My love of drawing led me to explore pastel since drawing — or mark making and color — meet in this medium. Subtle gradations of hue and tone can be obtained while not losing the expressive qualities of line. Also, since pastel is close to pure pigment, vibrant colors can be achieved.
I have long been fascinated by the draftsmanship of great artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who used pastels as enhancements to his charcoal and red-chalk drawings. Used in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was not until the 1700s that pastel was accepted as a medium rivaling oil painting. Although Degas and Mary Cassatt are well known for working in pastel, Renoir, Millet, Whistler, Lautrec, Picasso, de Kooning and many others used pastel. Although falsely considered fragile, a pastel portrait in the Gallery of Art in Dresden has survived more than 250 years.