Inside this issue:

Stranger in a Strange Land 1 Sandy McDonald 2 Member News 3

Classes/Workshops 4

Member Spotlight 5

Tranquility Studio 5 Membership Show 6 2015 Exhibits 6 Members 7

Officers:

President: Sue Scaife

Vice President: Mary Lou Hicks

Secretary: Barb Drake

Treasurer: Rita Young

Committee Chairs:

Exhibits: Tracey Maras

Education: Catherine Flynn &

Rich Ford

Membership: Mary Lou Hicks

Chatham Project:: Pat Kittilstad

Habitat for Humanity: George King

Public Relations - George King

Newsletter Editor: Sue Scaife

May 2015

Volume 5, Issue 2

Stranger in a Strange Land

I have been a frequent visitor to Springfield since the fall of

2013 on business. Knowing that I would be here for several

weeks from time to time, I had decided to step out of my

comfort zone and try some new things.

During that first winter here, I saw an announcement that

there was to be an event at the Springfield Art Association;

a two day introduction to pastels led by Tracey Maras. Hav-

ing dabbled with acrylics this seemed like something worth

exploring and I am so glad that I did.

The class was interrupted by some of the severe weather

that year, so rather than the intended two day experience it

had to be spread over two weekends. No matter; I was

hooked.

Those of you who know Tracey don’t need me to tell you

that, apart from being a highly skilled artist, she has a gift

for teaching. Pastel is a distinctly different medium to acrylic, oil or watercolor and it pre-

sents a variety of peculiar challenges but it also allows rewarding results to be achieved by

the relative beginner. Tracey is adept at identifying where the learner is struggling and sug-

gesting strategies to help tackle the problem.

My first serious attempt was a slightly abstract interpretation of the ‘View from the Helm’

of a small boat, looking into the blossoming colors of a headsail known as a cruising chute.

(If you are interested this is from my own wee boat, sailing in the sunshine between Skye

and Raasay.)

I find it difficult to be disciplined about setting up a piece at home and continuing to work.

This has been overcome by joining IPPS and attending the Monday evening workshops at

the SAA. There I have met a number of others working in a variety of very different ways

with this fascinating medium. That has been the icing on the cake because I have also made

good friends there. I want to say thanks to Rita, Pat and Phil particularly, for their warmth

and the relaxed ethos of that space in an otherwise busy week. Sue Scaife has been wonder-

ful, connecting me with Steve due to our common interest in bagpipe music and generally

making me feel welcome. Sue and Tracey have continued to help me enjoy pastels. I relish

the fact that they don’t allow too easy a ride for the novice. They are very constructive crit-

ics but if it ain’t good enough you’ll know!

Continued on page 2

“View from the Helm”

Who is Sandy MacDonald?

Sandy MacDonald is a graduate of UWS with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc

in Pressure Vessel Design. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Me-

chanical Engineers and a member of the Institute of Directors. He is an Executive Com-

mittee Member of Scottish Engineering.

Sandy has spent most of his career in the manufacturing sector in the west of Scotland,

beginning with Babcock Power in Renfrew, in the precursor of KTP, at that time known as

the Teaching Company Scheme. Sandy has served as Managing Director at Henry Technologies Ltd in Hillington since

2001. The USA owned company designs and manufactures a range of components and systems used in the construction of

refrigeration systems for supermarkets, industrial cooling, comfort chillers and the wider cold chain around the world. HTL

is a strongly export orientated business with customers in forty-five countries across Europe, the Middle East, India and

Africa.

In 2013, Sandy was appointed to the role of Senior Vice President of Operations, Henry Technologies Refrigeration Com-

ponents Division, globally. He retains P&L responsibility for the group's businesses in EMEIA and the Americas and cur-

rently divides his time between Scotland and the mid-west USA.

Sandy is married with two sons. He retains strong ties to his native Isle of Skye and is a keen sailor and motorcyclist. He is

also a member of the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society who attends Monday night Open Studio at the SAA when he is in

Springfield.

“A Stranger in a Strange Land” continued

As an entrant to the world of pastel you can be up and running for around

$100, with a limited range of quality material from recommended sources. The

more accomplished artists have enormous collections of pigments and you

should beware of ‘pastel envy’. The collections of pastels built up over time are

things of beauty.

As an islander from the Hebrides, on the Atlantic west coast of Scotland you’d

expect me to have an interest in the sea, so my second subject was also mari-

time. During 2008, I had the privilege of sailing a classic Nordic Folkboat in the

Stockholm archipelago in the Baltic. In those high latitudes, near midsummer,

the light is fantastic and the sun shines into the late hours of evening. The low

angle of the last rays hitting a

beautiful wooden hulled mo-

tor launch tied up alongside

us, made a great subject for a photo. I used that as a reference for ‘Contessa

Waiting’.

I am looking forward to continued ‘glacial’ progress with the help of my

new friends in the coming weeks. This time it’s a figure study; “The

Salmon Fishers”.

If you are reading this and are considering experimenting with pastels, I

would urge you to go for it! You will be rewarded both by the learning

process and by the lovely people you will meet.

