“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up”
Painting in Telluride, Colorado
Artist Statement
My biggest treat as a child was a fresh box of crayons, life just did not get any better – the colors, the sharp tips, and the waxy smell. I’ve graduated from my crayons to soft pastels, but am still thrilled by the array of colors and the possibilities they present. Their intense, pure pigment allows for an immediacy and versatility in my artwork. Inspired by the beauty of nature, my paintings are impressionist landscapes where my goal is to distill the essence of a moment. Painting in plein air allows me total immersion into the environment, where I can feel a deep appreciation of nature’s ephemeral light and the true unfiltered color of the landscape. My studio work is a direct extension of my passion for the outdoors, I work from both studies done in plein air and personal photographs. Does life get any better than time in nature with a box of pastels?
Sarah’s artistic foundation began at Wittenburg University in Ohio and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. For the past 25 years, Sarah has been a graphic designer, but has always had a passion for the fine arts. After years of painting watercolors, she discovered pastels and fell in love. A New Jersey native, Sarah’s sense of adventure led her to settle in Alaska, Nevada, and Santiago, Chile. For the past 20 years, she and her family have called Colorado home.
Sarah is a Pastel Society of America Signature Pastelist, an International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) Master Circle Pastelist, and a Master Signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado. Her paintings have appeared in shows and exhibitions throughout the United States.
Awards
2023 - Second Place • PSC Endless Inspiration Member Show - Signature Division • The Art Center of Western CO, Grand Junction, Colorado
2023 - Honorable Mention • PSC 19th Annual Mile High Pastel Exhibition & Sale • Curtis Center for the Arts • Greenwood Village, Colorado
2023 - Sponsor Award • PSNM Enchanted Colors 2023 National Pastel Exhibition • Millicent Rogers Museum • Taos, New Mexico
2021 - Royal Talens/Rembrandt Soft Pastels Award • Pastel Society of America’s 49th Annual Exhibition Enduring Brilliance • https://www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org/49th-annual-pastel-exhibition/
2021 - Honorable Mention • PSC Online Show That’s Amore • https://www.pscshows.com/annual-online-show.html
2020 - Third Place • PSC Signature/Master Show Taking Chances • BitFactory • Denver, Colorado
2020 - Best Pastel • 39th Western Spirit Show and Sale • Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
2019 - Ludwig Award • PSC Small Work Show and Sale • Mary Williams Fine Arts • Boulder, Colorado
2019 - First Place • PSC Member Show Dreaming in Color • Western Colorado Center for the Arts • Grand Junction, Colorado
2019 - People’s Choice • PSC Member Show Dreaming in Color • Western Colorado Center for the Arts • Grand Junction, Colorado
2019 - Honorable Mention • 15th Annual Mile High National Pastel Exhibition • Curtis Center for the Arts • Greenwood Village, Colorado
2018 - Honorable Mention • Pastel Society of Colorado • Small Works Show • Mary Williams Gallery • Boulder, Colorado
2018 - UART New York Award - Pastel USA • Pastel Society of West Coast • Morro Bay, CA
2018 - Honorable Mention • Pastel Society of Colorado 2018-2019 Calendar
2018 - Best Pastel • 37th Western Spirit Show and Sale • Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
2017 - Second Place • Illuminated Online Show, Pastel Society of Colorado • www. pscshow.com
2017 - Honorable Mention • Exhibition of Pastel Society of Colorado Signature Members • Center of Arts • Evergreen, CO
2017 - Top 15 • Pastel Society of Colorado 2017-2018 Calendar
2015 - Honorable Mention • Not Chalk Members Show • Pastel Society of Colorado • Grand Junction, CO
Organizations
International Association Pastel Societies - Master Circle
Pastel Society of America - Signature Member
Pastel Society of Colorado – Master Signature Member
American Impressionist Society - Associate Member
Pastel Society of New Mexico - Signature Member
Shows
2023
Fourth Annual All Members Online Exhibition • American Impressionist Society • https://americanimpressionistsociety.org/
Little Gems - PSC 2023 Small Works Show • The Collective - Community Arts Center • Lafayette, Colorado
