Plein Air Paintings

October 28 Hope Valley pastel 11x14
Stevens Peak pastel 5x7
October on the Carson pastel 11x14
Morning at Baldwin Beach, pastel 5x7
Clouds Above The Meadow
pastel 5x7
East Shore August 5x7 SOLD
August Morning 3x4
Morning Meadow Pastel 8x10 SOLD
Buttercups by the Stream pastel 8x10 SOLD
Cloudy Spring Morning, Hope Valley pastel 9x12



Morning in the Meadow pastel 7x20 SOLD

Meadow Afternoon, pastel 7x20

Spring grass, Markleeville pastel 8x10
Sierra Summer pastel 4x6



Small Cove, Martis Valley pastel 8x10 SOLD



Boulder in the Meadow
Hope Valley pastel 6x8

September Clouds pastel 5x7
    Morning on the Upper Truckee River 8x10
    October River, Hope Valley 9x12 SOLD
    Sierra Meadow Morning pastel 5x7
    Desert Peach in the Morning Carson Valley pastel 8x10
    Snow shadows pastel 5x7
    Genoa Lane pastel 8x10
    Frosty Morning, Martis Valley pastel 11x14
    East Shore Cove pastel 5x7 SOLD
    Spring Snow, Hope Valley pastel 8x10
    Noon, Baldwin Beach plein air 5 x 7
    River Bend pastel 8x10 SOLD
    Sierra Morning pastel 8x8 SOLD
    Early Spring Hope Valley pastel 8x10 SOLD
  • http://www.bonitapaulis.com/

What is Pastel?

"Pastel does not refer to pale colors, as the word is commonly used in cosmetic and fashion terminology. The name comes from the French word pastische, because the pure, powdered pigment is ground into a paste, with a small amount of gum binder, and then rolled into sticks. The infinite variety of colors in the pastel palette range from soft and subtle to bold and brilliant.

Many associate pastel with colored chalk, but chalk is a cheap, impermanent substance. Pastel is the most permanent of all media when applied to a permanent ground and properly framed. There is no oil to cause darkening or cracking, nor other substance or medium to cause fading or blistering. Pastels from the 16th century exist today, as fresh and alive as the day they were painted!"

quoted from the PSWC website

Top Pastel Painting Blogs Award 2010

April 24 – June 19, 2011

The Pastel Society of the West Coast brings itsPastels USA: 25th Annual International Open Exhibition back to The Haggin Museum beginningSunday, April 24 throughSunday, June 19.

The Pastel Society of the West Coastwas founded by a handful of dedicated artists from Northern California. Some of the most elite pastel painters in the country enter the annual exhibition.

Since only about 100 paintings are placed in the show, acceptance is considered a worthy accomplishment. This year's exhibition attracted 555 entries from 172 artists

PSWC 25th Pastels USA International Open Exhibition


I have a painting "SUMMER CLOUDS, HOPE VALLEY " juried into the Pastel Society of the West Coast's 25th Pastels USA International Open Exhibition to be held at the Haggin Museum opening on April 24 and running through June 19 to be held at the
Haggin Museum
1201 N. Pershing Ave.
Stockton, Ca.
My painting received the Margo Schulzke Award, thanks!!

"LENTICULAR" Lake Tahoe Wave Cloud

"LENTICULAR" Lake Tahoe Wave Cloud

December Day

December Day
Half Moon Bay California Pastel 4x6

"Cloud Explosion" 12 x 36" pastel

"Cloud Explosion" 12 x 36" pastel

"Xmas Candles"

"Xmas Candles"
Pampas Grass in Half Moon Bay, the day after Christmas

"Fireglow" Pastel 3" x 12"

"Fireglow" Pastel 3" x 12"

LAKE ALPINE IN SUMMER

LAKE ALPINE  IN SUMMER
pastel 6 x 25

Evening Sky Lake Tahoe

Evening Sky Lake Tahoe
all images copyright Bonita Paulis 2009

" THE WATER CHANNEL "

" THE WATER CHANNEL "
Carson Valley Nevada, late fall pastel 11 x 14

" A WINTER DAY, LAKE TAHOE "

" A WINTER DAY, LAKE TAHOE "
pastel 11 x14

" WINTER FIELD "

" WINTER FIELD "
pastel 11 x 14

"The View From Waterhouse Peak"

"The View From Waterhouse Peak"
pastel 11 x 14

"Pine Tree in Winter"

"Pine Tree in Winter"
pastel 16 x 20

Winter at Winnemucca Lake

Winter at Winnemucca Lake
16x20 March afternoon, 49 degrees snowshoe hike

March to Spring

March to Spring
Late March in Hope Valley 16x20