Jan. Spotlight- Cindy Schreck Gillett

I am an artist living in Meridian, ID painting primarily with soft pastels over the past ten years. My artistic style leans towards classical realism, often focusing on still life, florals and animals. It's the details as well as the mood of my subject that draws me in and allow me to get lost in the “zone” unaware of the passing of time. Because my style is realism, I paint primarily in my studio but I truly love meeting with other local artists to plein air paint. The Plein Air Painters of Idaho (PAPI) provides the incentive I need to develop new friendships and branch out into genres I don’t typically paint (such as landscapes).  

Why soft pastels? 
Having viewed original pastel paintings by Edgar Degas, I was amazed not only by his skill as an artist but at the quality of the pastel pigments. Unlike other mediums that may yellow or crack in time, his works looked fresh, as though they could have been painted yesterday. While I do sometimes paint with oils, gouache, watercolor and acrylic, my passion remains strong and steadfast for soft pastels.

I am a signature member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), a signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast (PSWC), as well as a member of the Plein Air Painters of Idaho (PAPI).