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

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

Read More

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

Read More

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

Read More

Amerind Museum Art Gallery(Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2024)

Daisies Unite was juried into the museum art gallery exhibition!

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

Museum Juried Exhibition & Sale

Thirty paintings will be exhibited in the Amerind Museum art gallery and priced for sale. Each fine art piece captures the artist's inspiration to create an original using the traditional medium of pastels in our modern world. The collection of works will demonstrate the unique beauty of pastel painting, truly revealing "The Power of Pastels." Thirty juried pieces include a wide range of subject matter, such as landscape, figure, abstract, or still life.

Dates

June 1, 2024 - November 30, 2024

Admission

This event is open to the general public. Admission to the museum is required for any dates and times.

Artist's Reception

Saturday, October 5, 2024 (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Exhibition Invitation

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

Nancie King Mertz is the internationally recognized fine artist and master pastelist, who will jury the fine art pastel pieces admitted into this exhibition.

Plein Air Activities

Members from the Tucson Pastel Society will be painting from life around the museum grounds before lunch on the day of the reception, and they welcome anyone to watch them paint. Note that if you plan to stay all day, bring lunch. There are no restaurants close by.

About the Gallery and Museum

Explore Amerind, a museum of Native American art, history, culture, archaeology, and Western art. Amerind is an academic research center, museum, art gallery, historic property, scenic destination, and community gathering place where you may learn about Native American history and their contemporary lives. Indigenous communities share their traditional knowledge with all who visit.

Since 1937, they have been dedicated to preserving and illuminating the cultural objects and traditions of the Native Peoples of the Americas. What began as founder William Shirley Fulton's passion for archaeology grew into decades of research advancements and cross-cultural understanding. Find them online at Amerind.org

Address

2100 N. Amerind Road PO Box 400,
Dragoon, Arizona 85609

Directions

Amerind is located in Cochise County, Arizona, one mile south of I-10, an hour east of Tucson, between Benson and Willcox.
Take Exit #318, Dragoon Road (I-10 to Exit 318)

The Amerind entrance is on the left (just past mile marker 1)
2100 N. Amerind Road, Dragoon, Arizona 85609

Gallery Hours

Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM for lunch each day
Closed: Mondays and any Major Holidays

Read More

Review by Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Dec. 2023)

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.

2023 November Program Review

Written by Ellen Cholski,
Published by the Tucson Pastel Society,
December 2023. p. 2.

Published Newsletter Article

All About Degas!

All about Degas was the title of her interactive presentation. Edgar Degas was a French impressionist famous for his pastel and oil paintings, mainly of dancers. He was also an avid user of monoprints in his paintings. While showing examples of his work, Christy shared that these monoprints helped him be painterly and loose.

During the demonstration

Monoprints or monotypes create an image that can only be printed once, with sometimes one additional ghost image. Christy demonstrated how to make a monoprint. She uses Akua ink because it dries quickly, and she prefers Strathmore printmaking paper.

First, she placed ink on a glass pane and then rolled the ink smooth with a brayer. Then she drew in the ink with her finger covered with a baby wipe and mentioned how various devices could be used to make a design. Once she had her desired design, she placed paper over it and pressed the paper with a clean brayer to create the monoprint. This is printing without a press.

During the demonstration

Christy enjoys responsive drawing on paper that already has a design. Sometimes, instead of a monoprint, she will use an inked brayer to make the marks for her background. Her advice was not to be meticulous and always experiment to make new discoveries. At the end of her presentation, we had the opportunity to either create a monoprint or paint on an already prepared monoprint.

Thank you, Christy.

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 15, 2023 (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

Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Nov. 2023)

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.

All About Degas!

Join us for an interactive demonstration! We'll cover Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917), a master pastelist during the late 19th century. It's well known that between 1874 and 1886, Degas participated in seven shows, now known as the infamous Impressionist Exhibitions.

However, what is less known is that Degas used monoprints as the underpainting for his pastels! Monoprints have a unique aesthetic, using a painterly process that does not require a large printing press or expensive materials. Try some of Degas' techniques. You'll be amazed by its simplicity and perhaps make a few discoveries yourself!

Before We Could Vote. 11x14. Pastel on sanded 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 15, 2023 (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 art guild members. Admission is free.

Read More

The Power of Pastel in Ironwood Gallery(Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2023)

Was accepted into the show!

