Ron Monsma, winner of the Jack Richeson Pastel 100 Best of Show Award, brings formal organizational of elements within his pastel paintings. Monsuma’s work features abstract element rendered realistically while placed abstractly. In Monsuma’s “Collections with Acorns” he focuses on little shapes against big shapes and rough textures against smooth glass texture. Monsma’s approach when working with pastel for still life and landscape includes setting up a dramatic composition to begin a painting and keep them under control. He also explores the values of color to develop deeper, richer color and color harmony.Monsma’s work has appeared in a number of other publications as well including a 2001 feature article in The Pastel Journal which accompanied his receiving the Diane B. Bernhard Gold Medal Award for Excellence. In 2005 he was included in The Artist’s Magazine in a September article on contemporary still life painting and in February 2006 The Artist’s Magazine presented a feature article on Ron’s figurative work. Also in 2006 his work appeared in Pure Color, the Best of Pastel published by Northlight Books and in the book 20th Century Indiana Landscape Painters.
Ron Monsma is currently head of Drawing and Painting at Indiana University South Bend.
Click here and watch as Monsma talks on the formal organization of abstract elements using pastels…
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