Katherine Irish, “A Coming Storm”
2026 ‘All About Pastel’
Juried Members Exhibition,
Best in Show
Exhibitions
Southeastern Pastel Society's 2026 Spring 'All About Pastel' Juried Members Exhibition
February 14 – April 18, 2026
The SPS Juried Members Exhibition titled “All About Pastel” again demonstrates to the art community just how luminous, vibrant, and versatile this medium behaves on varied surfaces. Viewers were invited to the awards ceremony held Feb. 21 at 1 PM EST. We are thrilled that 62 artists residing in 11 States submitted 168 artworks. Artists entered only works they had completed in the last two years. The paintings could not have been displayed in any of our prior exhibitions. A total of 114 paintings were accepted.
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There are three categories of members: Master Pastelists, Members of Excellence and Members.
Master Division and Member of Excellence/Member Division. Our Master Division allows the individual to add SPSMP to their signature. The designation indicates the artist has won awards in three of our SPS shows.
Our organization has been showcasing the pastel medium for 38 years. We are grateful for our Sponsors who have supported SPS. We’d like to thank Austin Hamby at ShowSubmit for providing a user friendly exhibition website as well as working fluidly with the artists and submissions chair. Also, thanks so much to the volunteers at SPS who give their time to produce an exciting art exhibition.
We awarded over $5,000 in cash and prizes to 14 artists.
Juror's Comments
Born in New York, Atlanta based Margaret Dyer is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America; she is in the Masters Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS); and she is a Member of Excellence with the Southeastern Pastel Society. Some of her many awards are:
2022 First Place, Southeastern Pastel Society
2021 Best of Show, American Impressionist Society Associate Members Exhibition
2021 Honorable Mention, American Impressionist Society Members Exhibition
2019 Best Impressionist Painting, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Small Works Exhibition
2018 First Place, Southeastern Pastel Society International Exhibition, Atlanta, GA
2015 First Place Olmsted Invitational Paint-Out Quick Paint Event
2014 Best of Show, Southeastern Pastel Society International
2013 Best of Show, International Association of Pastel Societies Online Exhibition
Margaret has been featured many times in The Pastel Journal, American Artist, International Artist
and The Artist magazine. You can also find her in “Pure Color-The Best of Pastels” I and II.
In the June 2002 issue of The Artist’s Magazine, the author wrote:
“Dyer is adamant about what she wants to portray: beautiful—not overtly provocative—figures in action. She tries to avoid languid, sentimental posturing, and prefers to show her model in an
unguarded moment, when she’s not worrying about the ‘right pose.’ Dyer’s attention is caught by telling gestures, such as a direct gaze or a hand on a hip… Above all, Dyer seeks to establish an atmosphere and mood particular to the developing painting.”
Best in Show Award, Katherine Irish A Coming Storm
A gloriously colorful sunset, full of drama and texture. Masterfully painted, it literally made me take a slight gasp and gave me the twisting stomach feeling that good paintings give me. Bravo, Katherine!
Master Pastelist Awards
First Place Award, Toby Reid, Silence
This painting displayed strong draftsmanship, delicacy of “brushwork” and ease with color. Toby even captured the time of day and the wetness of the water. He makes it look easy. But that’s what a Master does.
Second Place Award, Ronnie Offen, Settling Up
Strong and simple abstract shapes, beautiful interchange of harmonizing and complimentary colors. Ronnie captured an unassuming moment and made it a piece of art.
Third Place Award, Connie Lynn Reilly, Pete
Connie captured a sunny moment of a colorful character, sensitively and masterfully, of course.
Honorable Mention, Marsha Savage, Choose Your Path Carefully
Very sensitive and delicate handling of pastels, beautifully capturing the movement of the water and the dappled light through the woods on a sunny spring day.
Member of Excellence Awards
First Place, Preston King, Rooted on the Rim
Lavenders, corals and greens grayed down into a subtle tonal palette, so much more beautiful in person than it was in the photo. Sensitive handiwork and drawing skills. Lovely.
Second Place, Lisa Stockdell, The Explorer
Quiet, delicate and intimate, a precious moment capturing the magic of childhood. It’s an heirloom to be treasured for generations.
Third Place, Lindy Blosser, The Deep End
Difficult to believe this is a pastel. I can’t imagine the time that went into this painting. Pretty darned impressive work.
Honorable Mention, Michael Owen Story, Shimmering Moon
A moody, hazy tonal painting, proving you don’t need hundreds of pastels to make a good painting.
Honorable Mention, Alan Fink, Woman with a Pearl Earring
Alan has captured this lady’s sincerity and humor in a remarkable way; you get the sense that you might actually know her. Surely this is a much-loved painting.
Member Awards
First Place, Cindy Jenkins, Winery Tour
Expressive and colorful economical “brushstrokes”, telling us so much. Pinks, blues and greens, with brilliant pops of red, make this a memorable moment.
Second Place, Brenda Pinnick, Emerging from the Shadows
Understated, not overworked, which could very well have happened. But this artist kept it simple. And it works.
Third Place, Diane Tarantino, Still I Rise
Initially you just think, a sunflower. But look closer at the oranges, lavenders and greens. It’s a riot of color, which draws you in and keeps your attention. Exactly what a good painting should do.
Honorable Mention, Alicia Brooke, Figure with a Fan
Expressive gesture and “brushstrokes”. So glad she stopped when she did. Now all it needs is a huge mat and frame to give it the presence it deserves.
