『The Pastel Podcast Episode 6: Pamela Comfort』のカバーアート

The Pastel Podcast Episode 6: Pamela Comfort

The Pastel Podcast Episode 6: Pamela Comfort

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 In Episode 6 of The Pastel Podcast we sat down with Pamela Comfort — pastel artist and president of the Pastel Society of the West Coast (PSWC) — to hear how she went from a 30-year career in education to leading one of the largest and most active pastel societies in the United States. Pamela's story is equal parts curiosity, community-building, and practical insight for artists at every stage. Here's a condensed, actionable recap of our conversation and what PSWC offers to pastelists everywhere. How Pamela discovered pastels Pamela's pastel journey began in 2019 after retirement. While packing boxes from her education career she found oil pastels she'd used for leadership workshops and decided to "play around" with them. Curious and methodical by training, she dove into online research and workshops and quickly discovered soft (dry) pastels. What followed was a joyful plunge: ordering pastels and papers, setting up an easel, and learning by doing. Her experience is a great reminder that it's never too late to start a new creative practice. "I just started headlong into it... next thing you know, I'm buying the dry pastels. They're arriving in the mail one after another." From volunteer to PSWC president Pamela's involvement with PSWC began through volunteering. Because of her decades in education — including connections to county superintendents and arts initiatives across California — she stepped in as a scholarship co-chair to help promote PSWC's student scholarships. Her volunteer work opened doors: she met artists, learned organizational ropes, and was asked to take on more leadership roles, ultimately becoming PSWC president. What the Pastel Society of the West Coast offers PSWC is one of the largest pastel societies in the U.S., with hundreds of members and a broad slate of programs designed to support artists from beginners to award-winning professionals. Below are the core offerings Pamela described: Workshops and demonstrations In-person workshops across Northern, Central and Southern California, often aligned with shows or festivals.Online Zoom demonstrations and modular workshops — for example, short Saturday-afternoon series (1–4 PM) to lower the commitment barrier.Guest instructors vary from local favorites to international artists, and PSWC sometimes offers member scholarships to attend workshops. Shows and competitions 99 Voices : A prestigious traditional pastel exhibit (currently showing at the Hilbert Museum of California Art).MOOS : A members-only online show (convenient: no framing or shipping).Multimedia Show : A physical show where artists can break the usual pastel society rule — instead of the typical requirement that the final layer be at least 80% pastel, PSWC allows pieces with only 30–50% pastel in the final layer. This makes room for oil + pastel, collage + pastel, watercolor underpaintings with exposed layers, gouache, acrylic, inks and mixed-media techniques. "In a regular pastel society show the top layer is supposed to be 80% dry or soft pastel. For our multimedia show the final layer is supposed to be only 30 to 50% pastel — it really has to be multimedia." Challenges, magazine exposure, and guest blogs Regular themed challenges (10-day, 21-day, and others) that include educational primers, daily practice, and peer feedback.Selected works from challenges and regional activities are highlighted in PSWC's beautiful print magazine — a tangible form of recognition for emerging artists who may not yet get into juried shows.Guest blog posts and archived interviews/demonstrations provide ongoing educational content on the PSWC website. Scholarships Two scholarship tracks: high school seniors heading to college art programs, and college students pursuing art degrees. Recent awards have been $2,000 each.Member workshop scholarships are also offered periodically so artists can afford professional instruction. Community, critique, and the power of honest feedback One of the strongest benefits Pamela emphasized is community — a place where pastelists "speak the same language." PSWC encourages honest critique from peers and mentors, which helps artists grow faster than praise alone. Pamela noted that posting work among artist peers produces actionable feedback, versus general applause from friends and family which, while lovely, doesn't push skill development. "A good critique from someone you trust is one of the most powerful tools for elevating your skills to a new level." Volunteering: small commitments, big rewards PSWC faces the same volunteer and demographic challenges as many arts organizations: membership skews older, materials are expensive, and it can be hard to recruit younger volunteers. Pamela's approach was practical — break volunteer roles into small, manageable jobs so more people can contribute without feeling overwhelmed. Regional reps : Low-pressure role. Do what you already enjoy — organize a paint-out, host a small group critique, or ...
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