Pastel artist to demonstrate

The Carson Valley Art Association will have its monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m. March 24, in the Douglas County Public Library, Minden.

Demonstrator for the day will be pastel artist, Arlene Origoni who has been an instructor for 20 years and is teaching pastel techniques every Thursday afternoon at the Artistic Viewpoints Gallery and Studio in Gardnerville.

Raised in a small farming community just outside of Spokane, Wash., she often went with her grandfather to visit her uncles in Idaho, including "Uncle Bill," who was an artist. She would sit and draw with him while visiting and he encouraged her occasionally by providing some new art supplies for her work. It was his encouragement and support that inspired her to continue her art work and produce the work she does today.

Origoni started her career in oils at the age of 9 and she was 13 when she began showing her paintings in galleries. She changed to pastels 10 years ago after attending an all-pastel exhibition. The vibrancy and forgiving nature of the medium became her signature expression for the images she wanted to produce. She moved to Topaz Lake from Southern California in August 2004 and now is organizing the Northern Nevada Association of Pastel Painters. The purpose of the association will be to encourage interest in excellence in this medium.

Before moving to Northern Nevada, Origoni, living in Ojai, Calif., used her art work for special environmental and human causes. She worked closely with the Ojai Land Conservancy, County of Ventura and also used her work to further awareness of endangered species through working with the International Wildlife Foundation and the League for Endangered Species.

An award-winning artist, Origoni continues to strive for excellence in her chosen medium. She shares her skills with others, but moreover, she has an infectious passion and enthusiasm for art that gives her students and fellow artists the inspiration to dig a little deeper into their own work.

In a Nevada Artists Association art show, Origoni placed second with her pastel entry while one of her students, Kathy Slinkard, received the first place award. Her student's success in the NAA show is something Origoni is very proud of.

She has planned a three stage demonstration of pastel drawing for the CVAA meeting by showing the same image in three stages of completion. The demonstration as well as an explanation of the organization of the Northern Nevada Association of Pastel Painters to the CVAA members will be the nucleus of Origoni's presentation at the regular CVAA monthly meeting.

Meet the artist and watch her work at the CVAA meeting. You don't need to be an artist to be a member of the association. An appreciation of the arts and a desire to support the arts in Carson Valley is all that is needed.

For more information, call 782-5606.