Call to Artists

who are members of Pastel Society Alaska

Our first members only online art show

BLUE

Theme: BLUE

Entry Deadline: March 31, 2026

Online Pastel Show Exhibition on PSAK Website alaskapastel.com : April 14 — May 31, 2026

Entry fee: $20 for up to 2 images.   All members limited to two images.

Awards:

First Place: $100

Second Place: $50

Third Place: 12 Terry Ludwig Pastel Sticks

QR Code to pay for entry — $20 for one or two artworks

Each member is limited to no more than two images for the BLUE show

Judge: Georgia Blue

Bio:
Georgia Blue holds an Art History degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. She has worked at the Visual Arts Center of Alaska, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, Alaska Native Arts Foundation, and for 20 years, with the Anchorage Museum. She has managed the Art, Inc. business, the Nancy Taylor Stonington Gallery, and was an original founder of 2 Friends Gallery in Anchorage, AK. In 2012 she partnered to open Blue Hollomon Gallery and in April 2018 became the sole owner of Georgia Blue Gallery. In 2006 she was the recipient of the Anchorage Mayor’s Award for creating and developing Crafts Weekend at the Museum.

ELIGIBILITY:

• The theme is “Blue”
• Entries may explore “Blue” through all the possible interpretations of that color. It can be that blue is the dominant color of the painting, or blue could be the focal point (a husky’s blue eyes, for example)
• This competition is for pastel paintings. 80% of the exposed surface must be dry pastel. No oil pastels or mixed media. A watercolor or acrylic underpainting is permissible as long as the top layer is at least 80% dry pastel
• This online Exhibition is open only to members of Pastel Society Alaska. Artists can join now and immediately enter the show if they aren’t already a member
• To join follow the instructions on the Join Us! Page on our website. It’s important to email the new member’s contact information to [email protected]. Otherwise it’s hard to identify who joined simply by the cc information
• All entries must be emailed to our point of contact, Gina Parks, at [email protected]
• Only two-dimensional works accepted. No mixed-media collage, sculpture, digital pastel, or other mediums
• There is no artwork size limitation as the show is online only
• Original artwork only, no copies from other artist’s work or published work. If the outcome of the piece has been significantly and unduly influenced by another artist’s work, the judge may consider the piece to be ineligible 
• Artwork created on top of a photo is not eligible. Altered photos with pastels added are not eligible  
• If a photo reference is used, the photo must be taken by the artist, or if it is a reference photo by another photographer, an emailed letter of permission to use the reference photo must be sent in with the image. No photos from print, magazine, newspaper or website may be used without express written permission from the photographer
• Work done in a workshop or under guidance from an instructor is not eligible
• No nudes, but otherwise the theme is broadly open
• Works that have been exhibited in any previous PSAK shows but did not win awards are eligible for entry
• Work may be for sale or may be listed as NFS
• If the work sells during the show period, PSAK requests that 20% be donated to PSAK’s chosen mission for 2026. (The exact mission is to be decided).
• PSAK reserves the right to refuse any painting that does not meet these standards

It’s time to gather and paint! 

Mark your calendars for January 10 (10am — 4 pm, or thereabouts)

This month, we’ll learn from one of the leading Pastel Instructors, Susan Jenkins, where she’ll teach us her favorite tricks for creating eye-catching focal points in our paintings. 

Susan will show us how she plans her focal point strategy right on top of the printed reference photo — an easy, practical step that helps her avoid getting lost in details and keeps the viewer’s eye exactly where she wants it. This is a simple but powerful approach that can transform the way you paint and help your work feel more intentional and captivating.

Susan has graciously given PSAK approval to use one of her Patreon-only videos for this lesson.  You can paint along with her or watch video first and then paint afterward.  We’ll be painting this beautiful cabin with a wildflower path.  Reference image is by Kelly Neisler:

We’ll be meeting at 3060 N. Lazy Eigth Ct, Ste 12 in Wasilla from 10am on January 10. We'll wrap around 4pm or so.  Feel free to come anytime if 1:00 is too early for you. 

What to Bring:   Your pastel supplies—Easel (stand up or desktop), pastels, paper (any size, but Susan uses Canson Velvet 12X16 cream color for this lesson), and a drop cloth. Susan also uses Acrylic Ink for an under painting, but this is optional.

RSVP: If you let us know you’ll be attending, we’ll have a printed reference photo for your use.  Please text Gina Parks at 907-694-4463.

