According to Wikipedia, "Pastel as an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints."
Each "canvas" that Shelly paints on is made of wood. A variety of woods are used including Pine, Birch, Birch Plywood, Poplar, etc. Each type of wood provides its own look and feel to the final piece of artwork. Every piece of art continues on the sides of the piece, enabling the owner to hang it without a frame or matt of any sort (similar to a painting on regular canvas). Also, each piece has been layered with a special coating, allowing the piece protection for years to come.
Shelly's pastel paintings are on
handmade wooden canvases.
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Each pastel painting has a protective coating
allowing it to be handled without a mess.
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Booth shot of one of Shelly's 2007 Art Events.
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Artist's Statement
Art is progression.
My work has progressed from pen and India ink drawings on paper to vibrantly colored pastel pieces. The process I have developed is truly unique as I build layer upon layer of pastel onto hand-made wooden canvases. The grain of the wood integrates itself into the work of art, creating a sort of fingerprint for every piece. While pastels as a medium tend to be quite messy and untouchable, I have derived an unusual method (one might consider my work “Experimental Art”) of layering pastels with fixative on wood that eliminates these problems and have come up with a sealant that ensures that each piece is protected and ready to be handled.
Often mistaken for oil paintings, my pastel works stand alone regarding uniqueness in technique and subject matter and provide a definite spin on traditional pastel works.
As for subject matter, I tend to re-create what I’m exposed to, whether it be the social, natural or private areas of my life and the environments around me. I am continually inspired by the world I live in and embrace spontaneity in my work. It is ever-changing. It is complex at times and extremely simple at others, and so is my work.
