
Recently my husband, two dogs and I went to Ocracoke Island, NC for a week vacation. Fist time there. While there, I was putzing around on my golf cart (the best way to travel the village) and came across a house on a back road, that had a sign, PASTELS, so having just accidentally tossed MY pastel set into the air in my dining-room, coming down in a million pieces, I thought good, I can purchase a new set here.
Wrong. When I arrived and pulled in the dirt drive, I was beckoned by a little voice on a screened porch. She explained that she didn't sell pastels, but gave lessons and painted her own pastels. She was so kind to bring me into her studio and not only showed me her fabulous collection of pastels and other supplies, but gave me some techniques she uses and handed me samples of paper she uses. I just loved her. She explained that she doesn't push her work (she should) because it is inconvenient living on an island, having to take a 40 minute ferry everywhere.
She is a self-taught pastel artist and what fascinated me was her use of color, bold and vibrant. Her beach scenes were so inspiring, that the very same day we talked, I took my cart and cell phone camera throughout the village searching for subjects to paint and went promptly back to my cottage and started a pastel of the lighthouse which I finished the next day.
While attending an Adult Coloring Class Wed. evening at the Books to be Read Shop, I found that everyone knows and loves Mary. I purchased a print of hers in the shop and several cards.
So I am posting some pictures I got off the internet (hope she doesn't mind), but I found her sweet, kind and unselfish. When we go next year, I hope I can take a class from her.
Wrong. When I arrived and pulled in the dirt drive, I was beckoned by a little voice on a screened porch. She explained that she didn't sell pastels, but gave lessons and painted her own pastels. She was so kind to bring me into her studio and not only showed me her fabulous collection of pastels and other supplies, but gave me some techniques she uses and handed me samples of paper she uses. I just loved her. She explained that she doesn't push her work (she should) because it is inconvenient living on an island, having to take a 40 minute ferry everywhere.
She is a self-taught pastel artist and what fascinated me was her use of color, bold and vibrant. Her beach scenes were so inspiring, that the very same day we talked, I took my cart and cell phone camera throughout the village searching for subjects to paint and went promptly back to my cottage and started a pastel of the lighthouse which I finished the next day.
While attending an Adult Coloring Class Wed. evening at the Books to be Read Shop, I found that everyone knows and loves Mary. I purchased a print of hers in the shop and several cards.
So I am posting some pictures I got off the internet (hope she doesn't mind), but I found her sweet, kind and unselfish. When we go next year, I hope I can take a class from her.