I’m just back from Sedona, where I judged this year’s Sedona Plein Air Festival, and I’m already missing the stunning views. Fortunately, I have the artists’ takes on the unique landscape to remind me of the experience.
In a world where oil paintings typically dominate, I was surprised — and delighted — to see so many pastel paintings rise to the top. I awarded Best in Show to Tara Will for her pastel Local Tone, and I gave awards to three other pastels as well: Bruce Gomez’s Fobelberg & Sedona Rain (Third Place), Laura Martinez-Bianco’s Every Night Has Its Dawn (Best Nocturne), and Julia Robinson’s Aerie View (Honorable Mention).
After a week among those cliffs, it’s easy to see why pastel does so well in this landscape.
Color that stays true. Pastel is nearly pure pigment, so the sandstone’s reds, oranges, and ochres can reach full intensity. Unlike paint, pastel doesn’t shift as it dries, so the color you lay down is the color you get.
Texture that fits the subject. Dry pigment catching on the tooth of sanded or textured paper echoes the grain and crumble of weathered rock. Scumbled and layered strokes can suggest strata, ledges, and cliff faces with very little effort.
Color layered on color. The red rocks are never just red. They turn violet in shade, glow orange in direct light, and pick up reflections from sky and vegetation. Pastel makes it easy to build up those shifts, especially on toned paper, where a warm or cool undertone peeking through ties the colors together.
A partner for the sky. Orange-red rock against deep blue is one of nature’s great complementary pairings, and pastel keeps both at full strength side by side.
Speed for fleeting light. Sedona’s light changes quickly, especially near sunrise and sunset, when the rocks seem to light up from within. With no drying time and minimal setup, pastel artists can respond to the moment before it passes.
Hard edges and soft. A soft stroke can melt into hazy distance, while the edge of a hard pastel can define a crisp cliff.
No red rocks where you live? No worries! Join us for the 2027 Plein Air Convention & Expo, May 17-21, 2027, in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks in Utah, where towering cliffs, glowing canyon walls, and Bryce’s hoodoos will give pastel painters plenty to work with. Join fellow artists for a week of painting, learning, and inspiration in one of the country’s most spectacular landscapes.
Congratulations to all of the festival’s award winners, and thank you to everyone who made me feel so welcome!
