The Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society
2020 Members Showcase
*click images to enlarge*
Virginia Belser
State College, PA
Michelle Bereczki
Doylestown, PA
Solace
During the early days of the state lockdown. I found solace from the chaos by walking through the woods and parks near my home.
Bayside
Sunset from North Cape May beach
Rainy Sunday
I came upon this scene after getting caught in the rain while hiking in late October. The colors of the season were muted by the falling rain.
Deborah Cowder
Cumberland, Maryland
Suzanne Desarbo
Centre Hall, PA
Jill Foster
Pleasant Gap, PA
Marianne Fyda
Troutville, PA
...no sleep till....
The pastel represents our COVID masked grandsons, Max and Henry, outside a Brooklyn Coffee Shop on their last day in NYC. Our son purchased the NYTimes at my request and I did the pastel on the front page. This gives the artwork a place in time. The family was moving to California, note the boys hats.
The idea for working on a newspaper came from an old American Artist article featuring artwork on non archival surfaces. Jimmy Wright, current president of the PSA, worked on phone book pages. By mounting and priming this page it becomes somewhat archival, or at least stable.
How New York
This painting was done from a photo I took of my husband in September of 2019. One month later, he had a heart attack. I worked on a study for this piece as he recovered and went through rehab. The study was therapy for me. Later I worked on this more detailed version.
The caption on the sign is real and this picture represents a special New York moment. Listed under the caption are all the things I have missed in New York during the pandemic.
Kim Gates Flick
PA Wilds: Northern Frontier
These mixed-media works (ink, pastel pencils, watercolors) created in response to a daily advent verse; were the ones I carried with me into 2020 for their message of Hope…
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“But if we hope for that we see not, do we with patience wait?”
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“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope:
for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?”
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“Rejoicing hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”
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“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
And rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Susan Nicholas Gephart
Bellefonte, PA
These four pastel demonstrations were created during Covid Online Zoom teaching for the Art Alliance of Central PA. I had been teaching face-to-face classes to a wonderful following of local artists. But last winter Covid forced me into opening my mind to the idea of zoom teaching and making videos. I accepted the challenge and began teaching in my attic pastel studio. Prior to Covid lockdown, I had made plans to travel to Virginia to be with my daughter Jamie for the first grandchild to be born in April. This meant I would need quarantine to stay in place there in Virginia, and then set up Zoom teaching a new location. There was a lot to learn and it was challenging, but very rewarding. I must admit, the biggest challenge was working with my declined eyesight with cataracts. I’m pleased to say that after two surgeries my vision has improved with great details and enriching colors! Who knows where this will lead my winter pastel painting time!
Peggy Gladys
Covington Township, PA
My Companion
We adopted our dog Heidi in March of the pandemic. She has been a source of joy and fun during this challenging time and the impetus for my painting. She has made the dark days a little brighter for us.
Willows At Cayuga Lake
We took a day trip to Cayuga Lake in Ithaca New York this past summer. The day was as bright as the painting and for a few hours lived in the moment and left the pandemic far behind.
Teresa Lazo
Camp Hill, PA