26th National Juried Art Exhibit and Show • PAAC • The Blumenschein Museum • 222 Ledoux Street • Taos, New Mexico
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour • St George's Studio • 7853 Red Fox Drive • Evergreen, Colorado
Pastel Society of Colorado Members Show • Endless Inspiration • The Art Center of Western Colorado • Grand Junction, Colorado • Second place - Signature Division
Third Annual All Associate Members Online Exhibition • American Impressionist Society • https://americanimpressionistsociety.org/
2023 Red Rocks Pastel Society of Nevada Juried Member Exhibition • https://www.redrockpsnv.org/
19th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition • PSC • Curtis Center for the Arts • Greenwood Village, Colorado • Honorable Mention
Enchanted Colors • Pastel Society of New Mexico • Millicent Rogers Museum • Taos, New Mexico • Sponsor Award
IAPS 2023 Juried Spring Webshow • The 10th Master Circle Division • https://www.iapspastel.org/exiaps_current.php
42nd Western Spirit Art Show and Sale • Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
Pastel Society of Colorado Online Show • Expressions • www.pscshows.com/annual-online-show.html
2022
IAPS 2022 Webshow - 41st Open Division Exhibition • https://www.iapspastel.org/exiaps_current.php#
Pastel Society of Colorado Signature & Master Show • Taking Chances Again • Bitfactory Gallery • Denver, Colorado
Mountain Home 2022 Artist’s Reception • Evergreen, Colorado
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour • St George's Studio • Evergreen, Colorado
30th International Pastel Painting Exhibition - PSNM • Millicent Rogers Museum • Taos, New Mexico
Pastel Society of Colorado Member Show • Perspectives • The Great Frame Up • Longmont, Colorado
2022 Red Rocks Pastel Society of Nevada Juried Member Webshow • https://www.redrockpsnv.org/
artma • Denver Design Center • 575 South Broadway • Denver, Colorado
18th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition - Pastel Society of Colorado • Washington Hall • Central City, Colorado
41th Western Spirit Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
2021
Pastel Society of Colorado Small Works Show • Let’s Celebrate • Bitfactory Gallery & Studio • 851 Santa Fe Denver, Colorado
29th International Pastel Painting Exhibition - PSNM • Millicent Rogers Museum • Taos, New Mexico
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour • St George's Studio • 7853 Red Fox Drive • Evergreen, Colorado
49th Annual Exhibition Enduring Brilliance • Pastel Society of America • http://www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org/the-annual/ - Royal Talens/Rembrandt Soft Pastels Award
Pastel Society of Colorado Member Show • Staying Connected • Western Colorado Center for the Arts • Grand Junction, Colorado
37th All Colorado at the Depot Show • LIttleton Depot Art Gallery • Littleton, Colorado
29th National Pastel Painting Exhibition - Pastel Society of New Mexico • Millicent Rogers Museum • Taos, New Mexico
IAPS 38th Juried Gallery Exhibition - Zhou B. Art Center • 1029 West 35th Street • Chicago, IL 60609
2021 Red Rocks Pastel Society of Nevada Juried Member Webshow • https://www.redrockpsnv.org/
17th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition - Pastel Society of Colorado • Curtis Center for the Arts • Greenwood Village, Colorado
Pastel Society of West Coast Online MOOS Membership Show • pswc.ws/moos member online show
That’s Amore Online Show • Pastel Society of Colorado • pscshows.com • Honorable Mention
40th Western Spirit Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
2020
Taking Chances • Pastel Society of Colorado • BitFactory Gallery & Studio • 851 Santa Fe Denver, CO • Third Place
Pastel Society of America 48th Annual Exhibition Enduring Brilliance • http://www.pastelsocietyofamerica.org/the-annual/
Plein Air Artists of Colorado 24th Annual National Juried Fine Art Exhibition & Sale • https://www.pleinairartistscolorado.com/page-18387
Emergence From Quarantine • PSC 2020 Member Online Show • pscshows.com/member-show.html • Best of Show
April Showers bring May Flowers Online Sale • Mary Williams Fine Arts Gallery
Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada 2020 Juried Member Webshow • https://www.redrockpsnv.org/
Visions • Pastel Society of Colorado • 2020 Online Show • www.pscshows.com
39th Western Spirit Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming - Best Pastel
