About M.E.
I am a Mississippi girl through and through. Through my art, I hope to capture & share the places that make my home state so beautiful. I’m inspired by and drawn to the varied landscapes of the rural, and now coastal, South.
I have been accepted to national exhibitions, and I’ve recently sold art and won awards in New York, Albuquerque, New Orleans, and various online shows. I am a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a Master Circle member of IAPS (International Assn of Pastel Societies). I also hold memberships in the American Impressionist Society (AIS), the Degas Pastel Society (New Orleans), the Ocean Springs Art Association, and I am a director for the Pastel Society of Mississippi.
I studied art at Delta State University and the University of Mississippi, after which I became a practicing artist, furthering my studies with renowned artists from across the country.
I’m incredibly fond of my artist friends, and I hope to encourage other artists to find growth and inspiration from the art community as well. I love to teach and speak about working in pastels.
What are pastels?
No, it’s not just chalk!
Pastels are a dry medium — a stick of pure pigment. Created by packing together pigment with a little water and binder, soft pastels are rolled or shaped into handheld sticks that look like a “crayon” or “chalk” — but they have no similarity to either in quality!
Soft pastels are noted for their purity in color, and the texture is often described as “buttery.” A pastel artist has at hand a magnificent range of the purest & most brilliant colors of any medium. Pastel is also among the most permanent of all media.
Although the medium has been around over four centuries, pastels have experienced a renaissance in the last hundred years and continue to grow in popularity thanks to their uniqueness, brilliance, and durability.