Search Results for: laura pollak

email: laurapollakartist@gmail.com
web: www.laurapollakartist.com
cell: 336.508.4729

Laura Pollak is an award winning Fine Artist, showing her works in galleries and museums across the nation. Her works have been juried into National and International Shows. Recently, she has won acclaim in the very prestigious International Association of Pastel Societies and the Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Shows.

Laura herself has been sought after to jury international shows and share her knowledge through teaching. Pollak is a Member of the Piedmont Outdoor Painting Society [POPS], The Piedmont Pastel Society, The Southeastern Pastel Society, the Pastel Society of the West Coast, is the current President of the Pastel Society of North Carolina and an Associate member of The Pastel Society of America.

Her primary medium is Pastel and her works range from landscapes and garden scenes to playful abstracts. Laura also frames each pastel painting herself in her studio to give every piece of art its own unique presence.

Recent exhibitions include: The North Ridge Art Gala curated by the Director of the NC Museum of Art, The Cecil Byrne Gallery in Charleston Spring Show, The 2016 International Association of Pastel Societies Online Show, the UART International Pastel Show, The Southeastern Pastel Society International Juried Show at the Ogelthorpe Museum in Atlanta, GA, The Pastel Society of the West Coast, The Pastel Society of North Carolina at Ambleside Gallery in Greensboro, the Richeson Online Show, the 2015 International UArt Online Show and 3 One Woman Show in Greensboro with 40 new paintings yearly.

“I can remember the greatest gift my parents gave me at the age of 4 was the Crayola Crayon set of 72 colors! I have been enthralled with color ever since. I’m fascinated with light and shadow patterns. Even the most mundane subject is glorious when truly examined and especially in sunlight. It is a joy to capture the beauty in this world and hold these fleeting moments in a painting. A refuge one can revisit again and again.”

Pollak holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from Michigan State University with Post Graduate studies from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit Michigan. For most of her professional career Laura was an Art Director in some of the world’s largest Ad Agencies, and owned her own Ad Firm for almost 30 years. It has only been in the last 10 years however, that Laura has finally been able to pursue her passion; Painting.

Laura began her pastel education with the beloved Addren Doss and has continued her education with studies from some of the top artists in the field: Liz Haywood-Sullivan, Jen Evenhus, Lyn Asselta, Marla Bagetta, Susan Ogilvie,Terri Ford, Dawn Emerson, Karen Margulis, Kim Lordier, Teresa Saia and Debora Stewart.

Laura and her husband, Jeff and two boys are avid scuba divers and bicyclists. They travel the world adding to her appreciation of nature’s beauty and inspiration for future paintings.

Pollak’s paintings are in collections around the country and can be purchased through galleries, online through her website and at her studio by appointment.

News items for Laura Pollak

click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full painting

Deborah Thornberry has been a student under the tutelage of Kay Hurley, Ray Hassard and Ken Buck for several years. While formal training is recent for her, she has always had an interest in art, pursuing it on her own throughout the years and continuing to work taking various workshops with instructors such as Loriann Signori and Laura Pollak. Debbie is a member of Purple Paisley and Women’s Art Club of Cincinnati as well as a former member of 5th Street Gallery. She has received Honorable Mentions at the Madison Art Club annual fall show and the Woman’s Art Club. Her work has been accepted into the ViewPoint 50, Art Comes Alive 2018 and 2020, Pure Color national shows. Her work has been show at Curt Bessette Art Gallery, Wynner’s Cup, 5th Street Gallery, Baker Hunt; ArtsConnect ArtLocal; Christ Church, and Pastel Point 2018.

click on the thumbnail pictures below to see the full painting

Meetings for the society are held on the 2nd Saturday of each of the following months (January, March, May, July, September and November) from 10am – 12pm (unless otherwise scheduled). Meetings will be held at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens room 106 (100 Old Mason Farm Road) in Chapel Hill unless otherwise indicated. For directions please go to ncbg.unc.edu.

Check out the Meeting Archives to see some photos and notes from our past meetings.

Want to become a member? Fill out our online application and join us for an upcoming meeting!

January 13 – Susan Mayfield Demo / Mini-Workshop
Susan Mayfield is an award winning artist known for her use of color and light in her pastels and oils. Susan explores and interprets the landscape, wherever she finds herself.​ Her work has focused on the incredible wild places in and around the canyon country of the Southwest with particular emphasis on the rivers that carved them. She divides her time between the high mountain desert and the big open skies of Colorado and the semi-tropical coastline of South Carolina and finds the dynamic contrasts between these two places. Meeting Photos

March 10 – Artists’ Tips
The March 10th program will be about sharing tips we have learned along the way. Come​, share​ and learn about painting techniques, favorite pastels, favorite grounds, safety gear and equipment​. Share the new directions you are taking with your pastels.​
Participants are encouraged to bring samples so that members can have first hand experience with the materials.

