Summer General Meeting

at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center

We're going to cover some cool topics at this meeting. 

• How to mount pastel paper on a backing board (wet and dry mounting techniques),
• Framing pastels (spacers, matting)
• Glass - different options

This will be a combination of demonstrations, show and tell, and discussion.

Summer 2025 Artist Retreat

Key Dates: 

• Retreat: Monday Aug 4- Wed Aug 6, 2025 (3 days)
• 20 total registrants
• MPS Member Registration Begins: May 21, 2025
• Non-Member Registration Opens: June 21, 2025
• Last day for Airbnb Accommodations Registration: July 25, 2025

Deck view at one of our reserved Airbnb's

Retreat Description:

Join other Maryland Pastel Society artists to enjoy painting in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in Loudoun County, VA, Kalero Vineyard is a short drive from Harper's Ferry, WV, just across the MD line.   An air-conditioned barn-style Tasting Room will be available to all attendees, all day, and the surroundings farms and vineyards await you for plein air exploration and inspiration.  

Schedule: While each day is open to each artist's unique plan for plein air or indoor painting, we hope to gather at the close of each day at the barn to share our experiences and our works in progress, if we choose.  There are no instructors for this retreat.  

Where you'll stay: 3 local Airbnb's have been reserved, with both shared room and private room options.  They are both within 15 minutes' drive of the vineyard. The three homes can accommodate 16 attendees total, 8 in shared and 8 in single rooms.  Lodging in the Airbnb's must be reserved by July 25, 2025.  (NOTE- there were only two Airbnb's reserved at first, we added a third home on May 23, 2025) 

NOTE:  Many other local hotels and B&B Inn's are nearby, if you choose to find your own lodging.  Staying in an Airbnb is NOT required.  

Meals: Dinner both evenings is included in the fee to attend, and will take place at one of the Airbnb's.  Monday night we will have a cookout, and Tuesday night will feature wood-fired pizzas.  Lunches are on your own.  Breakfast foods will be available to those staying in the Airbnb's.  Bottled water and sweet snacks will be available to everyone in the barn each day.  

The gorgeous "barn" Tasting Room at Kalero Vineyard

Details: 

1. Retreat Only- Retreat experience includes painting plein air or indoors for three days, two shared dinners, snacks, barn and vineyard access. No accommodations.   $75.00 Total
2. Retreat Plus Airbnb Shared Room- includes retreat (above) and shared room  (2 nights) plus breakfast foods.  $225.00 Total
3. Retreat Plus Airbnb Single Room- includes retreat (above) and single room (2 nights) plus breakfast foods.   $350.00 Total 

• Dates: August 4-6, 2025
• Location: Kalero Vineyards, 36140 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville, VA 20132
• Registration opens for Members 4 weeks before non-members. 
• No materials will be supplied - bring your own easel, etc.  
• Retreat group size is limited to 20 and will be filled on a first-come, first served basis with priority given to Maryland Pastel Society members.  
• Accommodations provided ONLY to those choosing Airbnb Options above. Current limitations on Airbnb rooms are 8 single rooms and 8 beds in shared rooms.  All attendees not booking an Airbnb room should book their own accommodations.   
• Full payment is required at the time of registration. Multiple payment options are available: credit card or check.   

IMPORTANT NOTE: Completion of the registration form AND receipt of full payment of retreat Fee (options above) will place you on the roster.  A confirmation email will be sent to you after your full payment is received.  

3nd Quarter

Signature Member Applications

Due August 30th 2025

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:

• Was executed primarily (80 % or more) in soft pastel;
• Is of your own original concept and execution, not derived from any published or created images to which you do not hold the copyright;
• Has not been executed in whole or in part in an instructor-led classroom or workshop setting and;
• Was completed within the past three years.

To complete this application, you will need: 

• Digital images of five paintings, their titles & sizes
• a one-page resume.
• Images should be of high quality, cropped neatly to show only the painting. Do not include frame or any distracting background in the image.
• Size should be reported as Height x Width (H x W) in inches (e.g., 8x10”)

Once you have reviewed the MPS Principles of Design and the requirements to complete the application process, email your images and resume to signature@ marylandpastelsociety.org

Applications will be reviewed at the Summer MPS Board Meeting. 

Please contact signature @ marylandpastelsociety.org if you have questions.

Fall General Meeting

at

The Compass Atelier

10335 Kensington Pkwy, Kensington, MD 20895

Rita Kirkman will be demonstrating. We are honored to have Rita as the judge and juror of selection for the MPS National Juried Exhibition, "Shades of Pastel 2025" which will be on display at the Glenview Mansion in Rockville, Maryland from October 12 - November 26, 2025.

Rita Kirkman is an extraordinary pastel artist known for her vibrant portraits of both people and animals. Her style showcases her uncanny ability to manipulate light and color to create a breathtaking glow on all of her subjects. Rita's formal education includes a BFA degree from the University of Dayton in 1988. She attended Coppini Academy of Fine Art in San Antonio, TX, from 2001-2003, and attended many pastel workshops from other renowned artists since 2001. She is a Pastel Society of America Master pastelist and an Eminent Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel Societies.

She has consistently won major awards in national and international competitions. Her work has been featured in the Pastel Journal and the Pratique des Arts Spécial Pastel, and published in many others. Her work is in public and private collections all over the world, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Japan, Africa and Australia.

Visit ritakirkman.com to view Rita's paintings.

Shades of Pastel 2025

NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION

October 12-November 26, 2025   

at the Glenview Mansion
603 Edmonston Drive
Rockville, MD 20851

    Click here to see prospectus and to enter.