Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association

This talk will be about my own experience working with
pastels; how I came to pastels, why I enjoy it so much, and
how I balance working in pastel with working in other media.
In the course of which, we will raise some interesting
questions, such as: if each medium (oil, acrylic, egg
tempera, etc.) has a distinct range and timbre, what is
pastel’s range and timbre?

Is working in pastel painting or drawing? Further, what is the
difference between painting and drawing? Why is it that we
often paint on white canvases, but few artists work on white
pastel paper? The talk will focus on my own work, as I know
it more intimately than anyone else’s. I will show images of
finished work, as well as sequence shots of a work in
progress, so you will see how it developed. I will also bring
one or two finished works with me. There will be time for
questions and answers.

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Ephraim Rubenstein was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1956. He received his B.A. in Art History from Columbia University and his M.F.A. in Painting from Columbia University’s
School of the Arts. In addition, he attended the Brooklyn Museum Art School.

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Mr. Rubenstein was Associate Professor of Art at the University of Richmond from 1987–1998, where he received the Distinguished Educator Award and The Commonwealth’s
Outstanding Faculty Award. He taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, Maryland Institute College of Art and the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts.​​​​​​