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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 October 2026
Dear Reader,
As I look out from where No.6 or more accurately Patrick McGoohan stayed at Portmeirion whilst filming The Prisoner in the 60’s, I am reminded of the words of the architect, Clough Williams-Ellis, who had the inspiration for this enchanting Italianate style village.
“Cherish the past, adorn the present, construct the future.”
I hope that unlike me, whether you are a member or a non-member, you are currently undertaking work in pastel, dry media, or mixed media to ‘adorn’ the walls of the Mall Galleries next year. It is certainly a time that all but the most efficient artists are suddenly realising that time is disappearing fast and yet when the mind is not sent into panic, there is still plenty of opportunity to produce a piece of work which will be of both credit to yourself and to what we are all trying to achieve in these wonderful mediums.
And so, I wanted to just say a few words (we can but hope) about the submission guidelines. We do not receive many questions prior to submission, but when we do, we are happy to respond because with originality and innovation comes a ‘moving of the goalposts.’ Technical quality is a pre-requisite. The work by the established artist that we question with ‘I could do that,’ is testament to years of training and knowledge has resulted in originality challenging us to take another step into the unknown. We may grow to like it or hate it, but we cannot ignore it.
So, to the artists worrying about the percentage of pastel or dry media in their mixed media work, I say, ‘forget percentages.’ What is carrying this painting? What is doing all the work? Are you forcing pastel and dry media onto something or is the magical quality of pastel, charcoal, or pencil ‘mark-making’ front and centre in the work? In other words, whatever the subject, let pastel or dry media lead you down paths that you do not achieve with other media.
Finally, another vital component of any work is the framing. You do not have to spend a fortune to get this right, but you can spend a fortune and get this wrong. The time, effort, and money you will spend on everything else can be wasted by poor frame choice. Talk to people that you trust and follow up any good sources of information, but I would say remember that not everyone’s tastes are the same and so simplicity is often the safest option and that the right frame can be reused IF your masterpiece does not sell the first time.
As Beth Chatto allured to and my gallery owner friend always told me,
“Right painting, right place & right time, right buyer!”
Good painting
Simon B. Hodges PPS info.thepastelsociety@gmail.com
Featured artist
Susan Relph PS SGFA
September 1960 Enrolment at Liverpool College of Art for
The Final Year before the New Art Degree began.
Sixty years later I remain thankful for this Twist of Fate
and grateful to be one of that Unique Intake.
The subsequent five years of study were –
A Wealth of Traditional Thought alongside Experiment/Critical Analysis
and Gestalt Theories on Perception & Learning –
With Immense Freedom for individual interpretation.
The Most Valuable Foundation for Individual Creative Development.
This profound Initiation has remained a crucial aspect of my creative conscience
within the continued study of Portraiture, Landscape, Architecture, Life and Still life.
Sponsored by Caran d’Ache
Subscribe to the Pastel Society as a Friend and receive emails about events, workshops, courses and exhibitions
As from the beginning of January 2025, we will be reducing the annual Friends’ fee to zero and current ‘subscribers’ will be added so that all that wish to follow us will be called Friends. ‘Early bird’ information including a newsletter which will be completely digital. For administrative and cost saving reasons we cannot provide paper copies.
We will provide mail shots for workshops, open studios, social events, archive visits and exhibitions. Always open to ideas to add to our own. We will organise tours of the annual exhibition by The President, Vice President or Friends’ secretary and by prior arrangement a chance to ‘Meet the Artist’ at the Mall Galleries during the annual exhibition with an informal chat or discussion of work/works on display.
We would also like to give the Friends more opportunity to show their own work and encourage news and articles that can be added to the website on a monthly basis. We will send out more information as it is formalised over the remainder of the year. Whilst providing you with more details in the coming months, we will be adding a map of the United Kingdom to the website showing the distribution of members and individually highlighting a list of pastel related services that they can provide along with contact details.
We want The Pastel Society website to become your first port of call for pastel and other dry media in the field of Fine Arts in the UK.
Not many opportunities in life are free so we hope you appreciate this one.
Subscribe to the Pastel Society as a Friend