By Tanya Steele
The Pastel Society of Victoria recently opened its 37th annual exhibition at the Sherbrooke Gallery in Belgrave, awarding a Dandenong Ranges and renowned artist Best in Show.
Pastel in Focus saw an official opening on Saturday 2 November – with 52 artists submitting 104 paintings to the exhibition.
Winner of Best in Show for 2024 and Olinda local Maxwell Wilks, who has been painting for nearly 50 years said he took up pastels around 15 years ago.
President of the Pastel Society in Victoria Roz Long said they had around 118 people at the opening.
“It was quite good,” she said.
“The exhibition is good and members can show off their wonderful work,” she said.
Ms Long and Mr Wilks both said pastels are a colourful and distinct medium.
“They’re beautiful and I like colour, “ Mr Wilks said.
“It’s a distinctive way of painting,” he said.
“They’re full of colour and you also get artists that use pencil pastels,”said Ms Long.
Mr Wilks started painting after attending the National Gallery in his mid-20s and has worked a lot in oils previously, these days he tutors and paints.
Staiths, his entry this year was a UK subject, where he used to take artists on group trips to paint quite regularly.
“This was from Whitby, Yorkshire,” he said.
Artist and Judge Paul McDonald Smith OAM judged the entries for 2024 and Ms Long said he did a fantastic job.
Mr McDonald Smith said he was drawn to the energy and vigorous confidence of application in this commanding work.
“Powerful contrasts of tone, coupled with dynamic planes and rich colour draw the viewer to explore the many complexities and subtleties of this outstanding pastel painting,” he said.
Mr Wilks regularly tutors for the Pastel Society and said he’s pleased to have won the award and will continue his work.
“I paint pretty much every day,” he said.
Ms Long said Maxwell’s winning entry was beautiful.
“He does beautiful work all the time – he’s amazing,” she said.
“Runner-up Pierina Sannia’s Healthy Balance was also stunning and looked like a picture.”
Mr Wilks said the art landscape has changed a lot and younger artists have a much harder time breaking out than they used to.
“Painting today is not quite the same, some of the galleries are gone,” he said.
“People don’t buy the art anymore.”
Mr Wilks is also President of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Inc. which has been running for 107 years and has been a member since 1982.
“It started many, many years ago with artists like Streeton,” he said.
The original Melbourne Twenty were supporters and students of the tonalist Max Meldrum. Following his loss in the 1918 election for president of the Victorian Artists Society, they chose to leave the Society and regrouped at his studio in Hardware Chambers, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.
Mr Wilks said he has no plans to stop painting and remains busy in the art world, tutoring and doing his own works.
“I paint because I like to,” said Mr Wilks.
The Pastel Society had their patron Andrew McKenzie OAM open the exhibition, and Ms Long said he is a great supporter of the society and helps to promote them.
“He’s really good for the society,” said Ms Long.
The Pastel Society is always dedicated to welcoming new and beginner artists to on the art form and has an annual scholarship that new artists can apply for.
“People can attend a workshop for two days and get an enormous amount of tuition,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity.”
Some newer members have then gone on to win awards at the annual show, with two relatively new artists taking out scholarships and awards for 2024.
“We’ve got these new people coming on board and it’s really good for the society,” said Ms Long.
The Pastel Society will continue to host workshops and monthly paint-outs for members throughout the year.
“Each of the categories won prizes and it was quite an amazing exhibition this year,” said Ms Long.
Pastel in Focus will be on display at Sherbrooke Gallery until 16 November at 62 Monbulk Rd, Belgrave and is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 11am – 3pm
