Current Exhibitions
Northern Indiana Pastel Society Membership Exhibit:
Pastel Kaleidoscope
Sept. 19 through Oct. 28, 2023, Fehlner Family Gallery
Roti Roti Art Center, formerly Buchanan Art Center
117 West Front St.
Buchanan, Michigan
Hours: Wed.–Fri., Noon–6pm
Sat.-Sun., Noon–4pm
Reception with awards: 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.
Appetizers and desserts are welcome.
Releasing: Noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.
Featuring 31 works by 22 NIPS members. Here are some of the painting on exhibit.
Member Exhibitions/Events
Call for Artists:
First Brush of Fall Colors
Plein Air Paint Out hosted by
Indiana Plein Air Painters Association
Converse, IN
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023
Free to artists
but you must RSVP
to Avon Waters
Email: [email protected]
Learn more…
Upcoming NIPS Exhibitions
Heartland Artists Gallery, Plymouth, Ind.
JULY 2024
Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, Ind.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025
Recent NIPS Exhibitions
New Horizons in Pastel: Northern Indiana Pastel Society Membership Exhibit
June 19 – July 29, 2023
MoonTree Studios
9638 Union Road, the Center at Donaldson, Plymouth, IN.
Awards were presented to Sandy Williams for “Summer Walk”; Peg Luecke, “Lands End”; Daniel Slattery, “Dome in Moonlight“; Emma Marsh, “Equilibrium” and Elizabeth Kuntz, “Higher Self”.
33 works by 21 artists were exhibited. Here are a selection of some on display:
Pastel Viewpoints
Northern Indiana Pastel Society Members’ Exhibit
Colfax Cultural Center
914 Lincolnway West
South Bend, IN
Sept. 9 – Oct. 21, 2022
Twenty-four works by NIPS members were on exhibit.
Awards were presented to Sue Coultas and Shandelle Henson of Niles, Mich., Avon Waters of Converse, Ind., and Elizabeth Kuntz of South Bend. The judge was Justin Barfield, Colfax Cultural Center gallery curator.
Recent Events
NIPS Meeting | Saturday, March 4, 2023
Program: Venture into Pastels
Dan Slattery, an award-winning watercolorist who recently started painting in pastels, displayed several recently completed paintings and shared what attracted him to pastel, and what he’s learned about the differences between the two mediums. “There is still much I don’t understand about pastels. Every picture I attempt is a journey into the unknown, each painting explores something new.” Dan is a former president of the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society and the Northern Indiana Artists, Inc. He teaches watercolor painting at South Bend Museum of Art.
Holiday Potluck Luncheon | Friday, Dec. 9, 2022
Thanks to NIPS and the Friday Pinhook Pastel Group for hosting our holiday luncheon! Members and guests enjoyed the time with their pastel peeps, a delicious potluck spread, and a chance to view members’ works on display. A book exchange and gift of sample Terry Ludwig pastels rounded out the festive occasion!
Thanks to organizers Dee Thornton, Mary Firtl and Cathy McCormick as well as volunteers who helped with set up and clean up.
Happy Holidays to all!
Avon Waters Featured Presenter at Fall NIPS Membership Meeting
On October 29, NIPS member Avon Waters shared his experience of a two-year project painting the waterways of Indiana in preparation for his new book, “Indiana Waterways: The Art of Conservation.” The paintings are among 60 paintings created along with five other Indiana plein air artists to call attention to the importance of protecting the state’s water.
The exhibit is on display at the Indiana State Museum from Oct. 16-Dec. 11 and features stirring images of 25-30 different locations in the 62,000 miles of rivers, streams, and tributaries in Indiana. Learn more here.
Avon described his experiences in painting the waterways, organizing the project and how to purchase the book, which is available locally at CircaArts Gallery in South Bend.
He also shared a work in progress (pictured on tabletop easel) explaining his technique.