If you would like to learn more about Susan Jenkins, you can find her at:

Website: www.susanjenkinsfineart.com  

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtofSusanJenkins#reviews

Instagram: www.instagram.com/susanjenkinsartist

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/theartofsusanjenkins

It's more fun to paint together; come join us!

Details:

Date: Oct. 12, 2025 

Time: 2:00pm — 6:00pm

Where: St. Therese's Camp, 7180 E. Twin Lakes, Wasilla, Alaska

Meal: Coffee and tea will be available. We'll plan a potluck, so please bring something to share.

St. Therese's Camp overlooks a lake with mountain views. Imagine what you can paint with that scene!

If weather doesn't permit painting outside, we can paint in the dining room or under a covered porch. If painting inside, make sure you bring a drop cloth to protect the floors.

Call To Artists

Show Us Your Finest: A Global Art Showcase

Online Juried Art Show in Pastels

Presented by Pastel Society Alaska (PSAK)

ONLINE EXHIBITION DATES: Feb 3 — March 3, 2025

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY:  Midnight Alaska time on January 20, 2025

Enter at https://showsubmit.com/show/psak-show-us-your-finest-a-global-art-showcase

PROSPECTUS

DESCRIPTION: You have that Special Painting in pastel, the one where all the parts came together and it’s your best. Yet somehow the piece never fits into any of the Calls to Artists that you see. Now is your chance! Enter your BEST work in pastel. All subjects except nudes are eligible.

PRIZES:

            Best of Show —          $400

            First Place —               $300

            Second Place —          $200

            Third Place —              $100

            2 Honorable Mentions — pastel-related supplies

FEES:   PSAK members: $35 for 1-3 paintings; $10/painting after that up to 6 maximum.

             Non-members: $45 for 1-3 paintings; $10/painting after that up to 6 maximum.

ELIGIBILITY:

• This online Exhibition is open to any artist anywhere in the world.
• This competition is for pastel paintings. 80% of the exposed surface must be dry pastel. No oil pastels, mixed media, altered photos, or AI-generated
• There is no artwork size limitation.
• Original artwork only, not copies from other artist’s work or published work. 
• If a photo reference is used, the photo needs to be taken by the artist, or if using a photo taken by someone else, you must provide upon PSAK request the written permission from the photographer to use the reference by emailing a copy of the permission to [email protected]
• Work done in a workshop or under guidance from an instructor is not eligible.
• All subjects and styles, except nudes, are eligible.
• Works that have been exhibited in any previous PSAK shows but did not win awards are eligible for entry.
• Work may be for sale or may be listed as NFS.
• PSAK reserves the right to refuse any painting that does not meet these standards.
• All entries must be entered through the ShowSubmit.com web portal. You do not have to resize your image; ShowSubmit.com takes care of that for you.

SALES: No commission is expected, but if your work sells during the show, a 10% donation to PSAK will be greatly appreciated. If there is interest in purchasing an artwork, PSAK will put the buyer in direct contact with the artist. The artist and buyer will then work out the details of the purchase and delivery.

JUROR FOR ENTRY: Terrilynn Dubreuil

“Travel and art share a life-enriching partnership in this artist’s life.  A passion for exploring the world and creating original art with a focus on soft pastel paintings expressing a joy of life, creativity, and spiritual sensitivity are the characteristics of the artwork.  Color, light, and texture convey a balance between impressionism and realism. 

With a Fine Arts degree the artist has studied in wide-ranging situations to expand personal knowledge and creative resources.  She has taught in various media and techniques of art to people of all ages for 30 years, in-person and virtually.  To date the artist has traveled or lived in 14 countries, speaks three languages, and recently moved to Asheville, NC. 

Dubreuil is a juried Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), and a Signature member of Pastel Society of Maine. In 2023 she was awarded the First Place in the IAPS Exhibit and in 2024 8th place in the SOCIÉTÉ DES PASTELLISTES DE FRANCE 40th Anniversary International Pastel Contest, 23rd Feytiat International Pastel Show, France, and other numerous awards.  

She is a member of IAPS, PSA, PSME (VP, Maine), APS (Appalachia NC), RRPS (Nevada). Dubreuil also does judging for exhibits, and offers demos and fine art instruction through the TravelingArtista YouTube Channel.  She has an active PATREON CHANNEL. 

JUDGE OF AWARDS: Nori Thorne

“I love to paint in the American Southwest where time and erosion reveal the bones of the earth and ancient artists left their marks in the remotest canyons.  In my canyonscapes I try to capture the strong sense of place, of secrets suddenly revealed—a vista glimpsed through a red rock window, a water pocket shining on slickrock, the cold walls of a slot canyon reflected in a black pool.”

