About Sarah Pollock

Artist’s Statement

In my studio during February 2011, with Autumn Splendor.

I see the world with the volume turned up.

My pastel paintings are a visual diary of the people and places I observe throughout my travels. From the spectacular natural beauty surrounding my home in central Pennsylvania to the distinctive lights and personalities of cities, there’s nothing that I love more than using the vibrant medium of pastel to capture these locales and make them my own.

Light at the edge of day, near sunset or sundown, is most intriguing to me. I’m attracted to landscapes with dramatic angles, impressive skies, and natural bodies of water. In my cityscapes, I emphasize the beauty of the everyday. These paintings capture a range of subjects, from dynamic, down-the-street views to intimate portraits of anonymous individuals.

Background

I’m originally from southern Wisconsin (go Badgers, go Packers!) and I began my artistic career as a color stylist for Walt Disney Feature Animation.

I now work as a professional artist in central Pennsylvania. Landscapes and cityscapes are my favorite subjects and I paint in the medium of soft pastel, sticks of pigment that produce vibrant and expressive colors when applied over textured paper.

During the temperate seasons of the year, I often work outdoors, directly on location, to capture the many beautiful landscapes around my home. I also find inspiration in the natural and urban scenes that I encounter while traveling throughout the United States.

I began exhibiting my work in 2003 and my paintings are part of private collections throughout the country. In addition, I’ve won numerous awards in competitive national juried exhibitions. Some highlights include the following:

In 2011, my painting, Charge!, won the Judy Pardue Memorial Award for the best landscape painting in the Maryland Pastel Society’s national juried exhibition.
In 2010, I published From My Easel: A Celebration of Pennsylvania’s Black Moshannon State Park. The book features five years of my plein air paintings from the park as well as a history about this location. One half of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to benefit the park.
In 2009, I won the Robert and Virginia Mountz Award of Merit at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
I also received the “Best First Time Exhibitor” award at the 2006 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival in Mystic, Connecticut.
In 2005, my cityscape, Under the El, Chicago, won the Canson Award at the Connecticut Pastel Society’s 12th annual national juried exhibition
Also in 2005, my cityscape, The Steel Mill, Bethlehem, PA, received the top award in the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania’s Annual Members Show
In 2004, my cityscape, Homeless, Downtown D.C., was published in the Pastel Journal as part of their annual “Pastel 100″ competition, which highlights the best one hundred pastel paintings in the country
Also in 2004, my cityscape, Waiting to Cross, Downtown D.C., won an Honorable Mention in the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania’s Annual Juried Exhibition
In 2003, my landscape, Windswept, Kauai, won the Salmagundi Art Club Award in the Connecticut Pastel Society’s 10th annual national juried exhibition, Renaissance in Pastel

Painting on location in Pennsylvania's Black Moshannon State Park
with my studio mascot, Maple.

I live in central Pennsylvania with my husband, Tim, and our very spoiled dog, Maple. Over the past several years, I’ve served as a board member for the Maryland Pastel Society and the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania. I am also a member of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association. In addition, I teach classes about composition and color for beginning artists at the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania.

Where you can view my artwork:

The State College Framing Company and Gallery in State College, Pennsylvania

The William Ris Gallery in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Juried outdoor art shows

Regional exhibitions

In my studio, by appointment