Who We Are
The Arkansas Pastel Society came about in 2004 when a group of pastel artists saw the need for a centrally located regional society to promote pastels as a medium and as a means of networking with other pastel artists.
The Arkansas Pastel Society welcomes all artists interested in pastel (soft and oil pastels). Dues are $25 a year for members and $10 for students (high school and full time college students). Click here for membership application.
Meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month excluding January, February and July.
Through art scholarships the Arkansas Pastel Society strives to promote the medium of pastel to deserving students. In 2008 through 2017 we granted $500 a year scholarships to Thea Foundation, a non profit organization that supports the arts in Arkansas schools. In 2018 those scholarship donations increased to $1000 a year.
We are proud to be a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies whose objective is "to celebrate worldwide, the expanding presence of dry pastel as a major fine art painting medium," and to "provide a strong voice for pastel artists and the luminous medium of pastel."
Goals of the Arkansas Pastel Society
- Educate the public about pastel painting
- Network with pastel artists
- Conduct shows and exhibits of pastel work
- Conduct pastel workshops
- Network with pastel artists
- Conduct shows and exhibits of pastel work
- Conduct pastel workshops