Sweet Summer Heat by Jude Tolar, PSA, IAPS/MC
Pastels on sanded paper
11 x 14 in.
$750
Available from the artist
Jude Tolar’s pastel paintings are lyrical views of the beauty and joy she sees in the world. She’s lead first to light, then design and color.
She works mainly from life, preferably en plein air, and is known for tree and floral portraits outdoors and glass still lifes indoors.
“My summer models are usually found and painted en plein air, in gardens or on travels. However, these beauties stole my heart in a florist kiosk, and I simply had to paint them (Sweet Summer Heat). I was intrigued by the interplay of red-hot edges on sweet, white roses.”
Jude spent her childhood in SE Kansas and NE Oklahoma exploring outdoors and drawing indoors. But she set aside drawings and doodling for a psychology degree from Oklahoma State University and two post-baccalaureate years of fine arts and illustration at University of Oklahoma.
She began painting with pastels after a long career in graphic design and illustration. She’s studied with master pastelists, most extensively with Clive Tyler.
“Soft pastels and sanded papers changed my art world. This forgiving medium lets me paint freely and in layers. I’m fearless with strong colors and values. This adds impact to the stories and portraits I paint.”
Jude’s pastel paintings have won two PleinAir Salon awards from PleinAir Magazine, three Pastel 100 awards from Pastel Journal magazine, and five Best of Shows. She’s juried in to numerous Pastel Society of America and International Association of Pastel Societies international juried shows, and other juried shows.
Two of her pastel paintings are in the current edition of The Encyclopedia of Pastel Techniques (2018) by Judy Martin.
Jude has written articles for Plein Air Today and Pastel Journal magazine, and shown in invitational gallery shows, solo and groups shows. She gives pastel demonstrations and teach pastel workshops in the US.
She is a Master Circle Pastelist with International Association of Pastel Societies; a Signature Member of Pastel Society of America, Oklahoma Art Guild and Arizona Pastel Artists Association; and a member of American Impressionist Society, Oklahoma Pastel Society, Pastel Society of New Mexico, and Stillwater (OK) Art Guild.
Find Jude’s work here:
-Women Artists of the West 50th Anniversary National Show, Settlers West
Galleries, Tucson, AZ, March 25-April 17, 2020
-Arizona Pastel Artists Association Open National Exhibition, Sedona Arts
Center, Sedona, AZ, March 31-April 14, 2020
-Guild Gallery, Stillwater, OK
–Fine Art Connoisseur magazine (March/April 2020), “A Bouquet for Spring”
–Pastel Journal magazine (April 2020), “Pastel 100”
And here:
–www.judetolar.com
-Facebook: Jude Tolar Art
-Instagram: judetolar
