About the Artist
Statement
I work almost exclusively in pastels. The abundance of available colors mesmerize me and their refractive quality intrigues me. I am constantly amazed and fascinated by the way one can mix colors through layering, strokes and cross hatching resulting in an iridescence, depth and complexity of color that is always different.
I strive to capture the essence of the subject, tell a story, and convey a mood, a feeling, or a moment in time. No matter how much I plan a painting, once I begin, it becomes an emotional and reactionary process. While I love to paint everything and anything, people move me most. My emotional connection with the subject matter, my love of color, my nervous energy, and my technique result in paintings that are consistently unique and yet uniquely my own.
Affiliations
Chicago Pastel Painters - President and Master Signature Member
International Association of Pastel Societies - Master Circle & Eminent Pastelist
Pastel Society of America - Signature Member
Pastel Classes
2025
North Shore Art League - Winnetka, IL
2016-Present
The Art Center-Highland Park, IL
2014-2016
Deer Path Art League, Lake Forest, IL
Exhibitions, Awards and Events
2025
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2025"
You Can't See What I See
Pastel Society of the West Coast - 'Pastels USA:99 Voices"
Last Prayer
International Association of Pastel Societies Webshow - 14th Masters Circle Division
You Cannot Hear What I Hear
Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada - YELLOW
You Can't See What I See
2024
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Strokin'10!"
Outside/Inside
2023
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2023"
Wishing You Were Here
Fiery Morning Light
2022
International Association of Pastel Societies Webshow - 9th Masters Circle Exhibition
Wishing You Were Here
Pastel Society of America 45th Annual Exhibition:Enduring Brilliance
Outside/Inside
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Member Juried Exhibition "Strokin'9"
Reflecting the Setting Sun
International Association of Pastel Societies 8th Masters Circle Exhibition
Really?!
2021
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2021"
A Good Read - Armadillo Art & Craft/ Speedball Art Products Award
Association of Pastel Societies 6th Masters Circle Exhibition
Muse's Muse
2020
Whitewater Arts Alliance, October solo exhibition
International Association of Pastel Societies 37th Juried Exhibition /Fall Web Show
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Member Juried Exhibition "Strokin'8"
2019
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2019"
Northbrook Arts Commission 3rd Plein Air Festival
"Resting at the Rec Center" - Best of Show
2017
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2017"
"Shadows Beneath there Green Line"- Jack Richeson/PanPastel/Verilux Award
Pastel Society of America 45th Annual Exhibition:Enduring Brilliance
International Association of Pastel Societies 4th Masters Circle Exhibition
"Shadows Beneath there Green Line" Maggie Price Award
2016
Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL
2015
Northbrook Public Library
Solo Exhibit, December
Connecticut Pastel Society 22nd Annual Renaissance in Pastel Exhibition
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2015"
"Round and Round They Go"- Great American Artworks/Wunderland Award
Art Fair on the Square 2015, Lake Forest ,IL
Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL
2014
Degas Pastel Society 15th Biennial National Exhibition
Connecticut Pastel Society - 21st Annual Rennaissance in Pastel 2014
"After the Rain" -Guerilla Boxes Award
Hudson Valley Art Association - 82nd Annual Juried Exhibition
Pastel Society of America - 42nd Annual Exhibition
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts, Chicago, IL
Art Fair on the Square 2014, Lake Forest, IL
Best in Category - Drawing and Pastel
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Members Show - Strokin" V
"Paris Bus Stop" - Best in Show
Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL
Wilmette Public Library, Wilmette, IL
Solo Exhibition
Wichita Art Center - Pastel National 2014
Northwest Area Arts Council - Women's Work
2013
Old Town Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
"Friends in Art, Friends for Life." works by Maria Sosenko and Tatijana Jacenkiw
The Inside Show, Highland Park, IL
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2013"
UArt/OsioBrown Award and selected as promotional image
Wilmette Public Library 31st Juried Art Show, Wilmette, IL
awarded monthly exhibit
The Art Prize, Grand Rapids, MI
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts, Chicago, IL
Pastel Society of America - 41st Annual Open Juried Exhibition, N.Y, NY
Third Ward Art Festival, Milwaukee, WI
Art at the Glen Town Center, Glenview, IL
Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, IL
Northbrook Art in the Park, Northbrook, IL
Chicago Botanic Gardens Art Festival, Glencoe, IL
Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL
Riverside Art Weekend, Riverside, IL
2012
Third Ward Art Festival, Milwaukee, WI
Outstanding Acheivement in 2D
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Members Show Strokin' IV
Prismacolor Award
Going Somewhere - Sanford Award
Art in Your Eye Art Fair, Batavia, IL
