Pastel Society Workshop with Gary Baughman
August 8 @ 10:00 am
Workshop by Gary Baughman www.garybaughman.biz
Taking the Mystery Out of Pastel PaintingBy- Gary Baughman “Pastel” in art does not refer to pale colors, as does the word commonly used in the fashion and cosmetic industries. The name, pastel, comes from the French word pastiche, meaning paste. Pastel is a painting medium with a full range of artistic possibilities. In the hands of a skillful pastel painter, with a good knowledge of pastel’s properties, a complete range of colors, values (lights and darks), and techniques is possible. Pastels used in producing fine art are made with exactly the same pigments used to make oil paints and watercolors. Powdered pigment, mixed with a little water and special binder, usually gum arabic, is ground into paste, rolled or extruded into a stick, and left out to dry. The degree of hardness or softness of a pastel stick is determined by the amount of binder. Softer pastels have many lighter shades due to extenders (talc, clay, or gypsum) being added. Dark colors are mostly harder pastels as they contain few extenders that tend to lighten the pastel values. The advantages of pastel are many. Unlike oil or watercolor, pastel is a dry paint. When placed on the surface of the ground, paper in most cases, the color is immediate and will forever stay the same. There is no drying time and no color change as in oil or watercolor. The pastel colors will not become brown or brittle with age, as oil colors have a tendency to do. Pastel pigments have an enormous color range. They have a beautiful purity and most colors are now considered lightfast. Colors do not sink into the paper as in watercolor. Unlike oils, no varnish is needed to bring out clarity of color or a uniform overall appearance. Pastels have a uniform matte finish with no sheen. Caring for a pastel painting is easy. Pastels are framed under glass and no further specialized treatment is needed. Being well protected by glass makes the pastel painting more permanent than an oil painting. If the pastel painting is produced by the artist on neutral PH paper and mounted on a neutral PH backing, the pastel painting should indefinitely remain as fresh and vibrant as the day it was finished by the artist. Care in framing should be taken however. A space between the painting surface and the protective glass should be allowed to prevent migration of loose pastel grains to the glass via static electrical charges. If reflection from the glass is a problem for you, ask your framer about museum glass, a non-reflective framing glass. Choose the framer with care. Most framers familiar with handling expensive artworks will know how to mount and frame pastels. Display your pastel painting as you should with any artwork, out of direct sunlight and away from intense incandescent, fluorescent, or halogen lighting. Normal room lighting is best. Keep artwork away from high humidity and heat. Never allow a framed pastel painting to be stored face down. A properly executed and framed pastel should survive hundreds of years when properly cared for by collectors or museums. ART EDUCATION Cadet Enrichment Studies, 1958-62, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO Private Study: Tom Owen, NWS Watercolor 1976-1980 Scottsdale Art School, Scottsdale, AZ 1982 Professional Workshops: Frank Webb, NWS, Gerald Brommer, NWS, James Boren, CAA, Teri Ford, PSA Albert Handel, PSA, Richard McKinley, PSA, Sally Strand, PSA, Liz Haywood-Sullivan, PSA SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS Register Here Paulding Fine Arts Association, 2026 Spring Exhibition, First Place PastelBooth Artist Group, Booth Museum, Spring Exhibition 2022, 2024, 2025Paulding Fine Arts Association 2023, 2024, 2026 Spring Exhibitions, 2025 Autumn ExhibitionAcworth Arts Alliance, Summer Exhibition 2022, First Place, 2023, 24, 25Rockmart Art Association Exhibitions 2021 Painting Second Place and People’s ChoiceSoutheastern Pastel Society Member’s Juried Exhibition, 2019, 2021 Honorable Mention, 2023, 2025, 2026Acworth Arts Alliance, Annual Juried Exhibition, 2020 Best of Show, 2023, 2024Acworth Arts Alliance, First Annual Art Competition, 2019 Honorable MentionSoutheastern Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition 2021 Honorable MentionPaulding Fine Arts Association, Fall Exhibition 2018, Pastel, First PlacePaulding Fine Arts Association, Fall Exhibition, 2017 Best of ShowPaulding Fine Arts Association, Spring Exhibition, 2016, Pastel 3rdPaulding Fine Arts Association, Member Exhibition, 2015, Pastel 1st, 2nd, 3rdSolo Exhibition, Courthouse Gallery, Dallas, GA, 2014Art on the Green Juried Invitational Festival, Cashiers, NC, 2010-24, First Place 2014Southeastern Pastel Society International Juried Exhibition, Award of Excellence 2012: Merit Award 2016Artist Guild of NW Georgia Juried Exhibition, 2010, Pastel 2nd, 3rdConnecticut Pastel Society Renaissance in Pastel Juried Exhibition, 2011Magnificent Seven Exhibition, Mable House Art Center, Mableton, GA 2010Mid-America Pastel Society Int’l Exhibition, 2010, UArt Award, Pastel Journal AwardMetro Montage VII, Marietta Museum of Art, 2007, 2009Southeastern Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition, 2005, 07, 09, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25Connecticut Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition, 2006, 2008, Board of Directors Award 2010Oregon Pastel Society International Juried Exhibition 2006Southeastern Pastel Society International Juried Exhibition, 2004, 06, 08, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24Three Man Exhibition, Art Station, Kennesaw, GA 2006Hilton Head Art Society National Juried Show, Honorable Mention, 2006Alabama Pastel Society National Juried Show 2006Southeastern Pastel Society Member’s Exhibition, 2005 Honorable MentionSoutheastern Pastel Society International Juried Show, 2004 Exceptional Merit AwardWorld of Art National Juried Exhibition, Third Place Award, Mable House GA, 2004Marietta Chamber of Commerce “Concert in the Park” Official Poster Painting 2004Kennesaw State University, Honorable Mention, Art of the Golden Generation, 2002Southeastern Pastel Society Member’s Juried Exhibition, Award of Excellence 1993ART INSTRUCTOROil/Pastel, Paulding Fine Arts Association, Dallas, GA, 2015-Present, Hilton Head Art AssociationOil, Acworth Arts Association, Acworth, GA 2018-Present Oil, Booth Art Academy, 2019 -PresentAFFILIATIONSBooth Artist Group, Paulding Fine Arts Association, Acworth Arts Alliance, Southeastern Pastel Society,Designated: SPS Master Pastellist President 2013-2016 Exhibition Chairman 2017-2019GALLERIES The Art House, Acworth, GA Downtown Gallery, Cartersville, GA |