Our Planet Exhibition: Exploring Our Changing Environment • Anderson Ranch • Snowmass, Colorado
2019
Pastel Society of Colorado Small Works Show • Mary Williams Gallery • Boulder, Colorado - Ludwig Award
Annual Mountain Home Artist’s Reception • Mountain Home • Evergreen, CO 80439
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour • Evergreen, Colorado
Chroma • Pastel Society of Colorado • 2019 Online show • www.pscshows.com
PSC Member Show Dreaming in Color • Western Colorado Center for the Arts • Grand Junction, Colorado - First Place & People’s Choice
Our Planet Exhibition • National Center for Atmospheric Research • Boulder, Colorado
Pastel Society of New Mexico's 27th National Pastel Painting Exhibition • Sorrel Sky Gallery • Sante Fe, New Mexico
38th Western Spirit Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
Pastel Society of the West Coast Online Members Show • www.pswc.ws/membership-online-show-2019/
2018
Pastel Society of Colorado Small Works Show • Mary Williams Gallery • Boulder, Colorado - Honorable Mention
Plein Air Artists of Colorado 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition • Sorrel Sky Gallery • Durango, Colorado
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour • Evergreen, Colorado
Pastel Society of Colorado Member Show This Place • Pastel Society of Colorado • Colorado
Pastel USA • 32nd International Annual Exhibition • Pastel Society of the West Coast • Morro Bay, California - UART New York Award
Humphrey Historic Park & Museum • Solo show, Haunted by Water • Evergreen, Colorado
14th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition, Pastel Society of Colorado • PACE • Parker, Colorado
Gilpin County Arts Association 71st Annual Juried Exhibition • Central City, Colorado
Our Planet Exhibition • Curtis Center for the Arts • Greenwood Village, Colorado
Pastel Society of New Mexico's 26th National Pastel Painting Exhibition • Sorrel Sky Gallery • Sante Fe, New Mexico
37th Western Spirit Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming - Best Pastel
Horizons • Pastel Society of Colorado • 2018 Online Show • www. pscshow.com
2017
A Holiday Smalls Invitational, Mary Williams Gallery, Boulder, CO
Illuminated • Pastel Society of Colorado • 2017 Online Show • www. pscshow.com - Second Place
Pastel Society of Colorado 2017-2018 Calendar - Top 15
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour, Evergreen, CO
21st National Juried Fine Art Exhibition, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Mary Williams Gallery, Boulder, CO
2017 Exhibition of Pastel Society of Colorado Signature Members, Center of Arts, Evergreen, CO
Pure Pigment, Pastel Society of Colorado • Western Colorado Center for the Arts • Grand Junction, Colorado
Creekside Cellars Solo Exhibition • 28036 Highway 74 • Evergreen, Colorado
36th Western Spirit Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum • Cheyenne, Wyoming
2016
Small Works Show, Pastel Society of Colorado, The Artwork Network, Denver, Colorado
25th Annual National Pastel Painting Exhibition, Pastel Society of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Transitions • Pastel Society of Colorado • 2017 Online Show • www. pscshow.com
Evergreen Open Door Studio Tour, Evergreen, CO
20th National Juried Fine Art Exhibition, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Mary Williams Gallery, Boulder, CO
6th Annual Plein Air Salon Competition June/July 2016., Plein Air Magazine
28th International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
12th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition, Pastel Society of Colorado, Denver Public Library, Denver, CO
Pastel Society of Colorado Members Show: “Resolutions”, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Lakewood, CO
2015
19th National Juried Fine Art Exhibition, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Mary Williams Gallery, Boulder, CO
Pastel Society of Colorado Miniatures Show, Humphrey History Park & Museum, Evergreen, CO
11th Annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition, Pastel Society of Colorado, Denver Public Library, Denver, CO
Colorado Plein Air Festival Show, Golden Triangle Museum District, Denver Public Library, Denver, CO
PSC Members Show: “Not Chalk”, Western Colorado Center For the Arts, Grand Junction, CO
5th Annual Plein Air Salon Dec./Jan., Plein Air Magazine