Marianne Nealy
Artist
I have been passionate about pastel painting ever since I first picked up a pastel stick 30 years ago. Living in Waltham in Addison County, Vermont, I am constantly inspired by scenic vistas in the area. I paint most often with pastels but have enjoyed experimenting with mixed media and pastels. I am an active member of the Vermont Pastel Society in the Chittenden hub as well as the Essex Art League.
In 2024 I was awarded first place for both the Vermont Pastel Society Member Exhibition and Juried Shows. Pastel paintings receiving awards are entitled “Shelburne Farms Road in Winter,” and “Shaking Off,” respectively. In 2025, a painting entitled, “The Slang,” was awarded the third place prize in the VPS Juried Show. I enjoy painting en plein air events with my artist colleagues. I truly love the opportunity to socialize and collaborate with the members of these organizations to learn and grow in my artistic endeavors.
Painting with pastels may be compared to using chalk. However, the soft pastel sticks are often handmade and come in endless colors.
Pastel Painting Challenge
The challenge in pastel painting for me is to find and show a tension between parts and pieces in scenes from nature. A composition as it presents itself in the natural environment given reflections, shadows and color allows me to challenge my skills of perception and execution with soft pastel. Brilliant pigments allow for marked transitions between forms, shape, color, light, shadow, and atmosphere in a landscape. I paint to evoke a sense of excitement for a place that gives the viewer pause to appreciate the beauty of our natural environment and especially Vermont.
