OCTOBER 2005
Signature Membership
Each Fall and Spring the Oil Pastel Society will accept applications from it’s professional members who would like to apply for the society’s top status, Signature Membership.
Signature membership is achieved by an artist who has reached a level of excellence in both their artistic creativity and in the use of oil pastel as a fine art medium. Acceptance into Signature Status is by jury review.
Here's a bit about the process.
First the submitted artwork is reviewed for an overall look at the artist's style and originality. The unique use of the subject and the artist's approach is considered during this time.
Second, the artwork is reviewed for elements of design and composition, which include but are not limited to, use of a variety of shapes, abstract patterns, passages that lead the eye, movement, etc. Use of value is considered along with the use of color and texture. How well the artist leads into and accentuates the focal area or focal point with a variety of edges, contrast and value is an important element.
Also considered is the technical skill with which the artist has used the medium itself.
And last, but not least is emotional content. Does the artist portray the subject with a life that draws the viewer into the painting creating a bond? Does the artwork have a voice of its own?
The artist’s bio is considered along with the slides in determining the contribution of the artist to the medium represented. Education, shows, gallery representation or sales, awards, and experience all bear on the decision made.
Recently, the first applications for Signature Membership were received. The jurists spent almost two hours on each application which included viewing five slides of artwork for each applicant and reading over the bio of the artist.
It is with great pleasure that we announce the first member of the Oil Pastel society to reach Signature status:
George Shipperley of Illinois, USA
In reviewing the slides for our first application to signature status, the jury panel commented on the consistency of his work, the balanced color harmony, the textural elements and the originality that George brings to his artwork. All felt that George was successful in expressing the atmosphere in his landscapes and that one of the strong points was composition and design.
Thank you (the OPS) so much for accepting me as a SIGNATURE MEMBER. This indeed is a thrill and honor. Our finest recognition comes from our peers for you understand what we strive for in our work and what it takes to get there. I have worked in many mediums but oil pastel has been by far the most rewarding and enjoyable for me.
I shall do my very best to live up to the honor you have given me, and look forward to the announcement of future SIGNATURE MEMBERS.
Respectfully,
George H Shipperley OPS
Along with the panel, we congratulate George Shipperley in attaining Signature Status in the Oil Pastel Society!
The next opportunity for submitting slides for Signature application will be in the spring of 2006!
Welcome to the Oil Pastel Society!
New Associate Members
Anita H. Brechtel
Pamela J. Cote
Dana Fletcher
Cathy Fontechia
Sandy Jomini
Member News
Pat Isaac has been doing a lot lately to help the general art world become familiar with oil pastels. Pat, keep up the good work!
Pat received an Honorable Mention for her oil pastel "Orange Splendor" at the Plymouth annual juried show this month.
"Orange Splendor"
Pat’s oil pastel "The Old Salt" was juried into the Arkansas Pastel Society National Juried Show and her oil pastel "Beached on Damon's Point" was juried into the American Artist's Professional League Grand National Exhibit at the Salmagundi Club in NY.
Pat also received Second Place at the UK website for Picturedraw for her “The Old Salt”.
"Old Salt"
Link to
Picturedraw site
Stephanie Neely had 2 paintings accepted into the Arkansas Pastel Show.
Stephanie also had a painting, "Communions 2", featured on the Creative Catalyst home page -www.ccpvideos.com
It was part of a series of florals that she created for a show dedicated to an artist friend who recently and unexpectedly passed away.
"Communions 2"
“I found the competition mentioned in one of the OPS Newsletter links - so many thanks! Stephanie”
Martha Kennedy had one of her oil pastels accepted into "Originals 2005", the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ Biannual Juried Show.
"Under
Aqua Sky" - 24x28" -
oil pastel
mounted on board
The "Originals 2005" exhibit will be displayed at the Fine Arts Museum in Santa Fe, NM, opening September 23, 2005, remaining until early February, 2006. Approximately 700 artists entered, with 70 accepted.
WORKSHOPS AND DEMOS
Patricia Isaac
will be doing an Oil Pastel demo at the Foxboro Art Association on Oct 12 from
7-9pm.
They are located in the Boyden Library, Baker St., Foxboro, MA
Featured Artist of the Month – George Shipperley OPS
George Shipperley is the Oil Pastel Society’s first Signature Member. Ann Tucker had an opportunity to speak with him in person and see a gallery filled with his work. Come along as Ann tells us about her conversation with this intriguing artist. Click here for Ann's conversation with George.
Letter to the Editor
Hello all!
It's very refreshing to have some info & news of oil pastel. I guess I'm still feeling the burn from Pastel Journal's rejection of oil pastel, when they were previously, before being sold, so supportive. Ah well - that's why you're here!
I also wanted to say that it's been interesting to see how oil pastel workshops seem to be in demand. I've had 3 or 4 inquiries through the OPS website in the past few months. I also exhibit in outdoor shows in Santa Fe most weekends in the summer - we get a lot of artists coming through and I have about 20 names & addresses of people who are interested in an oil pastel workshop it's rumored I may be developing for next year. I think when people see the potential of the medium, they really get excited. So keep posting workshops in oil pastel, which I know you will do. I'll let you know if I do get this workshop developed - I've never taught before but have some excellent mentors who are willing to help me with this.
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Martha
Kennedy
Santa Fe, NM, USA
Competitions Which Accept Oil Pastels:
The OPS is providing this information as a service to our members. No endorsement is intended. The artist assumes responsibility for reading the prospectus and determining eligibility.
Click here for the list of Competitions
Future Articles
Some of our best articles, demos and tips have come from members.
If you have something interesting that you’d like to share, please send us an
email. Even if you don’t think what you have to share could be a whole article,
sometimes it can be a starting point for an email conversation which then can
turn into an article.
There are only a few of us working on this newsletter and it is very easy to run
out of ideas. So…..
If you have something interesting that you’d like to share, please send us an email at
newsletter@oilpastelsociety.com
Ann Tucker, Newsletter Editor
NOTES:
One way that all of you can help to make the Oil Pastel Society more visible is by placing a link from your personal website to the Society's home page or you can link to your artist gallery from your homepage. Feel free to use the new society logo as a graphic on your links page! Below is the reference and the logo which has been downsized. Copy and paste the reference into one of your web pages and download the graphic and upload to your site.
If you have a new email address, please notify membership@oilpastelsociety.com so that our records can be updated and you don't miss out on any of the news!
And don't forget, Cafe Press has items for sale featuring our beautiful OPS logo and can be seen at:
http://www.cafepress.com/oilpastels
Your OPS Staff
ARCHIVES: Click here to read past Newsletters.
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Edition 1, Issue #13