Pastels have been a long-established medium in art history since its beginning in 16th-century Europe. Even as trends and tastes ebb and flow with the times, pastels have remained a constant among artists of every age for their versatility of use and effects.

Rush Hour in Caye Caulker. 9x12. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

Pastels are unique in that their matte finish, with its painterly quality, is combined with the immediacy of drawing. This powerful combination makes this medium a staple in the contemporary artist's toolbox.

Juried Exhibition & Art Sale

This event is open to the general public. Artist's reception is at no charge. Admission to the museum is required for other dates and times.

This juried exhibition showcases the unique characteristics of pastels, as each artist expresses their inspiration through landscapes, structures, still life, portraits, and abstractions. Some works are created en plein air, rendered quickly with their subjects in real-time, while others are painstakingly executed in the studio over considerably longer periods. This collection of works by members of the Tucson Pastel Society truly reveals "The Power of Pastels."

Sixty-six paintings were accepted out of the one hundred and five submissions from multiple art guilds. Subject matter genres include landscapes, culture, structures, still life, etc., not necessarily limited to the Sonoran Desert region. The exhibition showcases some of Arizona's most accomplished pastel artists.

Juror

Desmond O-Hagen
Fine artist and master pastelist.

Exhibition Dates

March 11, 2023 - June 4, 2023

Artist's Reception

Friday, March 10, 2023 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Refreshments will be served. Admission is free to the reception. If you go to the reception, enter through admissions and tell them you are there to see the show. They will admit you at no charge. You may also park in the side parking lot that is closer to the gallery. Directions are listed below.

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.

Web

TucsonPastelSociety.org

About the Gallery

Ironwood Gallery is an upscale art gallery and beautiful space that is transformed for each unique exhibit. It is located on the grounds of the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona, which includes live plants and animals to further the conservation message of its exhibits.

Inside Ironwood Gallery

Location

Ironwood Gallery
On the grounds of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743

Ironwood Gallery

Available Parking

Parking for the artist's reception will be available.

Parking for the Artist's Reception
Friday, March 10, 2023 (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Gallery Hours

Daily (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

Sale

Artwork may be purchased during the show but must stay hung throughout the exhibition.

For Purchasing Information:
Phone +1 (520) 883-3024

Collaborative Challenge Piece

The challenge piece was accepted into the show!

One collaborative piece featuring nine different interpretations of a shared subject is featured. This final work is for sale during the show. Proceeds benefit ASDM and the TPS.

Art challenge. 8x8. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen.

---

The Event

Image from the installation.

Opening Artist's Reception

Framed Collaborative Piece

Opening Artist's Reception

Opening Artist's Reception

Opening Artist's Reception

Honors

Received and honorable mention award from judge for Rush Hour in Caye Caulker.

Rush Hour in Caye Caulker received an honorable mention award.

Read More

Art from the Heart in Murphey Gallery (Group Exhibition & Art Sale 2023)

Will be in this Show!

Art from the Heart is a charity art sale and exhibition. All proceeds directly support other non-profit, local art charities selected by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS). The art guild members will also exhibit and sell original pastels in Murphey Gallery.

Near Gale. 9x126. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen

Charity Art Sale & Exhibition

All original artwork will be in the pastel medium, created by the Tucson Pastel Society art guild members. Originals in various subjects will be displayed in multiple sizes, from small to large. The event is free and open to the public.

Flyer for the Show

Small original artwork less than 11x14 (with the frame included) is priced at $100.00 or less. The following original was donated to the charity art sale.

Roses. 5x7. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen. Donation for charity.

Donation for charity with frame

Exhibition Dates

Feb. 5 - Mar. 31, 2023

Artist's Reception

Feb. 5, 2023 (12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Refreshments served.

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.

About the Gallery

Murphey Gallery is located on the grounds of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church in the Foothills of Tucson, Arizona. Visit the gardens or see Koi pond. Follow the beautiful columns in the architecture to the gallery entrance.

Murphey Gallery
On the St. Philip's Episcopal Church grounds in the Foothills

Murphey Gallery gardens and Koi pond

Location

Murphey Gallery
4440 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85718
Located on the grounds of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church in the Foothills.

Hours

Sundays (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) or call for an appointment.

Sale

Original artwork may be taken immediately after the transaction is complete.

For Purchasing Information:
Phone +1 (520) 299-6421

---

Artist's Reception

Image from the event.

The Reception

The Reception

Show Installation

Image from the galley.

The Show Installation

The Show Installation

Read More