I’ve always admired art but never thought I had the innate talent to create it. I thought when I “had time” I’d take some lessons and see what it was all about.  Since being retired and being introduced to pastels eight years ago, I have become addicted.  Pastels are a forgiving medium and therefore they have given me the freedom to explore and make mistakes. Through instruction and pastels I have gained a renewed appreciation of the colors, shapes and moods which surround me in nature. My favorite subjects are those which I took for granted living in this area: the beaches, marsh, woods and sunsets. Most of my works are coastal, thus the name of this exhibit: Tidal Impressions.

Since I started exhibiting, I have sold various paintings at the North River Arts Festivals, South Shore Science Center, the Duxbury Art Association Summer Show, and Plymouth Art Guild.  I have been juried into the Duxbury Art Association Winter Show 2009, 2012, and 2013;  the Plymouth Juried Art Show in September 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2015;  and the North River Juried Art Show in 2011, 2013, and 2015.   I had a private show at the Ventress Gallery in Marshfield in 2012 and I have been selected to display at the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod New England Show 2013 and the last 3 annual juried summer shows in Yarmouth. Among other honors, I have recently received 1^st and 2^nd place awards at the Duxbury Art Association Summer Shows 2014 and 2015, 1^st place in the Plymouth Guild Summer Show 2015, and in May 2015 received the Marian Atkinson Memorial Award for Soft Pastel at North River Arts.

I look forward to expanding my work and taking many more classes with other artists, especially Donna Rossetti Bailey, who has taught me to not be “a scared”, to try, and more importantly, “to have fun”. If I could give any advice it would be it’s never too late to try a new skill and it’s okay to make mistakes ….  you can even learn from them.

If you would like any more information or would like to see more of my work please go to my website: www.mjrestart.com