Original oil pastel work to be displayed at Fine Line

Artworks by members of Yellow House Artists, created exclusively with oil pastels and oil sticks, will be the next exhibit in the Kavanagh Gallery at Fine Line Creative Arts Center, Sept. 13 through Oct. 5.

The Yellow House Artists group is dedicated to promoting the use of oil pastels in creating art. This show will feature original paintings by 28 participating artists from throughout the Chicago suburbs.

The media “is our connection,” said Yellow House chair Deann Alleman of Sugar Grove. “It’s still an unrecognized medium. We use artist-grade oil pastels and we use specific techniques with those. We all use different techniques, developed by our teachers.”

Although each Yellow House member works with the same media (oil pastels and/or oil sticks), every piece of art is one-of-a-kind. Layers of colors range from bold to pastel, creating depth and texture, resulting in rich, captivating images.

Their instructors developed many of the techniques these artists use.

“This all started when we were students of George Shipperley’s. George retired 2 years ago, then Carol Zack started teaching, and some of us take classes from George Bruce,” said Alleman. “The classes teach you what fun oil pastels are, and what you can do with them. They’re such a unique medium. It’s mostly through these classes that we draw members.”

Yellow House Artists started with 17 oil pastel artists in a yellow house during the 2007 St. Charles Fine Art Show. The group has grown to include 43 members who create and show their work as well as educate the public about the qualities of this little known medium.

Oil pastels, developed in the 1940’s at the request of artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Goetz, consist of pigments, wax, and non-drying oils. Finished work needs to be protected under glass. Oil sticks are also made with pigment, wax and oils, but unlike pastels, these are made with the same drying oils as oil paints, which cure to a hard film.

YHA artists use professional artist quality oil pastels, usually Holbein or Sennelier. These are not the Cray-Pas used by school-age students.

These artists in painting with oil pastels use many varied techniques. The paint can be layered, skimmed and blended, smeared or smudged, scraped or scored, using fingers and other tools.

Fine Line Arts Center is at 37W570 Bolcum Road, St. Charles. Stop by Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit online: www.fineline.org.