Get Inspired by 5 Top-Shelf Pastel 100 Winners

Tilghman Breeze (12x24) by Maria Marino, detail
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Celebrating the 19th Annual Pastel 100 Winners

The vast array of talent entered into the 19th Annual Pastel 100 Competition was so extensive we couldn’t stop with just sharing the work of the top five overall pastel prize winners. Below, we’ve put together an inside look at the Pastel 100 winners of the Landscape & Interior, Portrait & Figure, Still Life & Floral, Animal & Wildlife and Abstract & Non-Objective competition categories. After all, who doesn’t love to stare at incredible art? Enjoy!

Tilghman Breeze by Maria Marino | Landscape & Interior Category Winner

Pastel_100_category_winners_landscape_painting__Marino_Tilghman-Breeze | artistsnetwork.com
Tilghman Breeze (12×24) by Maria Marino
Maria Marino, of Sykesville, Md., fell in love with Tilghman Island, located along the eastern shore of Maryland. “I wanted to paint the emotion of the landscape and capture not just the beautiful light of the island, but also the rustling of the trees,” explains Marino. To achieve the desired effect, the artist used linear strokes to weave color into color. These skillful details were not lost on juror Nancie King Mertz, who describes Tilghman Breeze as “a fine tapestry of intricate color.” “Marino’s masterful control of pure, thick pigment is fresh and joyful,” states Mertz. “She seems to relish the medium and explores what can be done by building it up into thickly applied layers that reflect light and color.” Landscape & Interior Pastel 100 Category Winners First Place: Tilghman Breeze by Maria Marino (pictured above) Second Place: Top of the Canyon by Stan Bloomfield Third Place: Morning Light by Wenlin Zhu Fourth Place: Lily Pads Sur Ciel Bleu by Terri Ford Fifth Place: Sunday Afternoon by Kathleen Newman

Yang Hui by Aurelio Rodríguez López | Portrait & Figure Category Winner

Pastel_100_category_winners_figure_painting__Lopez_Yang-Hui-Pastel | artistsnetwork.com
Yang Hui (21.5×27.5) by Aurelio Rodríguez López
For Aurelio Rodríguez López of Estepona, Spain, the eyes are the key to a successful portrait painting. “I prefer to resolve the eyes at the beginning,” says Lopez. “The gaze accompanies me and makes me feel at ease throughout the entire working process.” What stuck out to juror William Schneider was the artist’s fine-tuned execution. “The rendering and composition on this piece are superb,” he explains. “The sitter’s personality seems to emerge in this sensitive portrait.” Portrait & Figure Pastel 100 Category Winners First Place: Yang Hui by Aurelio Rodríguez López (pictured above) Second Place: Masking by Jinghan Wu Third Place: Free Spirit by Carolin Fernandez Fourth Place: Sofia by Svetlana Cameron Fifth Place: Kyrgyz Hunter by Fabang Pei

Once Upon a Time by Theresa Emmitt Allison | Still Life & Floral Category Winner

Pastel_100_category_winners_still_life_painting__Allison_Once-Upon-a-Time | artistsnetwork.com
Once Upon a Time (24×36) by Theresa Emmett Allison
Theresa Emmitt Allison’s painting, Once Upon a Time, captures special memories from her youth. “I vividly remember the Christmas morning I awoke to find Raggedy Ann and Andy under the Christmas tree,” recalls Allison. “Santa had brought just what I wanted! As I grew older, I learned that my mother had made them for me. She took the time from her busy days of raising six kids. I’ve frequently sketched the dolls over the years and decided that I wanted to do a painting of them. It was, in part, to commemorate my mother’s memory and my happy childhood.” For juror Sarah Blumenschein, Once Upon a Time was a true standout painting. “The content, concept and composition of the painting appealed to me right away,” she explains. “Closer examination revealed beautifully rendered objects, as well as a pastel application that left the hand of the artist visible in each stroke.” Still Life & Floral Pastel 100 Category Winners First Place: Once Upon a Time by Theresa Emmitt Allison (pictured above) Second Place: Bolts of Fabric by Diane Rudnick Mann Third Place: Still Life With Nest by Don Williams Fourth Place: High and Dry by Amy Sanders Fifth Place: Just Another Apology by Jennifer Evenhus

Twilight Parallel by Otto Stürcke | Animal & Wildlife Category Winner

Pastel_100_category_winners_animal_painting_Sturcke_Twilight-Parallel | artistsnetwork.com
Twilight Parallel (6×18) by Otto Stürcke
Much of Otto Stürcke’s still lifes utilize chiaroscuro, which the artist explains is inspired by the old Flemish and Dutch masters use of tenebrism. “I thought it might be interesting to apply the technique to this beautiful koi fish gliding gracefully through the lily pond,” explains Stürcke in reference to Twilight Parallel. “I was mesmerized by the light shimmering on its white scales through the dark waters. It appeared ethereal, yet powerful. That’s where the imagination took over and the narrative began to unfold.” What caught the eye of juror Rita Kirkman, aside from the “masterful composition and the haunting depth of the water” was the painting’s lack of color. “Any hint of chroma simply would be a distraction from Stürcke’s exquisite orchestration of values,” says Kirkman. “It creates an otherworldly glow and serene stillness of this moment trapped in time.” Animal & Wildlife Pastel 100 Category Winners First Place: Twilight Parallel by Otto Stürcke (pictured above) Second Place: Nap Time by Andrew Memmelaar Third Place: Empty Space by Yael Maimon Fourth Place: The Butterfly by Luying Ye Fifth Place: Hidden by Denise Vitollo

A Passionate Nature by Bre Barnett Crowell | Abstract & Non-Objective Category Winner

Pastel_100_category_winners_abstract_painting__Crowell_A-Passionate-Nature | artistsnetwork.com
A Passionate Nature (20×24) by Bre Barnett Crowell
For Bre Barnett Crowell, the creation of a nonrepresentational painting requires trust — in herself and the creative process. When starting a composition, the artist puts aside any preconceived ideas. She calls this practice the “abandonment of thinking. “It fuels my work and pushes it into unknown territory.” notes Crowell. “I’ve begun to trust this process, because it can produce some lovely accidents and discoveries.” The final result of Crowell’s abstract process is what captivated juror Arlene Richman. “I was drawn to this painting quickly because of its romantic coloration and subtlety,” says Richman. “Not only is it impressive on first glance, but it also invites many return visits to its details, which emerge slowly and delightfully. I enjoyed each return and kept learning about the painting’s inner story of lines, colors and shapes.” Abstract & Non-Objective Pastel 100 Category Winners First Place: A Passionate Nature by Bre Barnett Crowell (pictured above) Second Place: Sunny Side Rose by Marcia Holmes Third Place: Up and Away by Betty Efferson Fourth Place: Journey Through Egypt by Halla Shafey Fifth Place: Blue by Cory Goulet A special note of thanks to our generous 19th Annual Pastel 100 Competition sponsors:
  • Jack Richeson & Co. for sponsorship of the Ruth Richeson Pastel GOLD Award, Richeson Pastel SILVER Award and Richeson Pastel BRONZE Award
  • Terry Ludwig Pastels (first place category sponsor)
  • Great American Artworks (second place category sponsor)
  • Holbein (third place category sponsor)
  • PanPastels (fourth place category sponsor)
  • UART (fifth place category sponsor)

Feeling Inspired by these Pastel 100 winners? Learn how you can submit your own artwork to the Pastel 100 Competition for a chance to win cash, prizes and recognition here.

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