The Life of the Pastel Artist

Art is not merely a visual representation; it is a vessel that carries memories, emotions, and stories through generations. Every brushstroke, photograph, or keepsake has a tale to tell, and it's a story worth preserving. Welcome to "Framing the Past: A Look at Custom Conservation Framing and Its Role in Art Preservation." In this blog post, we embark on a journey into the world of custom conservation framing, an art in itself. We will explore why custom conservation framing is not merely a choice but a necessity when it comes to safeguarding cherished artwork and the memories they hold. As we [...]

In the realm of artistry, there exist those whose talents transcend the ordinary, who possess the uncanny ability to capture not just images but the very essence of their subjects. Donna Mitchell, an accomplished pastel artist with a remarkable journey spanning over three decades, is undoubtedly one of these extraordinary creators. With a fervent dedication to her craft, Donna has mastered the art of breathing life into her canvases through the enchanting medium of pastels. Her canvas isn't just a surface; it's a portal to the soul, where she meticulously immortalizes the essence of individuals of all ages and even our [...]

Some artist's work in many mediums because, I think, they want to experience it all! Some experiment to find which mediums they prefer to give their life to. Every artist is different and each has their own preferences. I think it is wonderful that we have so many choices!  I am in love with the Pastel medium! I spent a few years painting in oils and also, watercolor, but always returned to my first love. I became familiar with pastels at 15 years old and in my senior years I can say I have never been without them and have never [...]

We all have people we look up to. Those in our families, perhaps those in leadership, politics, religion. But today, let’s think about those who have been most influential in our line of work. For whatever you do, try to think of those who have influenced you the most, the one person you have turned to when you’ve had a problem, didn’t know how to work through an issue, or you just wanted to study their way of doing things. I’ve had a lot of “go to people” in my life time. It has changed from time to time depending on [...]

Books, books and more books! The Walter Foster “How to” books were my way of learning when I was young anq in school. I tried to duplicate everything I saw, but particularly faces of people and animals. I have always been drawn in this direction. I later took a few classes, 1 drawing, 1 oil painting, 1 watercolor in the span of about 10 Year’s. I had no formal education and life just keeps rolling on, yet deep in my heart I always wanted my art to be more than just a hobby. I new the Lord had given me this [...]

The #1 question is “How Do You Do That?”... to which my answer is usually “Very carefully” with a smile on my face. I cannot stand in front of a big blank sheet of paper, with nothing on my radar and start throwing paint on the surface. That is not who I am! I produce fine art portraits and that includes thoughtful detail and a plan for the path I need to take. Every painting I create is a journey into the identity of another person or animal. Would you take a vacation without driving directions? I wouldn’t! For me, that [...]

The last blog was about “What Inspires You.” Portraiture is my first choice of subject, however, sometimes I do like to stir my creative juices and paint other subjects. But I can’t paint just anything! I need a plan, a purpose to what I am creating. I really like to paint memories of places that I have connected with and which will be a connection for others. Right now, aside from working on 2 pet commissions, I have decided to create a series of paintings of my hometown, Carlisle, Pa!Union Fire Co. No. 1 is the first painting in my Carlisle [...]

Someone said I should create a Blog! Yes, a Blog! So here we go! I’m going to start with my beginning. We are all created with some kind of a gift. If it is a gift, you will enjoy spending time there. Some like to write, do crafts, ride horses, restore cars, sing, etc. What is it that you are drawn to, that you enjoy so much that you can never get enough of it! What is it about this thing you do that makes it so irresistible? Where does the passion come from? I love art. I have always [...]