Sandy MacDonald Sandy MacDonald Sandy MacDonald Sandy MacDonald

“Medium as Art”

“Contessa Waiting”

Member News

George King has paintings and giclees on display at Bug's Splatter Gallery & Shop in Zephyrhills, FL, a new gallery in the greater Tampa metropolitan area.

Phil Locascio recently sold this painting to Saputo’s Italian Res-taurant. He also has a selection of his paintings on display at Obed and Isaacs.

Cookie Ferratier’s painting “Happy New Year” is featured on the cover of the Program Guide for the 40th Anniversary of WUIS. Additionally, Cookie has been selected the June featured artist at the Illinois Artisan’s Gallery in Rend Lake.

Kathy Summer was awarded honorable mention for "Gator

Gone" in the Southwest Florida Pastel Society's members

exhibit in Naples, Florida. She sold 6 paintings in the Ve-

netian Village "Pop-Up" gallery in January and judged the

High School "Quick Draw - Paint the Beach" competition in

Fort Myers Beach.

Tracey Maras’s painting "Discovering Beauty" was featured on the most recent cover of Illinois Heritage, the Illinois State Historical Society magazine.

Sue Scaife is currently exhibiting her paintings at the Illinois

Presbyterian Home. The exhibit will be on display through

June 21.

Roland Folse will receive the Order of Lincoln on May 9 in

the Illinois House Chamber at the 51st Annual convocation

of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The Order of Lincoln is

the state’s highest honor for professional achievement and

public service.

Tracey Maras spent a day

working with junior and senior

high school winners of Scho-

lastic Art Awards. Each stu-

dent completed a pastel paint-

ing of a fox.

Pat Kreppert displays the

award she received at the 6th

Annual Chatham Library

Art Show.

Mary Corrigan Stjern’s paintings "Light on the Path" and "Birches on Stockton Island" were accepted in the SIU School of Medicine's Scope Literary Arts Magazine for April 2015.

Two of Sue Scaife’s

paintings -“Autumn

Pathway” and “Golden

Days”, are currently on

exhibit at The State

Street Gallery at Robert

Morris University in

Chicago. Golden Days

Tracey Maras was juried into Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Chris Elzea’s elephants

made everyone happy at

Anne Von Ehr’s recent

workshop.

Mary Lou Hicks participated in a 3-day workshop in Flor-ida with pastelist Jeanne Rosier Smith. The focus was on value and color in seascapes.

Welcome new members - Mary Lynn Gietl-Deloney and

Mandy Roeing.

Pastel Classes Monday morning - Pastel Studio

Monday evening - Open Studio

Wednesday afternoon - Sheri Ramsey

Call the SAA at 217-523-2631 for

details and additional information.

WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES

Anne Von Ehr

Liz Haywood - Sullivan

Liz Haywood-Sullivan

will once again bring

her enthusiasm, humor,

talent and love of pastel

to Springfield in 2016.

Dates have not been

set, but she has com-

mitted to returning in

the spring of 2016.

Watch for further information in e-mails and Newsletters.

Rich Ford, Chris Elzea, Sandy Frank, Barb Drake, Sue Scaife, George King, Pat Kreppert, Terry Moore, Mary Corrigan Stjern, Pat Wheat and Connie O’Sullivan participated in April 24 Anne Von Ehr mentoring session at the Springfield Art Association. The day started with a critique of work in progress, followed by time to work on the paint-ings with individual help from Anne and ending with a final critique. So much great information in such a short time and lots of laughs as well! The next session is scheduled for October 16. Registration for all of Anne's workshops falls under the guideline of the workshop registration policy. Watch for an e-mail announcing open registration ap-proximately 6 weeks prior to the session.

Karen Margulis

The IPPS Education Committee has been in contact with

Pastel Artist, Instructor, and Blogger, Karen Margulis re-

garding a Springfield workshop in 2017. Her response

was, “ I would love the opportunity to come to Illinois

and share my ideas in person! One of the favorite themes

is for Karen’s workshops is ‘Loosen Up and Add Spice to

your Paintings’.

Discussion will continue with Karen to finalize dates and

times. Check her website and learn more about her at

kemstudios.blogspot.com.

Plein Air Painting

IPPS Education Co-chair Rich Ford is coordinating Plein air painting sessions on Wednesdays in June. The sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the fol-lowing locations: 1st week Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2nd- Washington Park at the Conservatory, 3rd- New Salem State Park, and 4th- Starhill Arboretum. Contact Rich at 632-3791 or 414-9302 for more details.

Tranquility Art Studio

The Second Annual Tranquility Art Studio Exhibit is scheduled for June 20 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. IPPS members are invited to attend.

The next workshop is “Intro to Painting Portraits”

July 11 9am - 4pm

$80 with lunch included

Contact Tracey Maras at 652-3286 or tlmart63@gmail.com

for additional information.

