The Pastel Society – Member of the Federation of British Artists
For more information about the Federation of British Artists please view the promotional video:
https://youtu.be/IAyqHNAlfMM
To View The Magic of Pastel
To View ‘In Conversation with Carole Hubscher CEO of Caran d’Ache’
FBA Fundraiser – FBA Editions
Prints for a Cause
Limited Edition Prints from the Federation of British Artists
To view the full range of prints available:
https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/exhibitions-events/fundraiser-fba-editions
Pastel Society Members Tanya Avchinnikova and Ian Rawling are featured.
THE ReMARK June 2026
Dear All,
Where did May go? I thought I had just finished the ReMark and here I am on the first of June typing again. I should be worried that the time I give myself to complete finished paintings has diminished greatly over the last month and yet I am not panicked…yet!
Despite being now known as a ‘stream of consciousness’ to some in the society, you will be glad to hear that I will restrict myself to two things…sorry, three things…and one of those has kindly been written by my reader. I hope they do not mind!
Point one. To quote a book I am currently reading called ‘Surrounded by Idiots,’ and I should add that the idiot could be me or you, ‘when the brown stuff hits the fan…while there may be factual issues underlying the situation, 90% of it boils down to poor communication.” We live in a world now where we have an abundance of communication methods but poor messengers and recipients who are time poor just trying to stand still and cope with everyday life. But opportunities are getting missed which may just improve your life experience for a short while.
And so, to point two. Our president and myself have had the official feedback from the Mall Galleries concerning the annual PS exhibition. In a nutshell, a huge thanks goes out to everyone. Whether you showed work, sold work, bought work, admired work, visited, literally whatever you did, made the exhibition a qualified success. But before I clarify ‘qualified,’ let me remind you all of two important things fundamental to why we are all essential to this. The Federation of British Artists (FBA) and all the societies that are members of it aim to give everyone the chance to be involved in one way or another with the very best of contemporary art in the UK. I may represent pastel more than any other medium but I work in most as a lot of our artists do. We are a team and secondly, we all do this as charities and essentially run on a shoe string. And so, all of us that take an interest in one way of another should be proud of ourselves. I am. Oh, and ‘qualified,’ we can all do better and next month I will cover that!
Finally, point three. I am leaving the floor to Ron. I will not give his full name as ironically the email requesting permission bounced back. Anyway, His feedback was a delight and I hope more will be inspired to get in touch. Over to you Ron.
“I think I caught a bit of the very programme you mention (I believe it was one of the Secrets of our National Parks series), and was fascinated to see and hear about the Unison factory, although ‘factory’ sounds the wrong word for something in such an idyllic setting! I don’t know how else I would expect hand-made pastels to be constructed, but for some reason, I was surprised to see them being rolled and cut into lengths in the same way that small children used to (still do?) do when making plasticine ‘snakes’. I do use Unison (amongst other brands), and will ‘feel’ something extra the next time I pick one up. I was reminded of a newspaper article some years ago about La Maison du Pastel in Paris with all its history. No doubt you know more about it than I (not me Ron!), but the article and a visit to their website had some stunning pictures of boxes and trays of pastels which were hard to resist. (Only the prices put me off!). In-so-far as something as dry and tasteless as a soft pastel can make one’s mouth water, those images did! As for my own stuff, I have recently been trying my hand at oil pastels. While superficially similar to soft pastels, I now know they are actually a very different ‘animal’. I certainly enjoy the physical experience of applying them, but trying to blend them in the way I do with soft pastels is something of a challenge. Whether or not to persevere is the question.”
Ron
I am not here to judge but I am very happy to show his “soft pastel still life inspired somewhat by the work of Jaana Fowler PS, whose pictures I love.”
Good painting (& enjoying of the results.) Simon B. Hodges VPPS
info.thepastelsociety@gmail.com
Featured artist
Susie Prangnell PS
Artist’s Statement:
My work is inspired by maps and landscapes, current affairs, life experiences and childhood. Soft pastel is the perfect medium for me to explore the themes of fragility, resilience, tension and balance which fascinate me. Working directly with my hands and fingers on the paper is a very important aspect of my practice, and the tactile and expressive quality of pastel provides an immersive and challenging experience as I paint.
My method of working is a mix of the carefully planned and the intuitive. I begin by selecting sketches and studies to work from, and usually with the subject matter and title already decided upon. As the work gradually evolves, I am aware of an ebb and flow process during which I keep an open mind about the direction the work will take.
I work slowly, often in silence, and with a lot of contemplation time to keep myself tuned in to the dialogue. For me, the most precious painting experience is when I feel like a conduit for something deep in my subconscious to find its expression.
