Jen Evenhus demo February 6, 2021
Who would believe how beautiful--and colorful--cacti can be! Jen taught us that color can be imagined if the value and temperature are right and that imperfection can be welcomed. 

Jen starts with an underpainting of random colors washed in with alcohol or turpentine. She preselects a range of pastel that identify with color swatches. (Tip: check out design-seeds on Pinterest). After a loose charcoal sketch of the cactus, she works into the dark values of the cactus, lightly, then more heavily on the light areas. Her final step is the background, carving negative spaces that make the cactus pop up and out. 

Jen gave quick tips throughout the demo, from the pastel tray attached to her easel to draping a towel over her arm to clean the pastels. The last image below is her finalized painting--stunning and loose. Click the images for full views and look for the textured strokes, especially on the lights.

submitted by PSST member Ed Meanley:
"​I really enjoyed the Jenifer Evenhus demonstration during the PSST February 2021 Zoom meeting. I had seen her work before and tried to emulate it – just once. I am now encouraged to try again.
 
I first encountered her work in the February 2013 issue of the Pastel Journal, page 83. Her painting “On Guard” was in the Animal and Wildlife section among the Honorable Mention awards of the Pastel 100 Competition sponsored by the Pastel Journal.
 
In 2014 I painted my cat Solomon in my usual representational style. After seeing Ms. Evenhus’ painting “On Guard”, I decided to try my had at her style. I liked the result, even though it was not quite so expressive as her painting. See the before and after painting of Solomon. My attempt had bolder colors and strokes, but did not seem as spontaneous as the painting by Ms. Evenhus
 
I had only guessed at how Ms. Evenhus achieved her result. After seeing her demo, I appreciate how carefully she approaches her subject. Her bold abstractions are carefully orchestrated. There is method to her “madness”.  I shall try again. (Click images for full view)

Caution and diligence on the internet.
We all wish we didn't have to be concerned, but so much is involved when your email gets hacked. It happened to one of our members this week. A hacker uses your contact list to send emails with the goal of getting personal information getting someone to click a link that installs bad stuff on your computer.

​Always, always, if an email or message looks suspicious, weird, asks for money, or is just out of character with the sender--put it in the trash.

Steps to take if your account was hacked, according to internet security company, Norton.  

1. Change your credentials.
If you do still have access to your account, make these changes right away:
Get a new username and password. Choose a strong password. Secure passwords or passphrases should contain at least 12 characters, including numbers, symbols and a mix of capital and lowercase letters. Use a unique password for every account. Password managers offer an easy and secure way to create complex passwords and to keep track of your login credentials.
Change your security questions. The hacker may have gotten access to your account by guessing the answers to security questions. They could hack your account again if you don’t change these questions and answers. Avoid choosing questions with answers that can easily be guessed or found online. For example, don’t choose “What’s your mother’s middle name?” if your mom routinely uses her first, middle, and last name on social media.
Turn on two-step verification. Also known as multifactor authentication, this extra security measure typically requires you to enter your username and password along with a temporary passcode to get into an account. For example, the service provider may send the one-time passcode to your phone each time you try to log in. Without your phone in hand, a hacker will be much less likely to gain entry into an account that has two-step verification turned on.
 
2. Warn your contacts.
Tell the colleagues, friends, and family in your email contact list that your email has been hacked. Warn them to delete any suspicious messages that come from your account. Also tell them not to open applications, click on links, share credit card information, or send money. It can be embarrassing to let your contacts know you’ve been hacked, but the warning may save them from falling for a scam.
 
Read the full article with more information here: 4 things to do if your email account is hacked | NortonLifeLock

Jen Evenhus is the interview artist for February 2021. The interview gives her insights in creating with color and mark-making. "It’s sometimes like a dance – how I move my arm while laying down a stroke, twisting and turning the stick as it dances over the surface, or use unusual tools to make marks and texture, like my favorite twig or a comb." 
​
Her website is with FASO, and Jen talks about many of its features. Did you know that PSST members receive a super special price for the first year of a new FASO website? 

​Read the full interview here.