Pastels the focus of latest Station Arts exhibit

Kit Cutting, left, and Susan Moore are two members of the Pastel Quartet, which has a display in the Station Arts Centre. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Mention a pastel, and many think of light, vibrant shades of colour. But in art, pastels are a medium, akin to watercolours and oils.

The Pastel Quartet are presenting a variety of works in an exhibit in the Station Arts Centre’s Patenaude Family Gallery from Aug. 30 until Sept. 25.

Pastels are powdered pigments that are ground into a paste. Typically, a small amount of binder is added to form sticks, but pastels also come in pans, which Pastel Quartet members say can be applied with fingers, a brush, or a sponge.

Often, pastel paper, suede paper, or sanded paper is used to apply pastels, as the texture helps hold the pigments. Pastels can be used in combination with watercolour and acrylic paints, but not oils.

The Pastel Quartet is a group of four artists who favour the medium in their work. All are from London and became aware of the Station Arts Center when member Kit Cutting owned a gallery frequented by some Tillsonburg artists. She then visited the Station Arts Centre, and later remembered it when the Pastel Quartet was looking for a place for its first show.

“We were delighted to come in here because they do a beautiful job of hanging art and putting out PR about the shows,” added member Susan Moore.

She is a self-taught artist, but then attended several art schools in Ontario and Austria to further her knowledge. Originally, Moore worked in oils and watercolours.

“Then, I tried it out one day, and I just love working with them,” she said of pastels.

Landscapes and still lifes are often Moore’s subjects. She has won many awards for her art, and has previously exhibited and sold many pieces.

Cutting was formerly a hair-dressing salon owner, then decided to try art, as the creative gene runs in the family.

“I thought I would try painting my dog, and see if I have talent,” she recalled. “It looked like her.”

She then took art courses, and eventually ended up with pastels. Cutting prefers dogs, cats, and people as her subjects. She has also shown her art in several area galleries.

Ilona Burghardt likes both oils and pastels as mediums. And the natural world as subjects.

“The chaos and wildness of nature is where I search for much of my reference material,” she said.

Lois Covington-Fuchs has the most formal education of the Pastel Quartet, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking from the University of North Carolina. She has worked in many mediums, but prefers pastels, which she has used for more than 40 years.