PSME presents educational programs which are typically held in conjunction with a General Membership Meeting. Programs include but are not limited to: pastel demonstrations, pertinent topic lectures or demonstrations, gallery tours, and paint-outs. For more information complete the inquiry form on the CONTACT PSME page.  

Demos are Free to PSME MEMBERS in good standing. If you need to JOIN or renew your membership: https://www.pastelsocietyofmaine.org/join

Check below !!

** PROGRAMS & DEmos for 2025 **

2025 programs

The Pastel Society of Maine offers a range of programs throughout the year to membership and for guests as well in some instances. Please check back shortly for details regarding 2025 offerings. Scroll down to see a list of past program offerings. And check back, because there's more to come!

Winter Wine & Watch Programs with Demos

PSME is pleased to announce that for a second year it is hosting a series of Winter Wine & Watch Programs with demos. The first in the series of four programs is set to “air” on January 8, 2025.

Each program is live, online and features a noted pastel artist discussing a chosen topic (see below) and sharing a demonstration that illustrates the key components of his or her program.  Each program includes an opening segment, where PSME Vice-president Terrilynn Dubreuil introduces the guest speaker and offers her very own expert suggestion of a wine, tips for enjoying wine selections, and associated food pairings — all to accompany the evening’s program.  Become a PSME member to join the fun and take advantage of this highly instructive program series.

Winter Wine & Watch 2
February 5, 2025
Artist:  Anne Strutz
Program/Demonstration:  Marks in motion, how to create expressive paintings.
Be curious, be playful, then be intentional.  In this demonstration I will share techniques to help you create an expressive interpretation of the subject you wish to paint. I will touch on different combinations of underpainting techniques I use in my work, including the use of the brayer, a printmakers tool.

Anne Strutz, PSA, IAPS-MC, is an artist pushing boundaries infusing movement and energy into her paintings. For Anne, each painting begins with what you cannot see. She poses questions to herself before starting a painting. What is drawing me to this subject? What is the story I want to tell? What am I trying to express in each painting? No single mark is precious. No fear is allowed to enter the process behind the easel. All elements of the composition must work in unity. This process is critical for infusing energy into her work and allows her to respond directly to the painting as it evolves. 

Anne’s journey as an artist has been a fulfilling adventure, leading her from fashion designer in NYC, to developing and teaching art curricula for children in New Jersey and Chicago. In 2013 Anne turned her focus to fine art and began painting with soft pastels. Her work has been featured multiple times in the Pastel Journal, Pratique Des Arts and Strokes of Genius. She has authored multiple articles for the Pastel Journal and Artist Magazine. Anne volunteered her time on the IAPS Education Committee for 6 years. During this time, she led the development and implementation of the IAPS Global Society Grant. Anne served on the faculty of the IAPS Bi-Annual Convention as a demonstrator in 2019, 2022, and 2024. Anne is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and is an IAPS- Master Circle recipient. She holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and currently lives in upstate South Carolina, teaching.

Wine: A rich red (TBA). Pairing suggestions will come in the Zoom link email.

Winter Wine & Watch 3
March 5, 2025
Artist:  Lisa Regopoulos
Program/Demonstration:  When Realism Meets Impressionism

When Realism meets Impressionism in pastel, that’s where the excitement begins for Massachusetts artist Lisa Regopoulos. That’s how she likes to paint. It need not be a specific object, but a strong shape or pleasing color harmony combined with movement and texture that get transformed into an impressionistic pastel. First impressions of a scene, life in real time, the beauty of the now are the moments she wants to capture. That is why plein air painting excites her most. Her plein air work is fresh and evokes the feeling of whatever is happening at that moment in time. It’s that emotion in her pastels that engages her viewers, causing them to linger and begging them to share in that feeling.

Her enthusiasm for pastel and plein air painting has led her to attend many intensive workshops to keep growing as an artist and learn about new techniques and trends.  Working in pastel and teaching students this versatile medium for more than a decade are two of her greatest passions.

Lisa is an IAPS/MC (International Association of Pastel Societies, Master Circle Artist), Juried Associate of the Pastel Society of America, and has exhibited in the prestigious show “Enduring Brilliance” at the National Arts Club in Manhattan. She has been juried into the highly competitive IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) pastel exhibitions in three separate venues:  Vose Gallery in Boston; the IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, and the online shows. She holds Signature Member status at the Pastel of Society of New Hampshire and the Pastel Society of Maine.  Lisa is a juried exhibitor at the prestigious Crane Art Show & Sale in Ipswich, MA.  She was one of a group of eight pastel painters selected as Artist in Residence at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA and her pastel was selected as part of their permanent collection. Her work is held in private collections across the United States and Canada, and she was recently published in the book, The Scenes and Seasons of a Small New England Town, by Len Haug.