Nori taught art and art history in Maryland where she was the recipient of numerous grants from the Arts and Humanities Council, National Art Education Foundation, and the Fulbright/Hayes Scholarship. 

An award-winning pastelist, Nori received first place recognition in the Dakota Pastel 2021 Exhibition.  Other recent events include inclusion in Pastel Society of America’s Enduring Brilliance 2021, 2022 41^st National Western Spirit Exhibition, 2024 99 Voices in Pastel, 2024 IAPS Exhibition, and 2024 Amerind Museum Exhibit, Power of Pastels.  “Little Red” was juried into the Women Artists of the West’s 54^th National Exhibition at the Phippen Museum in 2024.  She was a featured artist in Art of the West’s July/August 2023 issue. Currently she is working on a series of paintings inspired by ancient ruins and pictographs found in the red rock canyons near Sedona.

Nori is President of the Arizona Pastel Artists Association, Signature Member, Emerita of the Women Artists of the West, Pastel Society of the West Coast, and is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America.  She is represented by Sedona Arts Center Gallery.

BANNER INSPIRATION IMAGE:  “Resting in the Light” by Nancy Angelini Crawford, https://www.angelinistudio.com/

The news is full of stories of homelessness & hunger

among youth in Alaska.

Now you can do something concrete to help.

buy art.

An elegant event called Auction of Hope will be held May 11 from 6:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. at the Menard Center in Wasilla, Alaska. Artwork from around the world will be up for bidding in a silent auction. Guests can sip on specialty coffees and appetizers while making their best bids for the art pieces.

Proceeds from the event will directly benefit two causes: My House, a nurturing haven for teens in Wasilla, Alaska, providing shelter and support to those at risk of homelessness, and Kids Kupboard, an organization dedicated to alleviating hunger among children in southcentral Alaska.

“Our mission is to improve the world around us using our art as a vehicle of change,” Gina Murrow, PSAK’s Director of Communications, said. “It’s our number one motivation in our artistic efforts, and it is what sets us apart from most other pastel societies.”

"We believe in the transformative power of art, not only to enrich our lives aesthetically but also to effect positive change in our communities," says Ruthann Crosby, a Vice-President  of PSAK. "Through this auction, we want to use our collective energy and creativity to bring hope, joy, and help to those who need it most."

Calling all pastel artists!

We need your artwork donations.

PSAK's main mission is to better the world around us using our art skills. Every year we hold an art auction to fundraise for our chosen charity. This year we elected to help My House and Kids Kupboard, both in the MatSu Valley, Alaska. We're holding an elegant silent auction May 11, 2024 from 6:30 — 9:30 p.m. Details can be found here.

What we need from you:

At least one artwork donated to the auction. You can choose the size, estimated value, medium and theme. We need a variety of sizes and subjects, so the options are expansive. Limitations: We ask that the pieces not be nudes please. 

Artwork does not have to be framed. 

If you are in the Wasilla, Alaska area, we'd love to have your actual painted artwork. If you live away from the area, you have the option to send in a hi-res photo of your donation by April 15, 2024, and we will pay to print up a high quality print that will be a "stand in" for your piece. Assuming your piece sells, you will arrange with the buyer to send the original directly to them.

NOTE: We're not selling prints; we are auctioning originals. The print is just to minimize the amount of handling shipping back and forth would create. Shipping details can be specified by the artist at the time of submission (ie. buyer pays shipping or artist pays, or the shipping would be split. It's the artist's choice).

At the auction unframed pieces will be matted by PSAK in matching white mats and secured to black foam core board. Prints of faraway originals will be handled the same way. 

Questions? Email us at [email protected] or call Gina at 623-290-4849 (Eastern time zone)

Don't worry about the snow —

It's warm and dry inside the Train Depot

We are DEFINITELY OPEN today (Feb. 24) from 10:00 am — 5:00 pm. 

Wander among vendors of some of the best artists in the Southcentral Alaska, bid on a silent auction, watch art demos, feast from a food truck, and treats from Turkey Red Restaurant – it's fun for the whole family.

The silent auction will feature art from each vendor, plus gifts from local businesses. The auction proceeds will support 3-yr-old Isaak Cullenberg, grandson of a member of PSAK, fighting Leukemia, as well as promote arts through MatSu organizations Valley Fine Arts Association (VFAA) & the Pastel Society Alaska (PSAK).  You need to be present to bid, but not present to win.