Classical Impressions in Pastel By Mary Jane at Nelson City Framers

Classical Impressions in Pastel By Mary Jane
5 – 19 May 2025

Opening Night
Thursday 8 May, 5:30-7pm
The Gallery, Nelson City Framers, 42A Halifax St, Nelson

PANZ AWARD WINNER

‘Classical Impressions’ showcases a collection of new work that explores classical poses with an impressionist eye.
I invite you to get up close to see the results of multiple layers of pastel line work revealing colour that you may not expect.
The majority of the pieces in this collection are on wood.
I have embraced the wood grain, because, you know, why completely hide something so beautifully random and natural.
Each wood panel has a layer of gouache, the background is a watered down coloured acrylic base with layers of soft pastel blended into the wood grain.
For my carefully chosen subjects I’ve used a limited colour palette and instead of blending, I use multiple directional lines built up to create shape, light and shade.
Each piece is built up with multiple passes (layers), with each pass I make corrections and changes.
The final passes are all about the finer details and highlights.
My biggest influences are impressionist artists Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt.
Degas for his ability to portray movement and everyday life, and Mary Cassatt for her ability to capture intimate family moments.
With my work I aim to capture the effects of light, colour and movement and to show off how amazing the human figure is.
And to bring out an array of content, peaceful and fulfilled human emotions, in contrast to current times where we’re surrounded by angst and discord.
The dancers featured in my work are models choreographed and professionally photographed by Grafit Studio, Obscura 29, and Satine Zillah.
Alongside of my art, I am a graphic designer and web designer based here in Nelson.
I am part of a collective of amazing artists at Wall to Wall Art Gallery on Bridge Street in Nelson.
And a PANZ Artist (Pastel Artists of New Zealand). This year in April my ‘Hope in Sepia’ piece was awarded first place at the 2025 Purely Pastel National Exhibition and sold on the awards night (still sinking in).

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