May 19 – Lecture, Demonstration conducted by Liz Haywood-Sullivan. Opening reception for the Statewide Exhibition, 6pm-8pm. The Art Shop, Greensboro.

July 14 – Abstract Panel Discussion with Laura Pollak, Addren Doss and Vinita Jain. These outstanding artists will explain how they approach, develop and evaluate their abstract paintings. “Abstract paintings are like a good work of fiction, you take reality and mix in imagination to create a uniquely personal view of your world.” – Laura Pollak. Botanical Gardens.

October 20 – Plein Air Event. Come and join fellow pastelists and enjoy a fun filled outing where you can share ideas, techniques and approaches while you create your own paintings. Location: Emily Thompson’s farm, 1737 Old Coleridge Rd, Siler City, NC

November 3 – STROKES OF COLOR Pastel Demonstration by Anne Strutz. Anne will discuss passion and painting, how to loosen up, and when to slow it down. The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone through painting different subjects, using different techniques to enhance your skills helping you to define who you are as an artist. Anne will demonstrate several of her techniques, including the use of the brayer to infuse emotion, movement and creative mark making into her artwork.
Meeting Photos |
Anne Strutz resume | Download the flyer

December 15 – Holiday Party!
On behalf of the PSNC members I would like to give a very warm thank you to our gracious hosts, Luana and Doug Winner. We had a wonderful party at their lovely home. Thank you also to all the participants that brought so many delicious goodies. The ambiance was beautiful, with the dining area overlooking a lake and we had some great conversations with fellow artists and their spouses both upstairs and downstairs. I wish you a very happy and safe holiday! We will see you back in January for our first program of 2019! Holiday Party Photos

Want to become a member? Fill out our online application and join us for an upcoming meeting!

2017

January 14 – Judith Cutler PSA-MP shared her thoughts on her 13 years as a Pastel Society America member and the experience of being part of the Jury of Selection team for PSA’s 2016 Enduring Brilliance Annual International Juried Exhibition. | Meeting Photos
March 18 – Lecture and demonstration with colored pencils by Donna Slade | Meeting Photos
May 13 – PSNC’s private supply fair at Jerry’s Artarama in Raleigh.
July 8 – “How to Present Your Artwork to Galleries” with Kitty Mecham from Liquidambar Gallery and Gifts in Pittsboro, NC
November 4 – Demo and Mini-Workshop “Telling Your Story” with Jeri Greenberg, PSA
December 16 (was September 9) – Demo and Mini-Workshop “It’s All About Intent” with Lyn Asselta | Meeting Photos

2016

January 9 – All members are encouraged to bring 2 or 3 finished or unfinished works in progress for an open critique led by Luana Luconi Winner, President and her board.
March 12 – “When a painting isn’t working – Trouble shooting tips” with Barbara Gill

May 14 – “Traveling with Pastels” featuring Anne Kiefaber and Laura Pollak. | Meeting photos.
September 10 – Luana Winner presented on paintings done on location and those completed after returning from China, including a display of 5 papers used, including the Chinese textured paper, and the bag and contents used to get through international security. | Meeting Photos
November 12 – Alexis Lavine shows us how to take complex subjects [mostly from photos] and creates brilliant paintings. | Meeting Photos
December 11 – Open house will be from 2:00pm to 6pm. Meeting Photos

2015

January 17 – Anne Kiefaber presents “Luminosity in Snow Scenes” – Her demonstration showed the different processes she employs to create stunning snow scenes in pastels. | Meeting Photos
March 21 – “Let’s Create Some Dust!”…. bring your supplies and some inspiration!
Everyone is invited to come and paint together for the morning. Bring a project you have been working on, or create something new. | Meeting Photos
May 16 – There will not be a meeting due to the Statewide Pastel Show.
July 18 – What Can The NC Museum Of Art Do For You? Terry Murphy will be here to tell us all about the history, buildings, events and collections as well as exciting upcoming exhibits of the North Carolina Museum of Art.
September 19 – “Approaching a Still Life: My Perspective” by Nancy Marshburn, PSA | Meeting Photos
November 21 – “Painting Expressive Landscapes” by Wendy Musser
December 13 – “PSNC Holiday Party” @ Anne Kiefaber’s house, 909 Fairgreen Road in Greensboro.

