Pigment with Abandon

Collector's Focus: Pastels

Introduction by Chelsea Koressel

Kim Eshelman, Flowers from My Garden, pastel, 12 x 9"; Festival of Arts Laguna Beach, Duneset, pastel on paper, 12 x 16", by Dawn Buckingham.

The highly-pigmented medium known as pastel is known for its vibrancy as well as its tactile application, as it allows an artist to draw, smudge and brush with the hand itself. The intimacy creates underlying connection with an artist and a pastel piece that can be perceived by a viewer or collector.

Often, an artist will combine pastel with paint. Take for example, renowned modernist painter Arthur Dove (1880-1946). “One of the first American artists to abandon imitative representation, Arthur Dove created oil and pastel compositions in which dynamic shapes, lines and colors evoke the essence—rather than the outward appearance—of natural forms,” according to the Terra Foundation for American Art collection handbook, Conversations with the Collection.

Marcia Blakeman, Spring Frost, pastel, 18 x 24"

The handbook continues, “Among the first abstract artworks ever exhibited in the United States, Dove’s pastels caused a sensation among American viewers who, until the Armory Show in New York the following year, were largely unaware of the abstract art then gaining recognition in Europe.” With their organic imagery borrowed from nature and their expressive dynamism, these pictures presaged the emerging American modernism of the early 20th century.”

Contemporary artists like Kim Eshelman are keeping the medium alive. “Capturing a sense of place and the feeling that accompanies it is what I strive for,” the artist says. “And although I love working in a variety of mediums, the immediacy and tactile experience of soft pastel is unparalleled. I’m an explorer at heart and love trying new methods of applying pigment to surface. Pastel is very conducive to this approach. There are so many ways to create an underpainting for instance, whether it be incorporating wet pigment such as gouache to a sanded surface, or perhaps laying down a large notan with sumi ink on printmaking paper—the possibilities are enormous.”

Eshelman often works directly on a toned or white surface, focusing on the drawing aspect of the medium. “I’m constantly playing and learning,” she adds. The artist, who focuses on landscapes, inspired by her home in Washington state, also paints still lifes and wildlife. In her piece Flowers from My Garden,we see the pastel medium bring the floral scene to life. “I love the chaos of my wildflower garden and all its intertwined blooms,” Eshelman says. “It brings out the kid in me when I get to throw down slashes of pigment with abandon to create the randomness of a scene.”

Jeannie Fine, Restless Sky, soft pastel on sanded panel, 12 x 12"

The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach, a premier destination for art collectors and cultural enthusiasts, showcases a rich variety of artistic styles and mediums,.Pastel artists contribute to this diversity with works that highlight the subtle beauty and distinctive character of the medium.

Of her work, Festival of Arts participant and pastelist Dawn Buckingham explains that, “Each moment I paint from life is like a fingerprint, unique from every other moment. I want my work to capture the essence of the place, to share the story of the moment with others.”

Another festival artist, Marie Tippets, shares, “My work, [like Winter], is an orchestration of delicate nuances. In the setting sun of late afternoon, I harmoniously combine shapes, patterns, textures and colors. The cast and reflected shadows that result elevate the ordinary into extraordinary.”

The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach runs July 5 through August 29 of this year.

Artist Jeannie Fineis a landscape painter working mainly with soft pastels, as is the case in her moody skyscape, Restless Sky. “I have developed this relationship with shadows and contrast...and find my eyes making paintings wherever I look,” she says. “Light, dark, shadow, contrast, texture, value, hue, composition—the terms seem endless, but for every piece of art, these are the elements that we as painters try to use successfully. I, of course, am no exception and these terms as well as countless others are there to remind me to look, look, look.”

Festival of Arts Laguna Beach, Winter, pastel on paper, by Marie Tippets. 18 x 26"

Marcia Blakeman often paints scenes that we pass every day and overlook. “Growing up in a small rural area, I sketched what was in front of me,” she says. “I think that helped me to appreciate the mountains, wide open spaces and what lies within. When I later picked up pastels, I immediately fell in love with the pure pigment, bold or soft colors, and how they can be layered to create different effects. I am not one who paints to make a statement. I would like to bring a bit of joy to the viewer.”

When purchasing a pastel artwork, Blakeman says, “Consider [where] you want to hang [a piece]. As with most art, pastels can fade and should not be hung in direct sunlight. With a little planning and care, they will last a lifetime.” —