A celebration of vibrant colour, the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia’s (PSVA) exhibition ‘Pastel Artistry’ opened to the public on Saturday 1 November at the Sherbrooke Art Gallery.
Over 60 people filled the room to see the 100 amazing works of art submitted for the 38th annual exhibition.
For lovers of the pastel medium, the array of techniques and skills on show is hard to beat, and Geelong-based judge and artist Paul McDonald Smith OAM awarded the winner of ‘Best in Show ‘ to Janet Hayes for her beautiful portrait ‘Contemplation’.
Ms Hayes said on the day that pastel has always been her favourite medium, and portraits her favourite subject.
“It is great to have a place to exhibit Pastels and have them appreciated,” she said in her acceptance speech.
The subject of the winning portrait was a friend’s daughter-in-law, who posed for her classes a few years ago.
“I was in awe of her quiet beauty and her long, natural strawberry blond hair – I chose a setting that would enhance her contemplative look,” she said.
Ms Hayes is a founding member of the PSVA, which began around 40 years ago.
“It is great to see how the society has grown and continued, and that my pastel artwork has been acknowledged in this way all these years later,” she said.
The long-time artist intends to use the prize money to put towards a trip in 2026 to the International Society of Pastel Societies bi-annual convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
“It gives me the opportunity to meet pastel artists and enthusiasts from around the world, watch demonstrations from leading international pastel artists and briefly study with a leading pastel portrait artist; Wende Caporale,” she said.
The ‘Best Portrait/Figurative’ painting was awarded to Heather Peberdy for her finely detailed and delightful painting, ‘ Alyssa painting a Unicorn’.
Newly elected president Kayleen West of Lilydale has been painting all her life and said she has a special love for pastels.
“The pigment is so vibrant, and I get to really explore colour with that,” she said.
Her piece, ‘Nature’s Rainbow,’ came in runner-up for the best in show and is a piece she did a lot of groundwork for beforehand, putting the design together before she even painted it.
“I wanted something that would combine realism with abstract design, and that was bold in colour, and really jumped off the wall,” she said.
Injecting her love of colour, nature and gardening into the piece, Ms West said this painting was a little more rushed than she usually prefers.
“I had to really condense my time in the studio – I did very long days back to back to do it,” she said.
The long-time artist said she always tries to remember to focus on the joy when creating her works.
“You start out because it gives you so much satisfaction and joy, and you can very easily lose that in the business of art and become too serious,” she said.
Ms West also mirrored or complemented aspects of her piece with embossment details on the mat frame.
“It’s very subtle – it’s an extension of the painting,” she said.
Joining the arts society around three years ago, Ms West has been enjoying her new role as president.
“I just really felt it was the right thing to do and the right time,” she said.
On the opening day she awarded Maxwell Wilks with the ‘President’s Award’ for his painting ‘A Bright Day, Maldon, UK’ which deployed striking colour and a masterful soft pastel technique.
The Pastel Society is always dedicated to welcoming new and beginner artists to its art form, and Ms West said the annual show is a great opportunity for people to see the medium in its full glory at a high standard.
“To really experience it from different artists’ eyes,” she said.