Wine: Port to balance those mid-winter blues. Pairing suggestions will come in the Zoom link email.

Winter Wine & Watch 4
April 9, 2025
Artist: Robert Carston 
Program/Demonstration: Aspects of Contemporary Flower Painting

A popular instructor, Robert Carsten, PSA-mp, IAPS-mc. has taught art workshops nationally and internationally for five decades. He is known for his friendly demeanor and in-depth knowledge of art techniques and history. His award-winning work is widely collected and has appeared in numerous publications, including Strokes of Genius/The Best of Drawing; Pure Color, and many others. He has served as juror for regional, national and international exhibitions, and is a contributing writer for Artists Magazine, Watercolor Magazine, and Pastel Journal.  Visit his website: robertcarsten.com

Wine: White or Orange (TBD). Pairing suggestions will come in the Zoom link email.

Summer plein air gatherings

Over the past several years, the Pastel Society of Maine has scheduled plein air gatherings from June through September for the benefit of PSME members. These outings are designed to make it possible for individuals scattered statewide to get together and enjoy painting and socializing. There are so many beautiful painting venues across Maine, and hosting an event may offer member artists a glimpse of new views and vistas. If you would like to host a gathering in your corner of Maine this summer, please contact PSME member Kay Etheridge to coordinate a date and location. Kay can be reached via the Contact page. And please check back in May for an update on this year’s painting locations.

Below is a look at PSME’s 2024 plein air sites:
June 24 - Mary Beth Morrison in New Sharon
July 22 - Rosalind Forber in Mercer
August 20 - Claudette Gamache in Popham Beach
September 17 - Laura Beckering in Lincolnville

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PRIOR Programs & Demos:

2025 Winter Wine & Watch program with demo by Lyn Asselta

2024 Demos & Abstraction Workshop with Polly Castor

2024 Summer Plein Air Outings hosted by individual Pastel Society of Maine members at locations throughout the state

2024 Annual Open Juried Exhibition Demo with Lyn Diefenbach, IAPS Eminent Pastellist, Pastel Society of Australia Master Pastellist, PSA Signature Member

2024 Winter Wine & Watch programs with demos by Mark Ivan Cole, Colette Odya Smith, Carol Strock Wasson, & Clarence Porter

2023 Member Exhibit Demo with Lyn Asselta, PSME Member and IAPS Eminent Pastellist and PSA Master Pastellist.

2023 Member Exhibit Demo with Claudette Gamache, IAPS Eminent Pastellist and PSA Signature Pastellist.

2023 Wade Zahares for the Pop-Up Open Studio,  published pastellist and PSME member.

2023 Open Exhibition Demos by Terrilynn Dubreuil & Tara Will Sept 9

2023 Norlands Board Meeting, mansion tour, lunch and paint out.

2023 Nugget Nights with Terrilynn Dubreuil , PSA * Four sessions of fundamentals, great for newcomers and experienced soft pastellists. Videos free for PSME Members: PSME email

2023 Pastel Demonstration by Christina Davis January 7

2022 Pastel Demonstration by Laurinda O’Connor October 21

2022 Abstraction Workshop with Polly Castor September

2022 Workshops for children and adults at the Coastal Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine May 28

2022 STUDIO VISIT Wade Zahares May 14

2022 WORKSHOP & DEMO Tara Will April 13

2022 DEMO Andrew McDermott March 16

2022 DEMO February 16 Aline Ordman

2022 PRESENTATION January 12 Polly Castor LINK TO PUBLIC VIDEO: Polly Castor Presentation

2021 DEMO: Laura Pollak

2021 DEMO: Jeri Greenberg “Interiors”

2021 DEMO: “Frosty Bunny” with Rita Kirkman

2021 DEMO: "Hone the Hues” with Terrilynn Dubreuil

2020 “Prep My Photos” CLICK HERE then scroll down page for INFO & VIDEO LINK (free video)

2019 “My Travels with Pastel” with Suzanne deLesseps

2017 PSME Informal Paint Out - Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm, Falmouth, Maine  

2017 Developing Realistic Textures in Pastel Paintings with Nancy Lovley, Brunswick, Maine

2017 Facebook and Social Media for Artists with Geraldine Aikman, PSME and ENGINE, Biddeford, Maine

Resources from Programs:

"Social Media for Artists" informational materials distributes at the PSME February 2017 Educational Program. For a copy click here.

 "Things You Should Know Before You Visit A Framer" informational material distributed at PPOM May 2015 General Membership Meeting. For a copy, click here.

Any questions, please CONTACT PSME here.