Pastel Works by Allen Monsarrat
November 1-30, 2024
Pastel Works by Allen Monsarrat
Opening reception: Friday, November 1, 5:00-9:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; closed Wednesday-Friday November 27-29
Allen Monsarrat’s college education began with three years of training in architecture and concluded with his BFA (concentration in pottery). His first art career was as a studio potter for 25 years, followed by careers in decorative wall finishes, faux painting and the occasional mural project. Studying trompe l’oiel (fool the eye) imagery with French master artist Michel Nadai nurtured his interest in creating representational art. In 2009 he turned his attention to fine art painting in oils, concentrating on photorealism – paintings intended to look like photographs.
I am drawn to representational art and enjoy the problem-solving required to depict various surfaces in paint: stone, pastures, foliage, water, sky, etc. Working from photographs allows me to carefully design my composition as well as control the value range of lights to darks. Once these are established, color comes into play. In early 2024, I started using soft pastels as a means of interpreting scenes, and my art has become more expressive, revealing the marks that build an image. Pastel sticks, made of powdered pigment and binder much like a crayon, are clunky to use but allow me to achieve a range of effects, from delicate and subtle to bold and expressive.
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