This month, we have four talented pastel artists exhibiting on our feature wall — the Dusty Divas!
The divas are Kristen Horn, Beth Keyser, Donna Sires, and Donna Stevens. Start getting to know them here and come meet them on First Friday. We will have an artists reception for the Dusty Divas April 6th starting at 6 pm. It’s sure to be a party with wine, food, and of course, the Dusty Divas themselves! Come on down!
Artist Statement: Kristen Horn, Pastel Artist
I am rather a late comer to this addictive thing of art creation but no less passionate for my late entry! I drew and painted a bit as a younger adult but took a forty year hiatus for raising my family and having a career as a real estate broker.
About four years ago I took a pastel class from an artist I admired. It was just enough encouragement to remind me of what I had been missing most of my life! I took another wonderful class two years ago that completely gave me the pastel bug as well as a passion for Plein Aire Painting ( painting in the out of doors ) The rest, as they say, is history. While I still work fulltime, I spend all of my free time trying to capture the light, color and forms of nature. Life is truly good.
So much to paint, so little time!
Artist Statement: Beth Keyser, Pastel Artist
I grew up in Alaska surrounded by beauty. Now a transplanted Alaskan, I am always searching for the beauty of the Northwest.
I enjoy creating on many different levels but have chosen pastels as my discipline. In this discipline, I challenge myself to see differently. As an imitator of beauty, my desire is to see my surroundings in the vivid colors, shapes and in interesting relationships. I enjoy challenging myself to bath the images I am representing in color and texture. Seeing harmonious relationships of shape, shadow and color transpire is what thrills me and why I choose to create.
Artist Statement: Donna Sires, Pastel Artist
After over 20 years of working as an art director and illustrator for food packaging, I started to explore pastels and focused on painting landscapes.
Color and light fascinate me, and I continually seek the exploration and challenge of interpreting what I see into my paintings. Being outdoors and surrounded by nature always brings me peace and calm, and I am compelled to communicate that in every piece of art I create.
Artist Statement: Donna Stevens, Pastel Artist
I returned to drawing after a 25-year hiatus and enjoyed working in charcoal. After several months, I decided to enhance the drawings with color, so purchased three sticks of pastel. Well, three sticks became six sticks, then a handful of used sticks, then a brand new boxed set, and the rest is history.
Drawing and painting are grounding and revitalizing for me. I also love spending time in the remote and beautiful places we still have. So plein air painting, in particular, provides a perfect counterbalance to the demands of my profession. Making and viewing the pieces refreshes the memories of places or scenes that inspired the works.
More First Friday in Multnomah Village
