IAPS 2024: Eight Exclusive Artist Interviews!

A month ago, I was deliciously filled to the brim with ideas and warmth after a few days at the 15th (yes! 15th!) biennial IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My time at IAPS 2024 was spent catching up with old friends, smiling my way through conversations with new ones, wandering through the delights of the “candy shop,” volunteering as a demo monitor and also camera operator while at the same time, learning from the amazing faculty gathered. Oh, I also was presented with my Master Circle Medal 😊

So much of going to the IAPS Convention is the people – all pastellists, all talking about our adventures with the marvellous and versatile medium of soft pastels. And all in-person!! Such a treat after all the time we spend online. 

While at IAPS 2024, I was also determined to create more of my mini IAPS interviews. (I missed doing them last time!

I managed to corral eight wonderful artists to sit with me for a few minutes to answer a question I posed to them. So in alphabetical order, backwards (just because!), here are those eight on video, with accompanying artwork and link to their website.

I’m soooo excited for you to hear what they have to say!!

ENJOY!!

Jimmy Wright

IAPS 2024-Jimmy Wright, Sunflower Blue, 1995, pastel, 41 x 29 in
Jimmy Wright, Sunflower Blue, 1995, pastel, 41 x 29 in

Colette Odya Smith

IAPS 2024-Colette Odya Smith, A Delicate Dance, 2022, pastel over watercolour on 4ply museum board primed with Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastel, 20 x 20 in
Colette Odya Smith, A Delicate Dance, 2022, pastel over watercolour on 4ply museum board primed with Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastel, 20 x 20 in

Loriann Signori

IAPS 2024-Loriann Signori, Expanding Boundaries, pastel on 300lb watercolour paper, 31 x 21 in.
Loriann Signori, Expanding Boundaries, pastel on 300lb watercolour paper, 31 x 21 in. Winner of the President’s Award at IAPS 2024 Exhibition

Have a read of Loriann’s guest post HERE!

Mark Price

Mark Price, Shoulder Season, 2024, assorted pastels on Thair gossamer paper mounted on wood panel, 29 x 20 in
Mark Price, Shoulder Season, 2024, assorted pastels on Thai gossamer paper mounted on wood panel, 29 x 20 in

Curious about how Mark works on this paper? Check out his guest post!

Corey Pitkin

IAPS 2024 - Corey Pitkin, Shoegazing, 2023, mostly Terry Ludwig, Unison Colour, and Blue Earth pastels on Pastelmat (wine colour), 19 x 19 1/2 in.
Corey Pitkin, Shoegazing, 2023, mostly Terry Ludwig, Unison Colour, and Blue Earth pastels on Pastelmat (wine colour), 19 x 19 1/2 in. Winner of the Silver Award at IAPS 2024 Exhibition

If you want to see more of Corey’s work and hear about his process, make sure to go read his guest post!

Chris Ivers

IAPS 2024 - Chris Ivers, Transitions, 2023, pastel on handmade gator board, 18 x 24 in
Chris Ivers, Transitions, 2023, pastel on handmade gator board, 18 x 24 in

Dive into more of Chris’s secrets by hopping over to her guest post!!

Margaret Dyer

IAPS 2024 - Margaret Dyer, Meg with a White Ribbon in her Hair, 2022, pastel on Ampersand board, 10 x 8 in
Margaret Dyer, Meg with a White Ribbon in her Hair, 2022, pastel on Ampersand board, 10 x 8 in

Brenda Boylan

IAPS 2024 - Brenda Boylan, Elgin Evening, 2019, pastel on Wallis sanded paper, 12 x 16 in
Brenda Boylan, Elgin Evening, 2019, pastel on Wallis sanded paper, 12 x 16 in

I am a fan of the work created by these amazing artists and it was an honour and a pleasure to sit with them to create these mini interviews for you at IAPS 2024!

I’d LOVE to know if you had any AHAs and if so, what they were so be sure to leave a comment!

Until next time,

~ Gail

PS. Want to dig into the IAPS interview videos I’ve made over the years? Here’s some to keep you going!!

IAPS 2019

IAPS 2017

IAPS 2015

PPS. My Master Circle Medallion!

IAPS 2024
My Master Circle Medallion!

And just because this photo taken by artist Susan Kuznitsky speaks of pure joy!

Photo taken of me with the wonderful Richard McKinley, Artist and IAPS President. Photo credit: Susan Kuznitsky (thanks Susan!!)
Photo taken of me with the wonderful Richard McKinley, Artist and IAPS President. Photo credit: Susan Kuznitsky (thanks Susan!!)

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Comments

6 thoughts on “IAPS 2024: Eight Exclusive Artist Interviews!”

  1. Gail, thank you SO much for sharing these interviews. I learned something and gained inspiration from every single one of them! I LOVE Jimmy’s advice about combining colors in fashion. And CONGRATULATIONS for achieving Master Circle status!! — Lori (with sparkles in my hair 🙂 )

    1. Ohhhhh Hi sparkle girl! ✨ So happy to hear that you toke something from each of the interviews Lori. And yes to Jimmy’s surprising advice. I was chuckling and wow-ing silently behind the camera. His advice makes so much sense!!

  2. Gail,
    You are so generous. You have such a lively spirit, to do superb painting, demos, share on social media, and most of all, HELP other artists! I so missed going to IAPS this year. These interviews brought me such valuable information. Thank you for sharing their words. I’m so glad Corey Pitkin said portraits will always be relevant! That’s what I think, too. Great job in being yourself: full of love, full of life and full of art!

    1. Awwww Roseann thank you for such kind and warm words of appreciation. 😘 I love hearing these interviews resonate with you especially the one from Corey Pitkin. (I was delighted to hear his opinion on this subject too!)
      (And oh gosh, my apologies for taking so long to respond. I don’t know how I missed your comment when you posted it! 🙈)

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Gail Sibley

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My love of pastel and the enjoyment I receive from teaching about pastel inspired the creation of this blog. It has tips, reviews, some opinions:), and all manner of information regarding their use through the years – old and new. Please enjoy!

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