About PSNJ

In 2005, in the Garden State arts scene, energy was gathering around the pastel medium as more and more artists were exploring this versatile medium. It became evident that here was a need to cultivate this fresh artistic spirit, as well as create a forum and support network to help define and share the new vision. Morristown pastelist and art teacher Mark de Mos, with the encouragement of Christina Debarry, president emeritus of the prestigious New York-based Pastel Society of America (PSA), and other artists decided it was time to form a pastel society in New Jersey. Today, PSNJ has over 100 members and is a member of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), a global organization that unites artists in their love of the pastel medium.

The mission of the PSNJ is to support, exhibit, educate, and promote pastel artists throughout the state. PSNJ was recently awarded one of 3 grants from IAPS to introduce and educate an audience that previously had no exposure to pastels.

The group has members in eleven of the twenty-one counties in New Jersey, with the majority of members residing in Morris, Essex, Somerset and Union counties, and some out-of-state members who joined when online shows became an option. We gather our members together twice a year for a general meeting and demonstration by a prominent artist – past demonstrators have included: Lynn Asselta PSA, Desmond O’ Hagen, and Brian Bailey. We offer two educational workshops a year, both virtual and in-person, and keep our members informed of other workshop or exhibition opportunities around the country, all in an effort to be the clearing house and the go-to group for information about New Jersey pastel artists.

PSNJ members understand the need to network as well as market their work in order to create opportunities to exhibit and reach an appreciative audience, and PSNJ offers our members 3 exhibition opportunities per year. We are an artist-friendly organization and get the work of pastel artists out into the public eye.