Pastel Journal - USA (2020-04)

THEWINNEROFTHISYEAR’SPASTELJOURNALFOUNDER’SAWARDIS

a dazzlinglyfreshandvividaccountofhorsesandjockeysgallopinghead-

ontowardtheviewer.FinishLine, byVermont-basedartistAlineOrdman,

usesanopen,suggestiveapproachaspatchesofcolor—deliveredindecisive,

clearstrokesofpastel—coalesceintoa sceneofgreatpowerandconviction.

Lookingatit,youcanalmostfeelthethunderofpoundinghoovesashorses

andridersjostleforpositioninthefinalfreneticyardsofa race.Meanwhile,the

color,inwhichthesaturatedhuesofthejockeys’racingsilksarepitchedagainst

thequieterbrownsofthehorses,makesfulluseofthepossibilitiesoftherich

colorthatthemediumoffers.

AsAnimal&WildlifeCategoryJurorYaelMaimonobserved:“Thestrength

ofthepaintinglieswithitsboldapproach.Theenergeticdanceofcolorand

structuralshapescreatesanillusionofmovementandoffersthethrilland

excitementofthehorse-racingtheme.”

ThinkingAbstractly

Forallitspresenceandsenseofimmediacy,FinishLinebeganfarfromthetrack.

“ItwasactuallymydemoattheInternationalAssociationofPastelSocieties

Convention,”saysOrdman.“IchosetodothisimagerybecauseI wantedto

illustratetheideathatoneshouldthinkabstractly—intermsofcolor,shape

andvalue—andnotnecessarilybethinkingaboutwhattheobjectsare.Inother

words,if youpainta house,seeit inabstractterms.Ifyouthink‘house,’then

you’reoftenpaintingthenotionyouhaveofa house,notwhatyoureallysee.”

Finish Line (16x20)

ALINEORDMAN’SBOLDSTROKESANDABSTRACT

APPROACHPRODUCEACTION,COLORANDLIGHT

INTHISYEAR’STOPPRIZEWINNINGPAINTING.

BY JOHN A. PARKS

The Joy and

Power of

Suggestion

PASTEL JOURNAL FOUNDER’S AWARD

IN MEMORY OF MAGGIE PRICE

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