The Maryland Pastel Society hosts a variety of activities throughout the year to include quarterly meetings, workshops, and exhibitions.
Click on a title below to learn more and sign up:
Key Dates:
Workshop Description:
Spend two inspiring days with internationally recognized pastel artist Stephie Clark as she shares the secrets behind painting luminous florals in glass. Known for her elegant floral work and passionate teaching, Stephie helps students simplify complex subjects into clear value shapes while mastering the subtle power of edges.
Students will explore transparency, reflections, color harmony, and painterly mark-making while learning how values create depth and realism, and edges create atmosphere, movement, and beauty. Whether your style is realistic or expressive, this workshop will strengthen your foundations and elevate your floral paintings with clarity and confidence.
About the Artist Instructor:
Stephie Clark is an Australian soft pastel artist known for her luminous florals, joyful still lifes, and an unmistakable sense of movement and light. From her home studio in Armidale, nestled in the New England region of New South Wales, Stephie draws daily inspiration from the natural beauty around her—wandering gardens, seasonal blooms, and wild things found underfoot. Her work celebrates the simple poetry of petals, the glow of afternoon light on a vase, and the quiet delight of ordinary beauty. With soft pastels as her medium of choice, Stephie’s approach is intuitive, playful, and rich in color, often dancing between loose mark-making and fine detail. Entirely self-taught, Stephie has developed a distinctive, expressive style that resonates with collectors and students alike. Her work has been exhibited across Australia and internationally, and she is a sought-after tutor, known for her nurturing teaching style and vibrant workshops. Whether leading a class in person or online, Stephie gently encourages her students to see with fresh eyes, trust their instincts, and find the joy in each stroke. Alongside her studio practice, Stephie shares her process with a global community through Patreon, where she posts tutorials, critiques, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into her creative world. She is passionate about making art accessible, heartfelt, and a little bit magical. When not painting, you’ll find Stephie sketching in her garden, curating themed art retreats, or crocheting something colorful. But always, she’s observing the dance of light—on petals, in shadows, across the everyday—and translating it into soft pastel whispers.
Contact Information:
Website: https://www.stephieclark.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Stephie-Clark/61554874092579/?_rdr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarks/?hl=en
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/12_stephieclark
Email: stephie.clark66@gmail.com
Details:
Registration:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Completion of the registration form AND receipt of full payment of $270 will place you on the roster. A confirmation email will be sent to you after your full payment is received.
Key Date:
Join acclaimed pastel artist and instructor Stephie Clark for a joyful one-day workshop designed to unlock the essential techniques for painting beautiful florals in soft pastel. With her warm and encouraging teaching style, Stephie will guide students through the key foundations of successful flower painting—strong values, luminous color shifts, sparkling highlights, and expressive edges.
Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, this condensed class offers practical tools, fresh inspiration, and a deeper understanding of how to bring petals to life with confidence and light.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Completion of the registration form AND receipt of full payment of $135 will place you on the roster. A confirmation email will be sent to you after your full payment is received.
Carroll County Art Council’s Tevis Gallery
91 West Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157
carrollcountyartscouncil.org
This exhibition will be open to ALL MPS members in good standing, both artist and signature level. Artwork completed in 2024-2026, not previously entered in an MPS juried show, is eligible for entry. The call for entry was emailed to MPS members on April 18th. If you did not receive the email, please contact exhibitions @ marylandpastelsociety.org
This exhibition will be open to ALL MPS members in good standing, both artist and signature level. Artwork completed in 2024-2026, not previously entered in an MPS juried show, is eligible for entry. Look for the call for entry in April 2026.
Summer General Meeting
AGENDA
12:00 to 12:30 - Arrival time for setup of Picnic and Y-art Sale (more information below)
12:30 to 12:45 - Business meeting
12:45 to 1:30 - MPS All-Member Juried Exhibition Awards (more information below)
1:30 to 3:15 - Picnic and Y-art sale (Virtual tour for Zoom members)
3:15 to 4:00 - Mingle and clean up
4:00 - Meeting ends
SUMMER PICNIC
• MPS will provide fried chicken, a large green salad or pasta salad, and all paper products. Please RSVP by July 18 using the button above so we know how much food to order.
• Bring a dish to share! Look for an email from SignUpGenius. You can list the dish you'd like to bring and see what others are bringing.
• Indoor and outdoor space will be available so we can eat and mingle comfortably regardless of weather
Y-ART SALE
To add a fun, practical, and community‑building element to the Summer Members Meeting, we will host a Y‑ART Sale where members can clear out unused studio items and pick up new treasures. Members have two ways to participate:
• Members may donate pastels, papers, art materials, books, tools, art‑related furniture (easels, taborets, etc.), and other studio items
• MPS will handle all pricing and sales
• 100% of proceeds benefit the Society
• Ideal for members who want to declutter and support MPS without managing a table
• Please provide a list of your donations by emailing corrsec@marylandpastelsociety.org at least one week before the meeting so MPS can price the items
• Reserve a table by emailing corrsec@marylandpastelsociety.org to sell gently used or new art supplies, books, tools, or studio items (we will use the tables available at the center)
• Sellers keep their earnings and contribute a 25% donation to MPS from total sales
• Ideal for members who prefer to manage their own pricing, display, and transactions
MPS ALL-MEMBER JURIED EXHIBITION AWARDS
• Announce awards ("Meet the Artists" reception will be held on July 23, 5-7pm, at the Tevis Gallery)
Please note: Due to limited table space, we will not be bringing artwork for feedback this meeting.
3rd Quarter
Signature Member Applications
Due August 29, 2026
Maryland Pastel Society members in good standing may submit work to be juried for signature member status. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis.
Signature member status represents the member's achieving excellence in the use of soft pastel and application of the principles of design.
Guidelines and Standards
Principles of Design are used when evaluating artwork submitted with applications for Signature status. Ensure that you understand all of the guidelines and that your work displays appropriate qualities as described in the MPS Principles of Design. Visit the Member Resources page to download the MPS Principles of Design.
When you are ready to submit your application packet, send it to signature@ marylandpastelsociety.org
Requirements for artwork:
By submitting your application for Signature membership, you attest that the artwork you submit meets all four of the following:
To complete this application, you will need:
Applications will be reviewed at the upcoming MPS Board Meeting.
Please contact signature @ marylandpastelsociety.org if you have questions.
Three-Day Workshop
with Kim Eschelman
Please check back later for details.
Fall General Meeting
Mark your calendars now. Check back later for details.
Quarter
Due November 28, 2026
Connect with us
© 2024 Maryland Pastel Society Inc.PO Box 54, Riderwood, MD 21139contact@marylandpastelsociety.comSince 1977, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization