July’s demo on Zoom (viewable at Centre 70 or by link at home) saw artist, Rebecca de Mendonca, create a portrait of children in pastels. Rebecca’s work has become widely known over recent years for its energy, life and movement. Devon-based Rebecca paints horses, people, landscapes and architecture, always seeking out the atmosphere and emotion in her subjects.
She was born near Wolverhampton into a creative family. Her mother was an artist and teacher, her father an architect, her brother a painter.
After a Foundation Course at Wolverhampton University she gained a BA Hons in theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art. Following a career in advertising, she now teaches pastel courses, and demonstrates to art groups around the South West and South of England. Rebecca writes for Leisure Painter Magazine, for the SAA, and teaches online for ArtTutor.com. She and fellow pastel artist Nel Whatmore founded The New Pastel School in 2013, running courses in Yorkshire, Devon and Italy.
Two attendees gave us some lovely feedback on the demo:
“I just wanted to say how very much I enjoyed Rebecca’s pastel demo on Tuesday. She was explicit and constructive when starting her painting, answered all questions and was surprisingly modest, plus she came up with a lovely painting with a story – something we’d probably all like to emulate.”
“Please pass on my thanks to Rebecca de Mendonca for a great demo tonight. Really inspiring and despite the fact she made it look so easy (!) I learnt so many techniques and thoughts about light and texture, that I’m going to give pastels much more attention. Plus all that she was saying seems to apply to my watercolours as well, so upward and onward!”
Her website is at: https://rebeccademendonca.co.uk/
