Purely Pastel Exhibition (2011)

Pastels have been used as a means of artistic expression from the days of the early cave dwellers. Most famous artists – Edouard Manet, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent and James Whistler to mention a few have used pastels at some time in their careers.

The impressionists loved pastel for the brilliance of colour and quick application. Edgar Degas was the most experimental, excelling at depicting expressive movement, creating webs of colour, using it layer upon layer, building up a surface in which colours gleamed through.

The velvety bloom and softness of pastels make them a most attractive medium.

They are rapid and responsive to use, no pre-mixing or drying time, with colours from soft tones to vibrant hues, colours that will not fade, darken or crack.

‘The Ship Painters’ by Tony Allain

Tony Allain was overall winner in the 2010 exhibition.

‘Purely Pastel’ will showcase the finest work by pastellists in the country, among them a number of Bay of Plenty artists, with work ranging from impressionist to traditional and on a variety of subjects. 

‘Jim’ by Maxine Thompson.

Maxine Thompson won the 2010 Peoples' Choice Award. You’ll be able to see this stunning selection of New Zealand work each day from 10am to 4.30pm.

Be sure to mark the ‘Purely Pastel’ dates down as a ‘must see’ on your arts calendar.  Admission is by gold coin donation and all works are offered for sale.

Purely Pastel is a national exhibition of New Zealand’s top pastel artists and represents a great opportunity for everyone to see the leading exponents of this visually stunning art form right here in Tauranga – not to be missed.

by Pete Morris (2011).

Pete Morris is an occasional painter and an art lover. He is a free lance writer who has a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.

----