2026 Visions in Pastel National Open Juried Exhibition
Dates: October 24 to November 25, 2026
Location: Duke Gallery at the Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA www.communityartscenter.org
Judge of Awards: Corey Pitkin, PSA, IAPS/EP. www.coreypitkin.com
Juror of Selection: Aline Ordman PSA-MP, IAPS/EP
Corey Pitkin: Judge's Statement
I had the honor of spending three days with this amazing collection of pastels. I want to thank all of the artists who contributed to this spectacular exhibition and extend congratulations to all of the award winners. Thank you, PPS!
Arete Award of Excellence
Thomas Wilson "The Bride"
A brilliant orchestration of subtle tones of white. Both the pose and the rendering of the face call to mind the masters of Russian Impressionism, showing that a tight control of value structures can yield stunning results. The hands, posed in inverted directions, add movement and rhythm to the composition that is echoed by the bold marks in the background. The details of the hat are simplified to create a large mass of multicolored whites that frame the simple yet delicate facial features. The artist added just a few selected pops of sienna to move this piece out of the monochrome, further emphasizing the rhythms established by the pose.
First Place Award
Teresa DeSeve "The Sandpiper"
This pastel is a masterclass in both mark-making and color design. The seafoam greens are tempered by the slightly warmer-colored grey wave approaching from the top of the frame. A thin strip of darker blues leads the eye to the figure, where the mark-making on the dress creates a similar yet distinct movement from that of the waves. I particularly enjoyed experiencing this piece in person - the scale of this pastel envelops you and invites you to share in the solitary beach stroll.
Second Place Award
Tara Will "Arizona Greens"
Bold, graphic, and confident, this master study in the colors of a bright, clear desert day is cleverly disguised as a portrait of a cactus. The deep violet shadows on the lower section writhe like a snake trying to escape the sunlight. These violets are balanced by the placement of a few additional simple darks, all of which serve the eclectic lime green backlight on the cactus stalks. From a distance, this piece seems almost photo-realistic, yet up close it is a powder keg of energetic pastel marks.
Third Place Award
David Lawton "Deeply Focused"
The rhythm created by the picture frames keeps the viewer's eye squarely on the man lost in serious contemplation. A beautifully rendered piece that showcases the artist's technical skills yet still keeps the subject of the painting at heart.
UArt Award
Sandy Askey-Adams "Rushing Woodland Water"
This inviting and uniquely familiar woodland scene draws out memories of cool midday forest walks and quiet days of exploration. The darker contrast along the shadows of the split trunk grounds the image and gives the viewer's eye a point to return to after investigating the more delicate background.
George Torphy Memorial Award
Marianne Fyda "Grand Canyon East"
The artist has brilliantly used color to illustrate both the expansive, airy quality of a city skyline in cool blues, and then contrasted this against the claustrophobic congestion of city life on the streets below using warmer browns and golds. The sharp perspective gives this piece movement, as if the viewer is being plunged into the scene
PWCS Award
Vera Grobes "Study for Watercolor #4"
This wonderfully subtle figure study uses color to create gentle depth on a strongly foreshortened perspective. Light greens drift across the abdomen, contrasting with the warmer pinks of the head, and leading the eye from the dark of the thighs to the dark of the splayed hair. The placement of the hands creates a rhythm that is echoed again by the knees.
John Durnin Memorial Award
Jeri Greenberg "Falling Fruit 2"
It is not an easy thing to put this much energy in a still life. The dynamic composition leads the viewer's eye to each individual element of the composition, cascading down the striped tablecloth like a waterfall. The warm colors are hot, contrasting brilliantly against the cold dominant tone of the painting.
Earthberry Pastels Award
Judith Cook "Tumble Tangle"
The artist has used the simplicity of flat, direct shapes to describe chaos in a unique and whimsical way. The pile of intertwined children is frozen in a moment, seconds from breaking away, squealing in glee.
Honorable Mention
Sara McKelvey "The Last Glance"
The soft rendering of flesh tones adds to the air of mystery surrounding this portrait. Her inverted gaze looks off-screen at some unknown interest, allowing the viewer to create their own story. All elements of the composition lead the eye to her gaze.
West Charlton Frames Award
Ilana Reisner "The Long Wait"
A beautiful character study that says more with less. The sitter feels known and yet is still a distinct individual. His shirt bleeds into the background, allowing the energetic marks of the contours to shine. The addition of a few select white marks next to his head is a necessary counterbalance to the bright whites of his shorts.
Dakota Art Award
Karen Cotler "A Story to Tell"
This quiet scene is beautifully rendered in muted golden tones. The busyness of the shop windows, foliage, flower bed, and dappled shadows cast on the ground all emphasize the unbothered moment of the seated figure.
Ampersand Award
Gada Koehler "Sweetness in the Shadows"
Employing classical techniques, this artist has created a sumptuous still life that echoes back from the Dutch Golden Age. Each item is rendered with its own individual texture, leading the eye from weighty crystal to dappled orange rind to smooth porcelain.
Blick Art Materials Award
Lora Banks "Rams Urn"
The strong abstract composition of this pastel is emphasized by the subtle modeling of the ram's head. This piece invites the viewer to come in for a closer inspection and rewards their curiosity with delicately shifting values of green.
Blick Art Materials Award
William Sweeney "Rake in the Loft"
Quiet and mysterious, this simple staircase seems to have a story to tell. The light from the side window creates interest and illuminates the stairs as they climb to the sole pops of color that wait at the top of the stairs
Pastel Society of America Award
Al Richards "Sunrise at James Farm"
The bands of warm salmon pinks, rusty oranges, and canary yellows almost vibrate against the cooler tones of the bottom half of this landscape. The composition is grounded by the darker passages, each with its own unique shape and character.
Rita Morrin Memorial Award
Alan Fink "Morning Dew-Echo"
A wonderfully delicate exploration of floral structure. The inner petals feel almost shy, modest and coquettish at the same time.
Pastel Society of Tampa Bay
Jacqueline Meyerson "All Wound Up"
Each spiral pattern in the composition has its own unique quality and personality. The artist carefully explored each roll of yarn, making sure that they remained distinct while simultaneously contributing to the overall design
Maryland Pastel Society Award
Julia Lesnichy "Daisies and Cone Flowers"
The whites and pinks of these simple wildflowers sing like the rhythm of sheet music. The energetic green marks create a bed for the flowers to dance on, tempered by a few marks of violet.
Central Massachusetts Pastel Society Award
Rebecca Denneny "Breaking Through"
This delicately calm seascape hides subtle pinks and greens among a banquet of calm blues. The two ships are pointed to each other, almost in conversation, welcoming the rising (or setting?) sun.
PanPastel Award
Mary Ellen Goetz "Uphill"
The bold marks of this landscape push it almost to the point of complete abstraction. The passages of blues hold the composition together, letting the varied shades of green and warmer tones play across the painting's surface.