"Pastel: Layer by Layer" - Artist Demonstration with Robin Frisella

During this two-hour live demonstration, artist Robin Frisella will share how she creates realistic still life paintings using pastel. Working on sanded paper, she gradually builds up to 25 layers of color, showing how each stage adds depth, richness, and detail. From the first soft marks that set the composition to the final highlights that make a subject feel alive, you’ll see how ordinary objects are transformed into luminous works of art through patience and layering.

This event is free and open to the public but capacity is limited.

Register to reserve a seat.

This event is presented in conjunction with Robin Frisella's solo show "Beauty in the Stillness"

About the Exhibition:

Robin Frisella's pastel paintings are known for their rich textures, natural light effects, and nostalgic grace. Drawing from a carefully curated collection of antique vessels, vintage glassware, and fresh flowers and fruit, she creates serene tableaus that weave together the past and present - objects rich with history paired with nature's ephemeral gifts. The paintings Frisella creates have an almost photo-realistic quality, but they are hardly images captured in a flash.

Each painting is meticulously arranged and rendered in layer upon layer of pastel pigment. Speaking of her process, Robin explains, "working in pastel allows me to build soft, buttery layers that bring a richness and depth to each piece - capturing light, texture, and atmosphere in a way that feels both vivid and intimate. The process itself mirrors the theme of this show: unhurried, deliberate, and rooted in observation.

Robin began her creative journey in 2000, when a local pastel class sparked a passion that quickly grew into a full-time calling, and her work has since garnered numerous national and regional awards. She is a juried member of the Copley Society of Art and a signature member of the Pastel Society of NH. In October 2016, she received the designation of Master Pastelist from the Pastel Society of America. In addition, Robin’s work has been published in the Best of America Pastel Artists Vol. II, The American Artist Magazine, New Hampshire Magazine, Artscope Magazine, Monadnock Table, The American Art Collector, The Artist Magazine, and the Pastel Journal.

The collection of works displayed in this exhibition reveals an artist in absolute command of her medium. Her still lifes shimmer with intimate magic that only arises when profound observation and skillful technique meet heartfelt artistry. Memories and moods come to life in sheer splendor as her subjects are revealed through layers of pastel, patiently stroked in natural light. Speaking of her intention when creating the show, Robin expressed, "My hope is that these paintings offer viewers a moment of pause - a chance to feel calm, grounded, and perhaps even a touch nostalgic." In a world that moves so quickly, Beauty in the Stillness is an invitation to slow down and rediscover the quiet power of simplicity.

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