The Texas Pastel Society was founded due to a need for a pastel artists support group and raise awareness of the soft pastel medium in the south Texas community. With the help of co-founders, Laura Cardenas, Maria Teresa Everett, Cindy Morawski, Geri Martino, Teresa Villanueva, Irena Taylor and founder Mary Campos Lopez, the opening meeting was held on February 26, 2008 and attended by  twenty-one enthusiastic pastelists. TxPS will meet nine times in the year on the first Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise noted due to workshops, at the Takas Civic Center in San Antonio, Tx. 9310 Jim Seal Dr. The Texas Pastel Society is a member of the prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), www.pastelinternational.com 

What is Pastel?

Pastel is not colored chalk but is instead pure pigment, the same used in all art media. It is ground into a paste, rolled into sticks and dried. It is the most durable of all mediums and will not oxidize, darken, fade, yellow or crack with time. Sixthteenth century pastel paintings are still as bright as the day they were painted. Pastel paintings reflect light like a prism.

As with all fine art, keep pastel paintings out of direct sunlight and high humidity areas.