Featuring works created in pastel, pencil, chalk and charcoal, the Pastel Society exhibits abstract and experimental works alongside traditional representation.
View the images online
You can view the e-catalogue for the exhibition on Issuu. You can also see a brand new website which also has ALL the images of the artwork produced by:- members and
- non-members
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| View of the Main Gallery during the Private View |
Maybe it could also go back to recording the number of annual exhibitions it has held? I'm hanging on to the count (see the title of this post) which has sadly left the catalogue and all publicity for the exhibition. IMO both tradition and heritage (age!) count when it comes to credibility and buyers!
Images of the Exhibition
Overall, the exhibition is an interesting exposition of the many different ways in which pastels (and charcoal) can be used.Members work is typically hung in the Main Gallery - usually in sets of four or five works. There are some strong sets in the exhibition. However I was very surprised by the work of some of the artist members whose work I've liked a LOT and raved about in the past. It just did not stand out for me this time around. This left me looking around to see whose work I did like a lot this time.....
I also find it interesting to review my photographs when I get home to see which ones 'leap off the screen' at me. I'm not a fan of "in your face" artwork. However I'm a big fan of strong images.
Norma Stephenson has a very striking and strong set on the end wall which hung well on the wall and which I liked a lot.
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| A very solid set from Norma Stephenson Note that three of the four are using slips rather than mats to separate the pastel from the glazing (Prices range between £800 and £2,200) |
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| Contemporary pastel landscapes by Keith Roper PS (prices ranged between £500 and £650) |
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| Winner of the Royal Talens Rembrandt Prize - Felicity House PS Crop of "Making Mango Chutney" Pastel - 68 x 84cm (£1,200) |
There also seemed to be rather more images of an abstracted nature than I remember from past exhibitions. It occurred to me that it might be interesting to experiment with hanging these together. I have a suspicion they might well complement one another better than being interspersed with other styles of working. Likewise the more figurative work tends to sit better next to artwork which is more representational.
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| Pastel works on the "small works" wall. Variety and crowded works well on this wall with this size of work |
It's the blocks of four or five being juxtaposed in ways which sometimes detract rather than add value which I have a bit of an issue with.
One of the refreshing things about moving through to the North Gallery - which is dominated by work from the open entry - was the much greater variety of subject matter and diversity of approaches to mark-making with pastels. Plus there fewer 'blocks' of work by members.
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| Feature wall in the North Gallery - highlighting two major prizewinners |
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| Looking left - a very pleasant corner to delight the eye in the middle north gallery |
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| Looking right in the middle north gallery - more diversity of subject matter and approach |
Prizewinners
Interestingly all but four of the prizes were awarded to pastel works in the North Gallery - normally home to submissions via the open entry.
For me the North Gallery is where I was seeing more innovation in terms of use of pastel and subject matter.
I've divided the prizes into the different types of awards
Cash Awards
The most valuable award presented is the The Alfred Teddy Smith and Zsuzsi Roboz Prize (£5,000) which is awarded to a young artist, under the age of 35 years, for traditional skills, used in an original way.
All subject matter will be considered. The Judges will be encouraged to award the Prize to an artist who demonstrates a particular excellence in draughtsmanship and innovative thought. Pastels, oil pastels, charcoal, pencil, conte, sanguine, or any dry media are all acceptable.
This was won by Peter Matyasi for all his works (see below)
The NEW Unison Colour Award (£1,500 for a young artist, under the age of 35 years, working in soft pastel) was won by Janine Baldwin for all her works on display.
Annie Longley Award - Jan Munro won the £200 cash prize for her work White Stool and Flour Pot. Jan create very striking and colourful work which have proved popular with buyers and those handing out prizes. Those wanting to work with strong colour would do well to pay a visit to her website.
This work also won the Frank Herring & Sons (Product prize)
The Derwent Sponsorship Award of £1,000 was won by Michael Norman for his work Autumn Sunset, Exmouth
I thought this was a particularly effective and subtle piece.
The winner of the Royal Talens/Rembrandt - Product prize was Felicity House (see above)
The Pastel Society Catalogue Awards involves a full image page in the Pastel Society exhibition catalogue. It was won by Susan Brooke and Melodie Cook
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| The Alfred Teddy Smith and Zsuzsi Roboz Award (£5,000) all works by Peter Matyasi Erased pastel on drafting film |
The NEW Unison Colour Award (£1,500 for a young artist, under the age of 35 years, working in soft pastel) was won by Janine Baldwin for all her works on display.
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| Winner of the Unison Colour Young Artist Award - Janine Baldwin |
This work also won the Frank Herring & Sons (Product prize)
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| (top) White Stool and Flour Pot by Jan Munro |
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| The Pastel Society Young Artist Award Cash prize of £200 was won by Andrew Leatherbarrow Iridescent Cyclone Oil pastel - 38 x 57cm (£1,200) |
Product Prizes
Product prizes are ones where the artist can either choose art materials to a specified value or one where a prize of art materials is presented at the exhibition. |
| sets of pastels - by (bottom to top) Rembrandt, Schminke and Caran d'Ache - waiting to be awarded |
The @derwentpencils Sponsorship Prize was won by Michael Norman for his work Autumn Sunset, Exmouth pic.twitter.com/VFa0kBOX7P— mallgalleries (@mallgalleries) February 23, 2016
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| The Caran d'Ache Prize (Product prize) was won by Roland Corbin Babak Graphite, 66 x 52 cm, £1200 |
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| The Daler Rowney Product prize was won by this large work by Patricia Cain PS NEAC RGI ARWS Thicket II Pastel - 170 x 170cm - (£9,000) |
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| The Conté á Paris - Product prize was won by Peter Matyasi Untitled00430_Forge of Diosgyor Erased pastel on drafting film - 60 x 40cm (£1,350) |
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| The winner of the Henri Roche - Product prize was Patricia Clements Still Life with Dragons Pastel - 74 x 54cm (£900) |
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| Winner of the Faber Castell Product prize - Patrick Moffat The High Window Tinted charcoal - 40 x 32cm (SOLD) |
The winner of the Royal Talens/Rembrandt - Product prize was Felicity House (see above)
The winner of the Schmincke Product Prize was Linda Penny
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| The Winner of the Unison Colour Product prize is Charlie Schaeffer Thomas Crayon - 76 x 57cm (£1,100) |
Profile Prizes
There are two prizes which offer the opportunity for raising the profile of the artist via an article in leading art magazines. I've always thought these are some of the more potentially beneficial prizes if the winning artists makes the most of them. |
| Matthew Draper PS is the winner of the The Artist Magazine Feature Article A View from St Paul's 16.12.2014 (the bottom picture) Pastel - 116 x 176.5cm (£10,500) |
Henry Jabbour won the Artists & Illustrators Magazine Feature Article
Ancient Eyes
Oil pastel - 36 x 28cm (£450)
The Pastel Society Awards
.@PastelSociety Catalogue Award won by Susan Brooke & @melodie_cook for Urban Angel II & Tweedy in Centaur Costume pic.twitter.com/00P3bXYnZ3— mallgalleries (@mallgalleries) February 23, 2016
The Pastel Society Catalogue Awards involves a full image page in the Pastel Society exhibition catalogue. It was won by Susan Brooke and Melodie Cook
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