Member Spotlight

Pat Kittilstad

Valued Colleague, Critic, and Collaborator. Often, we do not identify obvious value in our midst. We say "Hi", exchange pleasantries, maybe enquire about family, observe work, and go on our way without digging a bit deeper into the rich lives of our colleagues. But, when we look closer, we find real gold nuggets among our diverse membership. Pat Kittilstad is such a treasure. Not only is she a superb pastelist, she is supported in her art by years of outstanding teaching, developing young artists while at Glenwood High School, serving on the Mid-Central Illinois Board of the Scholastic Art Awards and shepherding talented students to top awards. Her proteges have excelled in art commercially and many have gone on to become art teachers. In addition, Pat has been an adjunct art teacher at Benedictine University since her public-school retirement and very involved in the Chatham Area Public Library's art exhibits in which IPPS participates annually. Most of us know Pat as a dependable source of criticism when we ask for an opinion on our wayward paintings. Her reflections are honest, straight forward and always to the point. To be sure, you don't have to take her ad-vice. But, believe me, you should give it strong consideration. Moreover, her willingness to help is manifested in her ongoing work for IPPS . She is a most dependable volunteer. And she paints, too! A native of Wisconsin, Pat has that Wisconsonian love for old barns. Her bucolic render-ings of these wonderful structures take us all back to simpler times. Thanks for the memories, Pat! Pat and her husband have four children including two sons and twin girls. While her family occupies much of her time, we are grateful that she has time to be such a productive part of our IPPS family and Executive Committee. George King (with thanks to Rosemary Buffington)

Pat and granddaughter, Josie

Thank you Chatham Community Library for

including this announcement on your website.

IPPS 2015 Exhibits

Chatham Library IPPS Membership Show - April 4 - June 27

SIU School of Medicine IPPS Membership Show - July and August

Edward’s Place Fine Art Fair - September 19 - 20

Springfield Art Association IPPS Member Show - October 30 - November 13

Reception November 6 - 5:30 - 7:30

2015 IPPS MEMBERSHIP SHOW

IPPS kicked off the 2015 exhibition season with the annual Membership Show on Saturday, April 10 at the Chatham Area Public Library. The ex-hibit featured 21 IPPS member artists displaying their finest work. Music provided by Bill Furry and Company filled the building while guests en-joyed food and wine.

The success of the event was made possible through the help of many

IPPS member who created paintings, designed invitations, labeled post-

cards, promoted the event, donated wine, hung the show, set-up the re-

ception, tended the wine and food tables, cleaned-up, and invited friends

and family.

A special thank you to Tracey Maras for again chairing the event and

Rosemary Buffington for coordinating the reception. Additional thanks to

the members who participated in the various aspects of organizing a top

notch exhibit and opening reception. Special thanks are extended to Amy

Ihnen and the staff at the Chatham Area Library. They helped with pro-

moting the event as well storing and organizing the paintings, preparing a

reference book of artists bios, printing labels and creating a map of the

location of each piece of art.

The show will continue through June 27, 2105.

Rosemary Buffington, Tracey Maras and Sandy Frank

Margaret Hazlett enjoying the sights and sounds

Mike and Barb Drake with George King Gwen Lewis and her painting Bill Furry and Company

Illinois Prairie Pastel Society

In 2006, six Springfield, IL pastel artists joined together to form the

Springfield Area Pastelists. By 2009 the group had grown to 20 members

and formally organized as the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society, establishing

bylaws to guide the organization, and affiliating with the International

Association of Pastel Societies.

The Illinois Prairie Pastel Society was established to:

• Promote, stimulate and foster creative painting with pastels;

• Encourage and promote pastel artists in their growth and success;

• Provide instructive programs and demonstrations utilizing pastel

media;

• Organize activities and exhibit opportunities for pastel artists;

• Encourage young pastel artists to work in pastels and exhibit their

pastel works;

• Promote a fellowship with pastel artists in order to build a network

for learning and professional opportunities; and

• Promote public awareness of pastels.

432 Maggie Drive

Springfield, Illinois 62711

Phone: 217-787-8496.

e-mail: suescaife@comcast.net

Molly Beaver

Dee Belter

Louise Boshardy

Rosemary Buffington

Sarah Carter

Sandy Daniels

Barb Drake

Carolyn Dungan

Tracy Dunn

Chris Elzea

Rosemary Eyman

Colleen Ferratier

Catherine Flynn

Hazen Folse

Roland Folse

Rich Ford

Sandy Frank

Mary Lynn Gietl-Deloney

Margaret Hazlett

Mary Lou Hicks

Rosemarie Hutchcraft

Patty Justison

George King

Pat Kittilstad

Pat Kreppert

Gwen Lewis

Phil Locascio

Sandy MacDonald

Tracey Maras

Terry Moore

Tom Myers

Karen Nachtwey

Connie O’Sullivan

Jo Powers

Don Ramsey

Sheri Ramsey

Mandy Roeing

Tina Saunderson

Sue Scaife

Jan Schuermann

Mary Corrigan Stjern

Kathy Summer

Dorie Chaille Tiseth

Pat Wheat

Joseph Williams

Rita Williams

Rita Young

Illinois Prairie Pastel Society Artist Members

Visit our website at www.illinoisprairiepastelsociety.com

IPPS members at the Chatham Library Art Ex-

hibit - Terry Moore, Rosemary Buffington, Gwen

Lewis, Sue Scaife and Pat Kittilstad