Geneva Arts Fair, Geneva, IL
Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff, St. Joseph, Mi
Chicago Botanic Gardens Art Festival, Glencoe, IL
1st Place in Category - 2D
BoldBrush Painting Competition - Jury FAV 15 June 2012
Cantigny Art in Bloom, Wheaton, IL
St. Charles Fine Art Show, St. Charles, IL
Pastel Journal, Pastel 100, April issue
Flight of the White Heron - 2nd place Animal & Wildlife
Wichita Art Center - Pastel National 2012
2011
Old Town Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, solo exhibit
Pastel Journal, December 2011
Connossieurs of Color by A. Hevener
Degas Pastel Society - 17th Membership Exhibition
The Next Picture Show, Dixon Illinois, solo exhibit, September
The Next Picture Show - Farms and Barns 7
1st Place
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition "Pastels Chicago 2011"
PanPastels Award
Old Courthouse Art Center - Real People 2011, August - September
International Association of Pastel Societies 18th Juried Exhibition
International Association of Pastel Societies 1st Masters Circle Exhibition
Northwest Area Arts Council - Women's Work 2011
Great Lakes Biennial Members Show 2011
honorable mention
Berwyn Art League - Portrait Demo, February
2010
International Association of Pastel Societies 17th Juried Exhibition/web Show
Koehnline Museum of Art "No Place LIke Home: Examining Changing Landscapes in Our LIves"
Pastel Society of New Mexico 19th Annual Pastel Panting Exhibition
North Shore Art League Annual Members Show
Art Fair on the Square, Lake Forest, IL
Richeson 75 - Portrait and Figure 2010 - finalists
MidAmerica Pastel Society 2010 Pastel National Exhibition
33 Collective Gallery - 6th Annual Self Portrait Exhibition 2010
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod "For Pastels Only on Cape Cod 2010"
Pastel Society of the West Coast 24th "Pastels USA"International Open
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial Members Show Strokin III
Great Lakes Pastel Society National Show 2010
Wichita Art Center - Pastel National 2010
Honorable Mention
NorthwestArea Arts Council - Women's Work 2010
The Next Picture Show - Everything's Coming Up Roses
1st place Painting/Drawing
International Association of Pastel Societies
Qualified for Master Circle Status
International Association of Pastel Societies 15th Juried Exhibition
honorable mention
Richeson 75- Pastels 2010, finalists and meritorious entries
2009
Arkansas Pastel Society, 3rd National Exhibition "Reflection in Pastel"
One of A Kind Show, Merchandise Mart, Chicago
Ukrainian National Museum, Chicago, IL - November,
Solo Exhibition
Koehline Museum of Art, "Down to There: Women and Their Relationship to Hair"
International Association of Pastel Societies 14th Juried Exhibition /Web Show
Maryland Pastel Society"s "Shades of Pastel" National Exhibition 2009
merit award
Chicago Botanical Gardens Student Art Show
North Shore Art League Annual Members' Show
Old Courthouse Art Center - Real People 2009
Richeson 75 - Figure/Portrait 2009, meritorious entries
Woman Made Gallery - Annual Juried Members' Show
Northbrook Public Library -July, Solo Exhibition
The Next Picture Show, Farms and Barns
The Next Picture Show, A River Runs Through It
honorable mention
The Art Center Highland Park - Garden Party, a juried exhibition
International Association of Pastel Societies 13th Juried Exhibition
The Next Picture Show - Dos Equis-XX: Women's Juried Exhibition
1st place
Richeson 75 - Small Works 2009, meritoriuos entries
Pastel Journal - Pastel 100, April 2009 issue
honorable mention, Still Life category
Austin Pastel Society Member Show
1st place Wildlife/Animal category
Chicago Pastel Painters Biennial National Juried Exhibition - Pastels Chicago 2009
2nd place
Richeson 75 - Pastels 2009 , finalist and meritotious entries
2008
The Next Picture Show - Rhythm and Blues
honorable mention
International Association of Pastel Societies 12th Exhibition /Web Show -2008/2009
Richeson 75 - Still Life and Floral 2008, finalist and meritotious entries
Degas Pastel Society - 12th Biennial Exhibition
Northbrook Public Library 6th Annual Juried Art Show - Caught in the Act
North Shore Art League, Annual Members' Show
Richeson 75 - Portrait and Figure 2008, meritorious entry
Municipal Art League of Chicago, Biennial Midwest Regional 2008
Chicago Pastel Painters, Biennial Members Show
Sanford Award
Austin Pastel Society Members Show
3rd place portrait category
2007
Great Lakes Pastel Society Biennial Members Show
WomanMade Gallery, In Praise of Physical Labor
Publications
Pastel Journal, Fall 2022, Land of Babusias
Pastel Journal, April 2012, Pastel 100 - Animal & Wildlife
Pastel Journal, December 2011, Connossieurs of Color
UNWLA's magazine OUR LIFE, September 2010
magazine cover and article
Chicago Fine Arts Examiner, December 9, 2009 examiner.com
SVOBODA, Ukrainian Weekly Newspaper, November 6, 2009
Ukrainian Word, Ukrainian Weekly, October 29 2009 www.ukrslovo.net
American Artist, October 2009
Pastel Journal, April 2009 Pastel 100 issue
Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
2007 European Concert Tour poster and program cover
Education
Bachelor of Architecture
1979 Illinois Institute of Technology
Gay Riseborough Studio - October 2005 to December 2009
Evanston Art Center, North Shore Art League, Ox-Bow and various workshops
