Candace J. Vlcek
Pastels and Oils

Crayons and paper were always my favorite toys as a child and through the years art supplies were always on hand.  I began to pursue art as a career in 1992 afer being "introduced" to pastels in a drawing class.  The beauty of those sticks of pure color grabbed hold of me and I've been hooked ever since.

Working on a variety of surfaces, my aim is to capture the essence of the scene through colors both seen and felt.  My paintings are in the style of the Impressionists, but my initial thought is always, "how can I use color to best express my feeling about this subject?" 

Books and workshops, and the company of artists working in many mediums, continue to inspire me. 

Professional Affiliations:

Pastel Society of America, Signature Member
Pastel Society of the West Coast, Signature Member
Northwest Pastel Society, Signature Member
Degas Pastel Society
Pastel Painters of Maine, Signature Member
Saco Bay Artists Association

Selected Awards & Juried Competitions:

2009:   Pastels Only, 37th Annual, Pastel Society of America
            Impressions of New England, Bennington Art Center
2008:   Pastels Only, 36th Annual, Pastel Society of America 
           UART Award, 9th Int'l Juried Show, PPOM 
2007:  12th Annual For Pastels Only on Cape Cod
           Best in Show, SACO Bay Artists Labor Day Show
           Best in Show, 100 Market Street Group Exhibit
           Best in Show, 28th Annual Art in the Part, South Portland
           Honorable Mention: 8th International Juried Show, PPOM
           49th Annual Juried Exhibit, Maine Art Gallery
2006:  Pastels Only, 34th Annual, Pastel Society of America
           48th Annual Juried Exhibit, Maine Art Gallery
           7th International Juried Show, PPOM
2004:  10th Biennial Nat'l Exhibit, Degas Pastel Society
           Second Place, UWF Fine Arts Exhibit
           Scholarship Award, 8th Biennial Nat'l Exhibit, PSNFL
2003:  Pastels Only, 31st Annual, Pastel Society of America
2002:  Pastels U.S.A. 16th Annual, Pastel Society of the West Coast
           1st Place-Pastels, 55th Annual Currier Exhibit, NHAA
2001:  Pastels U.S.A. 15th Annual, Pastel Society of the West Coast
1998:  Pastels U.S.A. 12th Annual, Pastel Society of the West Coast
1997:  Amsterdam Art Award, Pastels U.S.A. 11th Annual, PSWC
           People's Choice Award, SAA Winter Exhibit
           Honorable Mention, SAA Summer Exhibit
1996:  Merit Award, Art in the Park South Portland
           Honorable Mention, NHAA 10th Lassonde Exhibit
           Pastels U.S.A. 10th Annual, PSWC
1995:  49th Annual Currier Exhibit, NHAA
           10th Annual Int'l Open, Northwest Pastel Society
            NHAA 9th Lassonde Exhibit
1994:   Third Prize, Habitat for Humanity Art Festival
            Purchase Prize, 6 Alive Sidewalk Art Festival
            Pastels U.S.A. 7th Annual, PSWC
1993:   8th Annual In't Open, NPS
            Pastels U.S.A. 7th Annual, PSWC