About Me
Pastellist, Sheryl Burnside, was born in Papakura, New Zealand. Art has always played a part in her life since her early years. The first recognition she received for her art was winning a prize in an ASB art competition at the age of 8. Pastels have proved to be a versatile medium, suitable for all subjects including children's portraits, animals, still life, and landscape.
In addition to selling through several art galleries in the Tauranga area, Sheryl also undertakes private commissions. Her painting are included in private collections in England, New Zealand, and the United Stated. Her interest in writing has led to the publication of articles in The New Zealand Herald, and NZ Woman's Weekly. In 1998, Sheryl was a winner of The NZ Woman's Weekly's 'Goodbye to Di' writing competition.
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She has also dabbled in poetry, winning Editor's Choice awards for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the National Library of Poetry (USA) in 1995 and 1997. In 2009, Sheryl was a finalist in the Mindfood magazine Wildlife Photo Competition.
Gallery
The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before
-Neil Gaiman
About Pastels
Although Pastels do not have the high profile of other painting mediums, they in fact have an illustrious and interesting history, most notably in 18th century France. This art form became such a craze that at one stage there were hundreds of pastellists working in Paris. One of the most famous, Maurice-Quentin de la Tour (1704 - 1788) became portrait painter to King Louis XV in 1750. He painted (in pastel) all the prominent people of the day, including philosophers Voltaire and Rousseau, and the King's mistress Madame de Pompadour
Pastels are the most permanent of all art mediums.
Pastels are made from powder pigments which are mixed with a base such as chalk. After the addition of gum they are shaped into sticks and allowed to harden.
Unlike oils, acrylics, watercolours etc., pastels have no liquid binders that can cause them to darken, crack, fade, yellow or blister with time. Pastel paintings produced in the 16th century survive to the present day with their colours still as bright and vivid as the day they were painted. Pastels have stood the test of time, and their durable nature recommends them as the perfect choice for collectors (and admirers) of fine art.
