Another amazing IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) Convention has come and gone. On Sunday, the last day I was there, I went around asking: What was the best thing for you about IAPS 2022?
And overwhelmingly the first answer was: The people. Seeing people in the real and spending time with other pastellists. It was all about being with pastellists, talking about pastels in the halls, over meals, in the courtyard, in the classrooms, and all in person.
I totally related to that answer because I think that’s true for me too. It’s being with our community of pastel lovers that’s the main payoff of making our way to the live in-person event. We all get together under this common love and can chat about it to our heart’s content never fearing we’ll be boring someone with our pastel examinations and opinions. And we also have the opportunity to go deeper and get to know others beyond their life in pastels.
I got together with some lovely artists I’ve gotten to know over social media and through my art Membership IGNITE!. What an amazing feeling that was!! Just the best.
The importance of social interaction is a proven health benefit. We humans need it! And after all the isolation brought on by the pandemic, it’s a dream to get together with like-minded people. That’s what IAPS 2022 really did for us – it brought a virtual and global community together in one place in Albuquerque.
The second answer I heard over and over was doing workshops i.e. learning and having some nugget of information or a technique or an idea to take away. And the instructors also gave that answer too – that giving a workshop was also a high point. For them, it came down to sharing what they know and then seeing a student have an ah-ha moment. so rewarding! And again, something I completely related to.
If you can make it, if you can swing it, if you can possibly make it happen next time, you won’t regret it. The IAPS convention is a warm and welcoming place filled with people who care deeply about this medium of pastel. I also heard from a number of people that the pastel community is one of the kindest and most generous you’ll find. Yeah baby!
So I hope I’ll see you there next time in 2024.
We can also meet up in Ontario next year for ICAN (Imagine. Create. Apply. Network), the Canadian version of the IAPS conference. More to come on that!
In the meantime, there’s an amazing learning opportunity on the close horizon with Pastel Live. I’m excited about that!
AND, today at 2pm ET, make sure to attend a free webinar with Lyn Diefenbach, Nancie King Mertz, and Rita Kirkman, all about taking your pastel work higher. Click here to register. There’s still time!
And remember, even if you can’t attend, make sure to register as that way you’ll be sure to get the replay.
And that’s it for now.
Gail
PS. If you were at IAPS, feel free to leave a comment below the blog sharing the best thing for you about the IAPS 2022 convention. And if you didn’t make it, let us know what you’re most looking forward to at the next one!
PPS. I wrote about aaaaaaalllll the great things about the IAPS Convention in an earlier article.
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Be Dazzled by the IAPS 2022 exhibition entries!
Here are the winners of the 40th Open Division:
And here are the winners of the 8th Master Circle Division:
You can see ALL the entries here.
Wonderful to read and study all the winning masterpieces. I have sooooo much to learn, and this really helps. Maybe I will make the next show. It sounds like so much educational fun. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to hear it was so educational and inspiring to see all the winners John. Hope to see you at the next IAPS. There’s nothing quite like it!!