Donna Eigen
Artist's Statement: When I discovered soft pastels at a workshop in the fall
of 2008 it was love at first stroke. The medium resonated with me unlike any other.
Experiments drawing on hardware-variety sandpaper “set the hook.” I now work primarily
on sanded pastel paper and love the way it grabs the chalk and allows reworking.
The tactile nature of the process appeals to me. I enjoy the spontaneity of soft
pastels and the similarity to finger painting, allowing my ideas and feelings
to flow freely without a brush to get in the way. I also enjoy experimenting with
and blending colors directly on paper rather than a palette.
My subjects are often close-ups of organic objects — flowers, still lifes — with
the goal of creating an intimate glimpse of the subject. I especially like painting
from my own photography and the extra layer it lends to the creative process.
