First Name: Ronnie
Last Name: Offen
Email: ronnieOart@aol.com
News Type: Artistic Accomplishment
Announcement: “The Young Knitter” was awarded OUtstanding Pastel for December 2025 in the FASO BoldBrush Painting Competition
URL Link for More Info: Faso.com
First Name: Ronnie
Last Name: Offen
Email: ronnieOart@aol.com
News Type: Artistic Accomplishment
Announcement: “Settling Up” was awarded 4th Place/Established Artists in the Dakota art Pastels 2nd Quarter art show.
URL Link for More Info: dakotapastels.com/content/2026-second-quarter-winners?
Announcement: Orit is the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Poster Artist for 2026. Her painting “Floating Along” has been selected as the poster image.
First Name: Donna
Last Name: Catotti
Email: catotti.alaska@yahoo.com
News Type: Artistic Accomplishment
Announcement: Donna Catotti received an Award for Excellence in Figurative Sculpture from the Council of American Artist Societies at the 128th Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Open Exhibition at the Salmagundi in NYC in November, for her bronze “Hot Summer Day”.
URL Link for More Info: http://www.donnacatotti.com
Orit Reuben received an Award of Merit at the 2025 Winter Park Autumn Art Festivals in Florida for “Summer Blooms”. This painting is still available, but in the meantime, it has gotten Orit several kudos and awards.
Diana Coidan is excited and honored to announce two paintings, Mom’s Pitcher of Color and Mom’s Holiday Cookout were accepted into the 2024 North Carolina Statewide Pastel Exhibition by judge and juror Doug Dawson. Exhibit location is at the Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough, NC from June 7-30th, 2024. Reception and award ceremony 6/7
“Mom’s Stew” won First Place in the 5th National Central Massachusetts Pastel Society, “Marks of Distinction National Show” in Harvard, Mass. 70 individual works chosen by two jurors from 236 pastel paintings submitted from 18 states and Canada. Thank you to jurors of selection and a special thanks to Judge of Awards, Mim Brooks Fawcett, for this honor. exhibit ends 9/30 Painting SOLD
Orit Reuben is the recipient of the United Arts of Central Florida Individual Artist Grant 2023. The grant is for the purchase of frames and for the promotion of the pastel medium. Orit will be holding three group/solo pastel exhibitions, including painting demonstrations, to promote pastel artists.
Diana is excited to announce her acceptance into the North Carolina Statewide Pastel Exhibition: On Common Ground From the Mountains to the Sea and is honored to receive an Exceptional Merit Award for her pastel, “Mom’s Stew”. The exhibition is through July 3rd at The Art Shop in Greensboro, NC. Diana sends her thanks to Juror/Judge Tony Allain for the recognition!
Connie Lynn Reilly, President and Founder of SPS, has been featured in Plein Air Magazine in the category: “Best of Figure and Portrait”. Painting featured: “Melody” 24 x 30
It was very exciting to receive the September PleinAir Magazine with a special focus on pastels featuring “Pros’ views on using the medium en plein air!” In addition to the feature articles written by today’s pastel masters; the magazine did a showcase of pastel artists whose works “exemplifies the range and craftsmanship possible with this versatile medium.” Marsha Hamby Savage’s painting, “Rising to the Sun” 20×16 is included in the PASTEL SPOTLIGHT section of the magazine.
Plein Air Magazine has newly featured Nancy Nowak’s published article with their Plein Air audience through their website, Outdoor Painter. Check out the article via this Website Link for More Information!
