Chasing Light Outdoors

Next Month We’d Love to Feature Your Plein Air Setup and Favorite Spot — Take Us to the Places You Love to Paint, Whether Forest, Field, or Shore — Send 2–3 Photos of Your Easel, Your View,

 and the Moment That Inspires You

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Diane Rosen PSA-MP

Nyack, NY

My studio is in my home, upstairs away from the main part of the house, so in addition to ‘regular’ hours I’m there whenever the mood strikes! This view is from the studio, looking past a stairway that bisects the long room, toward an office area and a wall of shelves with tons of art books to delve into for inspiration.

The actual studio area is at the north end, seen here from the office, where my large flat files are located. The high cathedral ceiling and north facing windows provide great direct and ambient light for painting.

Though not large, the studio affords plenty of room for my easel, centered between a taboret with convenient drawers and shelf, and a table that keeps pastels readily at hand. At left, behind the easel, is a storage rack for framed pieces etc., enclosed by Homasote panels that provide a tackable surface for sketches or source photos.

At the start of new work my pastels are pretty well organized, but they don’t stay this neat! As each painting in process evolves its own particular palette of essential hues, I keep adding them to a separate flat container for easy access. I use a variety of pastels-- including Richeson, Sennelier, Rembrandt and Nupastels—for their varying softness or hardness. 

Under the pastels table is another smaller flat file, topped with bins of brushes and acrylic paints, which I often use to create underpaintings for layering with pastels.

Another view of the office area, where I can read, relax, and sit apart from a WIP in order to see it later with fresh eyes. Sidney is in his usual spot, reclining on the sofa, which is absolutely his prerogative as my constant studio companion!

Anna Artemenko

Jaroměř, Czech Republic

My name is Anna Artemenko. I am an artist from Ukraine, currently living in the Czech Republic, where I have a wonderful studio. I received a classical education grounded in academic traditions and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine. At present, I am experimenting, and I am succeeding in this, with great confidence and ease.

My art studio is located in the Czech Republic, in the town of Jaroměř — a spacious and light-filled place that has become my true creative home. The large studio, enriched with natural light, provides ideal conditions for work and allows me to fully immerse myself in the painting process.

This is not only a workshop, but also a kind of open space — a studio-museum where I create, store my artworks, and welcome visitors. Collectors, art enthusiasts, and my students come here. Everyone has the opportunity, not only to see the works in a real environment, but also to feel the atmosphere in which they were created.

In my studio, I also conduct drawing and painting classes, sharing my experience and knowledge. My approach to pastel painting has developed through practice and personal discoveries. It is based on the subtle interaction of colors — the unique influence of one color on another, unconventional color combinations, and bold relationships.

I mostly work with Koh-i-Noor pastels. It is a well-known Czech brand, and their soft pastels are my favorite—I use them regularly. Since I live permanently in the Czech Republic, I specifically work with this brand. I would also be happy to send you a photo of my most recent purchase of a color palette that I really love.

Since I teach at the University of Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, at the Department of Art, I use ceramic vases for still life, which I place in the classroom, and I also work with them myself. The plaster heads are for academic drawings, as well as for still life. The ceramic vases shown here are my collection that I brought from Ukraine!

Light, pure, and vibrant colors are a defining feature of my work and also my artistic strength. Through color, I convey emotion, space, and mood. With great pleasure, I invite you all into the world of beauty and pastel art — to my studio.

Best regards,

Anna Artemenko

Keith Allen Haring (1958-1990) was a prolific American artist and activist whose pop art emerged from the 1980s New York graffiti scene. His animated style, featuring dancing figures, barking dogs, and radiant babies, became a widely recognized visual language. Haring's work challenged elitism and expanded the definition of art by transforming subways into galleries and creating the Pop Shop, an interactive space for people to engage with his art.