Art Museum Complex Courtyard,
located in Santa Fe Square.

Located at 7000 East Tanque Verde Road, just west of Udall Park, and surrounded by magnificent panoramic views of the Catalina and Rincon mountains, the Museum is becoming a center for art, culture, and education on Tucson's east side. Its motto is "Visualize history through art." It invites guests to immerse themselves in history through beautiful art!

Address

7000 E Tanque Verde Rd,
Tucson, Arizona 85715

Directions

Located in Santa Fe Square, the entrance faces Sabino Canyon Road on the east side of the complex, behind Chase Bank.

Parking

They offer our museum members free parking in the parking lot opposite the Museum. Other parking spaces are located within the complex off of Tanque Verde Road.

Gallery Hours

Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and any Major Holidays

Museum Hours

Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Phone

520-202-3888

Web

Museum: TucsonDArt.org
Four Corners Gallery: TucsonDArt.org/shop

The Event

Photos from the installation.

Installation

Installation

Received first place award from the exhibition juror, Tony Allain, for Daisies Unite..

Installation

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Review by Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Dec. 2024)

Christy Olsen was the guest speaker for last month's Tucson Pastel Society general meeting. She is a noted Tucson pastelist, our vice president, a teacher at the Art Verve Academy, and an engineer. She has a B.A. in Art History and Anthropology and a B.S. in Computer Science.

2024 November Program Review

Written by Ellen Cholski,
Published by the Tucson Pastel Society,
December 2024. p. 2.

PanPastel Colors are a unique and innovative take on the traditional soft pastel medium, offering professional-grade pigments in a convenient pan format akin to a cake-like consistency. These high-quality pastel colors are designed to provide artists with a versatile and user-friendly tool for their creative pursuits.

Christy, an experienced artist and instructor, has shared valuable insights on the many ways these unique pastel pans can be utilized. From using stencils to build up complex backgrounds and layers to seamlessly integrating the PanPastels with traditional stick pastels, the possibilities for artistic expression are vast. The compact, stackable design of the PanPastel pans also makes them a practical choice for artists who need to transport their materials or maintain a well-organized studio space. Overall, the PanPastel Color system offers a fresh and innovative approach to the beloved medium of soft pastels, empowering artists to explore new creative avenues and push the boundaries of their artistic practice. Members were able to experience and play with the PanPastels and papers.

Thank you, Christy, for a great demonstration.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

November 20, 2024 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

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Cloudscapes in Pastel (Jan. 2025)

Jan. 19, 26 & Feb. 2, Sunday Afternoon at B.Marie's Atelier & Gallery via the Art Verve Academy.

Are you eager to explore the delicate beauty of clouds? Whether you're looking to get started or deepen your understanding of the pastel medium, you'll learn the techniques needed to capture the ever-changing nature of the sky, from soft, wispy clouds to dramatic storm clouds, all in rich, vibrant colors.

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Nov. 2024)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

This event, sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), will be held at the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona.

PanPastel® Crash Course

Pastel is a medium, used for sketching, drawing, or painting since the Renaissance, not an aesthetic. PanPastel® is the world's first range of pastel colors that can be mixed and applied like paint. They are professional artists' quality soft pastel colors in a unique cake-like or pan format. They may be used by themselves or with the pastel medium.

This demonstration will have PanPastels® available for the audience to experiment with throughout the demonstration. We'll do some mark-making exercises focused on techniques specific to PanPastel® medium and then demonstrate how to use them with regular pastels.

Donatello. 5x7. Pastel and panpastel on paper by Christy Olsen.

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art. Find them online at tucsonpastelsociety.org.

Event Date & Time

November 20, 2024 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

Location

Tucson Pastel Society Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

Admission

This event is open to the general public and TPS art guild members. Admission is free.

Announcement

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Getting Acquainted with Pastel (Sep. 2024)

Sep. 14, 21, & 28, Saturday Afternoons at TPS Art Center via the Art Verve Academy.

Pastel is a medium used for sketching, drawing, or painting since the Renaissance, not an aesthetic. It is unique in that you only need a piece of paper to get going. These classes are perfect for those who want to start working with pastels. We'll focus on using the materials to achieve a specific desired outcome or to enhance visual art effects.

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