NEWFANE-The Crowell Art Gallery at Moore Free Library will present "Painting with Pastel" in September, featuring pieces from the Vermont Pastel Society.
The exhibit of the works in pastel - versatile dry, chalk-like pigments that can be used for drawing or blending - is currently up and on display through Friday, Sept. 26.
The exhibit will present artwork from Lesley Heathcote, Deedee Jones, Carol Corliss, Carroll Durand, Cath Stockbridge, David Brown, Matt Peake, Matthew Beck, and Lee Anne Parker.
The Vermont Pastel Society has been exhibiting at the Crowell Gallery every other year - "it's always been a wonderful venue for us, and it's a great opportunity for the community and for the artists," Jones told The Commons.
The Vermont Pastel Society was founded in 1999, divided into six regional hubs representing different areas of Vermont.
"Part of having a show is to educate people who like to come look at art," she said.
Artists can answer questions like, "how is pastel different than oil or watercolor, and how did you make that happen?," creating what Jones called "an educational experience between the artist and the viewer."
There are 120 members, and about 20 members in the Southeast Regional hub.
'We all learn tremendously from each other'
Jones has been doing something artistic most of her life. "Pastels I've come to more recently," she said.
When her kids were older, she started taking classes at the River Gallery School of Art in Brattleboro, which she credits with teaching her about the medium.
Jones says the society tries to have at least one exhibit a year, and the group tries to meet monthly.
"Making art sometimes is a very solitary endeavor, and to have a group of people that you can associate with who are doing things similar to what you're doing, or have similar interests... I think we all learn tremendously from each other," she said.
Organizations like the Vermont Pastel Society "are a great resource for people to figure out sort of what path they want to take, if they want to do if they want to be in a show," Jones added.
Jones also explains some of the advantages to joining the VPS as a member: "one, that you get to show you get to exhibit as part of the Vermont Pastel Society, and the second is that you are able to take the different workshops that are given throughout the year at a reduced fee."
Most of the artwork is available to purchase.
In addition to the Crowell show, the VPS will also host its juried show from Friday, Oct. 3 until Saturday, Nov. 22 at Vermont Artisan Designs, 106 Main St. Brattleboro.
A judge selected by the VPS - this year, Liz Haywood-Sullivan - chooses the winners, who will be honored in a ceremony Friday, Nov. 7 during the Gallery Walk from 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information about the VPS, visit vermontpastelsociety.com. "Painting with Pastel" is at the Crowell Art Gallery at the Moore Free Library, 23 West St. The private library is supported by the residents of Newfane. Admission is free. Hours for the library and gallery: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 1 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: moorefreelibrary.org/crowell-gallery.
This Arts item by Alyssa Grosso was written for The Commons.