TPS 2026 Chromatic Conversations (Juried Web Exhibition & Art Sale)

"Luminous Landscape" was juried into the 2026 TPS online exhibition!

This online exhibition brings together pastel artists of all experience levels to celebrate the expressive power of color. Through diverse subjects and styles, the exhibition reveals how artists use hue, value, and temperature to create dialogue within their compositions and with their viewers. This exhibition honors the joy of learning, the courage of experimentation, and the mastery that grows over time.

Luminous Landscape. Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On acid-free cotton paper. 12x16. by Christy Olsen.

Online Juried Exhibition & Art Sale

The "2026 Members Only TPS Exhibition" is sponsored by, the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS).

Click here to view the artwork displayed online.

Dates

July 1 - September 16, 2026
Awards Ceremony: September 16, 2026

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.

Juror of Entries

Fred Somers (fredericksomers.com) will select paintings for the show and the awards.

Fred Somers is an award‑winning pastel artist whose work is celebrated for its luminous landscapes and contemplative sense of place. With a career spanning more than five decades, he has exhibited nationally and internationally, earning recognition from leading pastel societies and arts organizations. His paintings are held in private and public collections, and he is widely respected as both an accomplished artist and an insightful juror. Fred brings to our exhibition a deep commitment to artistic excellence and a discerning eye shaped by years of professional experience.

Read More

TPS 2026 Power of Pastel International (Juried Web Exhibition & Art Sale)

"Sunrise" was juried into the 2026 international online exhibition!

This year’s call for entries drew an extraordinary range of submissions from pastel artists representing countries across the globe.

Sunrise. Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On acid-free cotton paper. 12x16. by Christy Olsen.

Online Juried Exhibition & Art Sale

The "2026 International TPS Exhibition" is sponsored by, the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS).

Click here to view the artwork displayed online.

Dates

March 9 - July 1, 2026

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.

Juror of Entries

Dawn Emerson (DawnEmerson.com) will select paintings for the show.

Dawn is an accomplished pastelist, mixed media painter, printer, juror, and teacher. Passionate about drawing and mark making, she is always in pursuit of innovative ways to express and teach interpretations of mood and energy. Her classes are focused on exploration rather than specific techniques, and her presentation of material makes learning fun, engaging, and powerful. Dawn comes from a background of graphic design and has been teaching for 25 years. She is a signature member in good standing of the Pastel Society of America and the West Coast Pastel Society. She is also a member and part-time instructor for Central Oregon Community College and the Atelier 6000 Printmaking studio in Bend, Oregon. Her studio is located in Terrebonne, Oregon.

Judge of Awards

Kim Lordier (KimFrancherLordier.com) will select all paintings nominated for awards.

Painter and California Native, Kim Lordier received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco and University of San Francisco. Lordier’ s art examines the patterns of nature, and how light transforms the mood of an environment. Known for utilizing rich colors and a tapestry-like effect in her mark making, Kim weaves her spiritual relationship with the outdoors into her work. After two decades of painting the Western landscape, from life and in the studio, Lordier brings her lifelong passion for the horse into her compositions. Fascinated with the strength and grace of the horse, she conveys their power and gentility by painting them in their surroundings. Whether portraying working stock, performance horses or wild mustangs, Lordier reflects on the kindred spirit of these beautiful creatures and their relationship to man. Kim is a Signature Member of the California Art Club, the Pastel Society of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and a Distinguished Pastelist of the Pastel Society of the West Coast. A coveted workshop instructor, Kim leads workshops across the country.

Read More

Watercolor with Ink (Mar. 2026)

Watercolor is a medium used for urban sketching or painting, making it perfect for travel. Using waterproof ink and watercolor, we'll focus on achieving a simple outcome that you can practice and take with you anywhere or scale into a larger format.

---

The ink allows control over your lines and values, so the watercolor may be used create expressive, vibrant, and energetic strokes. An excellent approach for beginners: you only need ink, your paints, and a waterbrush to get started.

Meets: Sunday Afternoons, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Mar. 1, 8 & 15,
Location: Art Verve Academy
Art Verve Studio is located at 2700 N. Campbell Ave. Suite 300 Tucson, Arizona 85719.

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, studio practice with one-on-one instruction.
Level: No experience necessary. All levels are welcome!

Medium: Watercolor
Technique: Use waterproof ink to add lines and build values with the loose feel of expressive watercolor washes or brushwork.
Materials: Bring some basic drawing materials to take notes. Bring any watercolor paints or supplies that you already own. We'll also provide pens, paints, and brushes, along with instructions on what to buy if you are just getting started and want to purchase supplies in the future.

Read More

Getting Acquainted with Watercolor (Jan. 2026)

Jan. 11, 18 & 25, Sunday Afternoons at the Campbell Studio.

Watercolor is a medium used for urban sketching, or painting. It refers to both the medium and the and the resulting artwork. Watercolor is a great medium for beginners, you only need your paints, a brush and piece of paper to get going, water activates the paint. We'll focus on the basics to achieve a simple outcome in this medium and what types of supplies that are needed to help you succeed.

Read More

Open Studio Tour & Art Sale (2025 Fall)

Will be participating in this event!

You're Invited!

Join us for an open house during the 2025 Open Studio Tour weekend, Nov. 14 -16! Come and see our new classroom, studio, and workspace.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More