By Victoria Necessary
Sandy Springs artist Anita Stein says she’s experimented with many ways of making art, but always felt pulled back toward drawing. And drawing led her to pastels.
“I have dabbled in many different mediums,” Anita admits. “Drawing has always been my favorite thing to do and I feel like pastels are an extension of drawing – drawing with color.”
One of Stein’s pastels, titled“Morning Laundry,” will be included in the Southeastern Pastel Society’s 14th International Juried Exhibition. Oglethorpe University Museum of Art will host the show May 18 through June 27. It will include works by 65 artists representing 15 states and Japan.
“I was so thrilled to have one of my paintings chosen,” Anita said, “especially since they chose 65 artists and 65 paintings – meaning each chosen artist has only one painting in the show.”
Pastels are sticks of pigment mixed with a minute amount of binder. The purity of this preparation presents the artist with a palette of brilliant colors. Artists suchas Stein are drawn to pastels because their drawing translates easily into the pastel medium.
Stein’s career has included raising five children and teaching art at the Greenfield Hebrew Academy when her children were in school there. Rounding out their education with visits to Atlanta museums, pottery classes, and more, the Stein’s have presented their children with a healthy perspective of various art forms.
Art, she said, “is of extreme importance. Kids today are exposed to so much technology that I think it a shame kids are not taught to use their hands.”
The 14th International Southeastern Pastel Society Exhibition at Oglethorpe opens with an artist’s reception from 7-9 p.m. May 20. Admission is free to the public for the opening reception; $5 all other times.
Oglethorpe faculty, students, staff, and children under 12 years of age are always admitted without charge. Oglethorpe University Museum of Art is located at 4484 Peachtree Road in Atlanta. Call 404-364-8555 or visit http://museum.oglethorpe.edu for more information.