Jeannette CuevasFEATURE ARTIST May 2019
I am inspired by the unexpected beauty that is revealed by light, most often the sunlight. During the dark times in my life God always showed me there is light in every situation and everything on this earth. I found myself looking for the light on everything I painted and how it exposed it's particular beauty. I discovered that not only did the light shine on an object but it seemed to glow from within as well.That became my challenge and my desire, to not only expose the exterior beauty of a subject illuminated by the light but to also reveal the light that glows from within. |
Jeannette Cuevas
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PSST: Congratulations on winning the Silver Award for Threads Of Our Heritage in the 2018 Web Show -- the 33rd Juried Exhibition of the International Association of Pastel Societies. This richly textured painting is a real inspiration to many of us!
As a prize-winning artist, we are blessed to have you among us for an upcoming PSST workshop in May 2019. When you look back on your life and career, what would you say has led to your current success? Jeannette Cuevas: Persistence, Passion and Inspiration. When I was a child I always knew I wanted to “do art for a living”. What that meant, exactly, I didn’t know. But I knew i wanted to do it, and I was persistent about it. Although I got my degree in Art Education, I continued to find jobs that allowed me to participate in the artistic process in some way. I had read an article about Sally Strand and the light filled subjects that she painted in pastel. It was the first time I really noticed the beauty of this medium and how the pigments captured the luminescence of light. I experimented with painting on watercolor paper, using watercolor and pastel the way that she did. That experience opened my eyes to a whole new approach to working with pastel, and my passion for this medium grew. As I began to paint more and more, I noticed how the effect of light seemed to reveal incredible beauty in the common-place images I would come across from around where I live. I was mesmerized by the way the pastel glittered on the surface of the watercolor paper texture, and how the watercolor underneath glowed from within each painting. I came to realize that God is everywhere in this light that I love, and I am compelled to try to capture its beauty and tranquility in the images that I paint. At this point in my life I have learned that God’s beautiful light is what inspires me to paint. It is also this inspiration that is responsible for my passion, as well as my persistence in continuing to paint the way that I do. |
Sweet Solitude - 32x24
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PSST: Is participation with pastel society competitions an important step for an artist?
Jeannette Cuevas: If you are an artist looking to grow in your artistic ability, confidence, credibility and influence then I would say a pastel society is certainly a wonderful resource. I know it was for me. Being around fellow pastelists of varying abilities was a wonderful influence on me. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount about pastel painting, but I also gained so much self-confidence and inspiration from just being round my fellow, passionate pastel artists. Submitting your artwork to a society competition can be very intimidating. You’re putting yourself out there, especially your art that you’ve put your heart and soul into. Can you feel any more vulnerable? But it stretches you. Being accepted into a show is great. And, if you win something, oh my goodness! Even if competing with your art isn’t important to you, just being part of a group of like-minded artists is so worthwhile. Sharing ideas, information, and inspiration with people who love the same pastel medium you do....that’s absolutely priceless. |
Threads of our Heritage - 14x14
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PSST: How has pastel painting affected how you create art? What is your setup and method of painting
Jeannette Cuevas: Painting in pastel has become my absolute passion. Pastel has become synonymous with the very thing that inspires me - the light. When I made my very first stroke of pastel in college it felt like I was painting with light! That still holds true today, and my method of painting supports this. After sketching the image to my (cold press) watercolor paper, wetting it, and stapling it to my board, I let it dry thoroughly. Next, I loosely apply rich amounts of watercolor to my underpainting, choosing colors and temperatures I want to peek through from under the layers of pastel later in the painting. The flow of watercolor beneath the pastel on top makes the painting glow. And the pure pastel pigments applied lightly to the tops of the textured watercolor paper creates a glittery effect that really shows off the light. |
Texas Radiance - 12x16
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PSST: Vibrant cacti and native wildflowers are a current theme for your paintings. Do you improvise with color to achieve the atmosphere of a scene? Are there special tools or specific pastels needed for your approach?
Jeannette Cuevas: I think this is one of the things that is most exciting about creating art. All of the artistic choices that we get to make contribute to the final emotion and beauty of our art.
I definitely improvise with color while creating my work. We speak to our paintings with our tools and our passion; our paintings will also speak to us and reveal what they want from us as well, if we listen. The process of loosely applying vivid color to the underpainting is where the conversation with my artwork begins. It continues, ultimately, through the various layers of pastel decisions that follow.
My process involves several different materials that I find useful as follows:
Watercolor
I use a range of deep shades of tube watercolors: Ultramarine Blue, Prussian Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Violet, Dark Magenta and Quinacridone Gold (or similar colors).
Pan Pastel
I use a couple of extra dark shades of Magenta, Phthalo Blue and Paynes Gray Pan Pastel as I begin to establish the darkest areas of the painting. This step is completed just prior to the application of regular pastel colors to my painting.
Pastel
I prefer using a harder pastel like Rembrandt, Girault, Holbein or NuPastel while establishing probably 75% coverage of the painting surface. Softer pastels may be used as the painting evolves, closer to completion.
Jeannette Cuevas: I think this is one of the things that is most exciting about creating art. All of the artistic choices that we get to make contribute to the final emotion and beauty of our art.
I definitely improvise with color while creating my work. We speak to our paintings with our tools and our passion; our paintings will also speak to us and reveal what they want from us as well, if we listen. The process of loosely applying vivid color to the underpainting is where the conversation with my artwork begins. It continues, ultimately, through the various layers of pastel decisions that follow.
My process involves several different materials that I find useful as follows:
Watercolor
I use a range of deep shades of tube watercolors: Ultramarine Blue, Prussian Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Violet, Dark Magenta and Quinacridone Gold (or similar colors).
Pan Pastel
I use a couple of extra dark shades of Magenta, Phthalo Blue and Paynes Gray Pan Pastel as I begin to establish the darkest areas of the painting. This step is completed just prior to the application of regular pastel colors to my painting.
Pastel
I prefer using a harder pastel like Rembrandt, Girault, Holbein or NuPastel while establishing probably 75% coverage of the painting surface. Softer pastels may be used as the painting evolves, closer to completion.
PSST: Please, tell us what special events or classes you have coming up.
Jeannette Cuevas: I am excited to have had one of my paintings recently accepted into the publication “Strokes Of Genius 11: Finding Beauty”, which will be coming out in November 2019.
I am also very honored to be receiving my Master Circle designation from the International Association Of Pastel Societies (IAPS) at their convention, June 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jeannette Cuevas: I am excited to have had one of my paintings recently accepted into the publication “Strokes Of Genius 11: Finding Beauty”, which will be coming out in November 2019.
I am also very honored to be receiving my Master Circle designation from the International Association Of Pastel Societies (IAPS) at their convention, June 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.