IAPS Exhibition 2019
IAPS in Albuquerque Impressions of IAPS by LaVone Sterling, PSWC-DP. PSA : When my three daughters and I signed up for a pastel workshop in 2010, I had no idea how my life as an artist was about to change. I fell head over heels in love with pastel and began searching the web for clubs to join and places to learn. In my quest, I found that the nearest pastel club was the Pastel Society of the West Coast. I called the membership chair, Willo Balfrey. We talked for at least an hour. She was so informative and so kind. She began sharing the names of pastel teachers and upcoming events, urging me that I must take Richard McKinley’s workshop. She told me that there was also a pastel convention called IAPS, where I could learn from dozens of talented instructors, but it was biannual and I had just missed it. So there wouldn’t be another for a couple years. Time passed, and I forgot about IAPS until I was doing a demo and teaching a workshop sponsored by Sierra Pastel Society. During the break, I was approached by a sweet lady, named Urania Tarbet, who purchased my demo piece. She asked if I had attended the IAPS Convention that summer. I told her, no that I had not. With much enthusiasm and in detail, she began telling me how much fun it was and that I should come next time, which would be the summer of 2017. My experience with conventions in the past was that 10
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there were lengthy lectures that put me to sleep and lots of people who basically kept to themselves. How could a pastel convention possibly be as fabulous as Urania claimed? Well I was about to find out. I decided to go to the 2019 IAPS Convention. My Impressions This is an account of my experience at the IAPS Convention: I registered a little late. Next time I will know better, because some of the classes I wanted to take were full. However, there were so many talented instructors I was still grateful for the ones I got. I had a plan for the whole week. I wanted to work my scheduled around the demos, the workshops and the candy store and still have time to plein air paint At the Candy Store with friends. I didn’t want to miss a single thing, not even the experience of the beautiful terrain between California and New Mexico. So, I decided to drive the 885 miles to Albuquerque, stopping along the way to take photos and to soak up the breathtaking landscape. When we arrived at the Albuquerque Hotel I was not disappointed. We settled into our room and the following morning I delivered my painting to the gallery where IAPS volunteers were receiving accepted pieces for the PastelWorld Exhibition. The convention had not yet officially started,
