2024 It's Pastel Virtual Exhibition

2024 It's Pastel! PSNH Juried National Exhibition

It is our pleasure to share with you our exciting National Exhibition! In addition to this virtual page, the 2024 show is on display at the Portsmouth Historical Society! It is a joy to see the works in person, and we highly encourage a visit if you are in the vicinity. And for those who live a distance, we are pleased to bring you this online celebration of great work in the pastel arts.

This year's Juror of Selection was Terri Ford. As we had 176 entries, she was tasked with selecting only 60 to be included in this year's show. From the 60 works, our Juror of Awards, Karen Israel designated 26 works to receive this year's awards totaling nearly $6000! We also have 2 awards chosen by Terri Ford, and 1 to be selected by the opening reception attendees, The People's Choice!

Kudos on a job well done to Shuk Susan Lee, Show Chair; Keith Demanche, co-chair; and to Susanne Larkham, Webmaster. All of the works in the exhibit are available for purchase! Please contact Shuk (suel404@gmail.com) or Keith (hauntedmilk@gmail.com) directly and they will assist in connecting the buyer to the artist. Prize Awards List

And the Prize goes to...

Super Dash by Caroline Kelley

BEST OF SHOW

This painting’s composition and its emotional quality of a dog in sunlight immediately caught my eye. Notice the diagonal lines crossing, the diagonal placement of the dog. Adding to all of this, the painting’s unfinished edges, the mark making, the lost and found edges of the dog into the shadow on the left and the simple, yet emotional story of a dog resting tells a simple yet compelling story. There is no detail in the animals face yet I can feel its gaze. The artist’s use of an extremely limited and oomplementary palette adds to the dynamic design of this painting.

~Karen Israel