"Making Critiques Work for You.  What to do with the advice given in a constructive critique? In addition to listening well and writing it down, over the course of the next month or so try your hand at improving your work according to the feedback you've been given. Adapt the advice that works the best for you and your artistic vision."

AnneHeywood wrote the above in The Critical Eye, Pastel Journal, 2015. Sometimes we get nougats of information flipping through the older magazines. Next time you have 10 minutes wondering what to do, grab an old issue; you'll get renewed energy in art and marketing.

Come to the PSST meeting October 1st, for an all day event of demo, lunch, and critique session by Christine Swann. A lucky few are scheduled for critiques; the rest of us will get just as much by listening to the evaluation.

Watching a master pastelist paint a portrait; talking and laughing through lunch with friends; learning how to improve a painting.

How about if it is free?
And in the company of fantastic pastel artists? And if Christine Swann is there?

That's what happens October 1st, beginning 9:00 a.m.

After a short business meeting, Christine and a PSST model take center stage for a demonstration of painting the portrait. Can't wait to sit back, relax, and learn her how-to's.

After the demo, (around 11:30), PSST treats us to a scrumptious Jason's Deli lunch. A bit of a casual, get to know your fellow pastel artists, kind of time.

And then a critique session of paintings of 10 volunteer PSSTers. You get another chance to learn as Christine points out the best qualities of a painting as well as the areas that can be built upon and improved. What an opportunity for all of us to see a painting as a juror or competition might see it.

Susan Hotard gave a demonstration of her still life techniques at the September 10, 2016 meeting of PSST. Her final painting, with the setup of small porcelain Chinese dolls.