News

The Pastel Society of America’s 51st Annual Exhibition: Enduring Brilliance! is open for entries through June 1.

The Jurors of Selection for the members’ online exhibition will be Oregonian Richard McKinley PSA-MP, New Orleans artist Sandra Burshell PSA-MP, and New York State native Susan Story PSA-MP.

In addition, over $40,000 in cash and material awards will be juried by the distinguished Judge of Awards, Diana Thompson, Director of Collections, National Academy of Design, New York.

To enter go to ShowSubmit.

View the prospectus here.

In a whirlwind of year-long planning, the highly anticipated Pastel Society of America’s 50th Annual Exhibition: Enduring Brilliance! returned to its home, the walls of the newly renovated galleries of the National Arts Club. The five sleek, well-lit interlocking art spaces created on the ground level of the club, are easily accessible to the public and residents of New York City’s historic Gramercy Park neighborhood. The one hundred thirty-nine pastels on exhibit represented a survey of the best contemporary art in various styles made exclusively in soft pastels.

The year of planning culminated in a celebratory occasion, the 50th Annual Award ceremony, recognizing the recipients of $51,955 in cash and material awards for their outstanding paintings. Dr. Louis A. Zona, executive director and curator-in-chief of the Butler Institute of American Art, served as the 2022 juror of awards.

Peter Seltzer, PSA Signature-Master Pastelist, was initiated as a member of the legendary PSA Hall of Fame. Three of his exacting large-scale still lifes were the feature of the historic Parlor Gallery. Of Peter’s painting, Dr. Zona asks rhetorically, “Is there a more accomplished still life painter in America? I sincerely believe there is not.”

After the reception in the elegant parlors of the club, artists, friends, family, and patrons sat down together for the first time in two years in the Grand Gallery for a gourmet banquet by the club’s renowned Executive Chef Lynn Bound. Between the rounds of 50th celebratory toasts, the continuous buzz of conversation and laughter filled the gallery. Joyful is the only accurate description of the afternoon and evening events.

2022 is the year the PSA School for Pastels became a hybrid forum for teaching pastel painting and drawing. From a studio in any location with internet access, students worldwide can join the students painting in the PSA pastel classroom. A few highlights of the year were the academy courses broadcast from Halla Shafey PSA, Egypt; Richard McKinley PSA-MP, HFH, Oregon; Loriann Signori PSA, Maryland; and Corey Pitkin PSA, New York state.

While 2023 hints at new challenges to the successful administration of the society, your talent, enthusiastic love of pastels, and generous donations of time and monetary gifts create the unique community known as the Pastel Society of America. May collectively, our lights come together as a beacon of creative energy to illuminate the path forward into the new year 2023.

Jimmy Wright PSA President

The PSA Academy is a new education program providing artists the opportunity to study and be mentored by an artist instructor for an extended period of time. Virtual access has allowed us to come together worldwide to share an in-depth art experience.

View the PSA School for Pastel catalog here.

View and Purchase HERE

A member of the new generation of pastel artists, Corey Pitkin PSA is predominantly a self-taught artist whose work transcends the practice of observational painting from life. Pitkin’s work is an exploration of ephemeral beauty expressed simply and genuinely. Using muted colors complimented with subtle edge work, his pieces shift and glimmer yet maintain their precision. His subjects are memories that slip away when you try to hold onto them for more than a moment.

Pitkin’s award-winning work has been featured in The Pastel Journal, Art Renewal Center, Portrait Society of America, and International Artist magazine, and is held in collections across the world. Pitkin teaches frequently in his local art community and regularly travels for workshops. He currently resides in upstate New York with his wife Esther and children Anastasia and Xavier.

FULL LENGTH VIDEO DEMONSTRATION         14 MINUTE TIME LAPSE VIDEO