2014

January 18 – “Artist Resumes, Bios and Artist Statements” by Kim Werfel | Meeting Photos
March 15 – “Artist Critique” with NC artist and teacher Jill Eberle | Meeting Photos
May 17 – Mr. Tom Dowd of Jerry’s Artarama will be talking about pastel products carried by Jerry’s, particularly their line of Mungyo pastels. | Meeting Photos
July 19 – Greensboro artist and teacher, Judy Meyler | Meeting Photos
September 20 – “Ideas, Techniques for Creating Water Scenes,” presentation by Chris Powell, PSA | Meeting Photos
November 15 – At the November meeting our own Addren Doss will be presenting a program and demonstration about her plein air landscapes. | Meeting Photos
December (holiday gathering) | Party Photos

2013

January 19 – Demonstration of large cow painting by Addren Doss | Meeting Photos
March 16 – Portrait demonstration by Luana Luconi Winner | Meeting Photos
April 20 – Pastel Surfaces by Patricia Savage
May 18 – Photoshop Presentation by Stephanie Freese
June 15 – Plein Air Paintout at McNair Country Acres in Raleigh (9am start)
August – Plein Air Paintout in the Greensboro/Randolph County area (9am start)
September 21 – Demonstration by IAPS Signature Master Circle Pastelist, Kurt Weiser | Meeting Photos
October 19 – “Photoshop for Artists” with Stephanie Freese
November 16 – “Being a Working Artist is About More Than Paint” A Roundtable Discussion about Building a Resume, Thoughts About Social Media, and Web Design/Marketing

2012

January 21 – Artful Color owner, Damon Rando, spoke about the process of making giclées, how to get prints of your own work made, and shared a video of how they create them.
March 17 – Dr. Natalie Winters gave an inspirational presentation on creativity | Meeting Photos
April 21 – Mona Hearne’s presentation on the Munsell Color System used by many contemporary artists who want to achieve accurate consistent color.
May 19 – L. Diane Johnson, Painting the Four Seasons in Pastel
June 16 – Paint-out: Bog Gardens & Bicentennial Gardens, Greensboro.
July 21 – Paint-out: Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh.
August 18 – Paint-out: Duke Gardens, Durham.
September 15 – Exploration of the still-life with Anne Kiefaber – a demonstration where she will explain composition, dealing in the placement of subject matter and emphasizing light and shadow.
October 20 – Swap and Sell @ NC Botanical Gardens Bring all of your excess art “stuff”, big and small, that you have decided you will never use in your lifetime.
November 17 – The Art of Framing Pastels with Noni Penland, owner of Penland Custom Frames, Inc in Hillsborough.

2011

January 15, 2011 – Discussion on PSA Annual with Suzanne Karnatz, PSA and Toni Lindahl, PSA
February 19, 2011 – Presentation and Demo on Floral Studies with Lindesay Harkness, PSA
March 19, 2011 – Pastel Demonstration by Lori White, PSA
April 16, 2011 – Joys and Tricks to Great Paintings from Photos
May 21, 2011 – Plein Air Painting Tips | Meeting Photos
September 17, 2011 – Portrait South and the benefits of having an artists’ agent with Stephen Reville | Meeting Minutes
October 15, 2011 – Pastels and Abstracts with Judith Cutler | Meeting Photos
November 19, 2011 – Art Law: Intellectual Property and Copyright Law for the Artist with Attorney Dan Ellison of Triangle Art Works

The 4th Annual North Carolina Statewide Juried Pastel Exhibition
The Art Shop, Greensboro, NC
May 16 – June 16, 2015

Presented by the Pastel Society of North Carolina, a North Carolina nonprofit organization, in conjunction with the Appalachian Pastel Society, and the Piedmont Pastel Society.

Press

View the feature article in the June issue of the O’Henry magazine.
Read an article from Go Triad here.
Click here to listen to the WFDD podcast with Patricia Savage and Laura Pollak (4:17).

Media

Download the brochure with accepted works, sponsors and more.
Download the prospectus for more information on how to pick-up your accepted paintings.

Award Winners

Download the PDF of award winners! See the gallery of photos.

JUDGE OF AWARDS
Teresa Saia has firmly established herself within the art community, demonstrating a sophistication of style, dynamic use of color, and sensitivity for light. A native of Washington state, she has studied with leading artists throughout the US and abroad. Recognized by numerous national awards and accolades from her peers, her paintings embody a passion she feels for all her subject matter. Her work encompasses the medium of pastel, watercolor, printmaking and oil. Her paintings explore the worlds she has discovered in her many travels abroad each year, as well as the beauty she finds in the Pacific Northwest and her part-time home on Whidbey Island.

Our Statewide Show Sponsors