Upon first hearing the word "pastel" our minds often jump toward the familiar Easter egg hues. Lucky for us, the pastels in Renjeau Gallery's new group show refer to what is actually one of the oldest painting mediums; pastels have been used by artists as far back as the 16th century. Consisting of pure, powdered pigments that are combined with a binder and rolled into a stick, they usually resemble a piece of chalk or crayon. Pastel paintings, if properly framed and cared for, can be one of the most permanent of media because they never darken, yellow or crack.
Pastel paintings have great variations in tone and texture depending upon the binder used as well as the “ground” or the surface on which the pastel is applied. Dry pastels that are mixed with gypsum or other substances can have a soft, powdery texture that blends beautifully to produce stunning landscapes with soft gradations of tone. Wet pastels are usually mixed with oil and can produce intense color.
The current exhibition at Renjeau Galleries features several pastel artists, each with their own style and technique. They include Will Klemm, Aleah Koury, Karen Jones, Pierre Jacquelin, Nicora Gangi, Francoise Julien, and Nicole Clement. Renjeau has been showing the work of these artists for many years, but for the first time, they are displaying their newest paintings all together during the month of March in their Natick Exhibition Annex.
Click here to see a preview of the show – there are more pieces available by each of these artists, so please stop by the gallery to see the outstanding pieces if you have the chance.
Renjeau Galleries
79 Worcester Road
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 655-5121
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