Marion Derrett - Pastel and Portrait Artist
The Artist
I have been drawing and painting for many years, but since ‘discovering’ pastels they have become my medium of preference.
Having gained a Certificate in Education with Art as a main subject at The Froebel Institute of Education in England, and a Batchelor of Education Honours Degree, I went on to teach Art and general subjects in elementary and middle schools in England for many years.
I have traveled widely and lived in different countries around the world; I studied Chinese painting whilst living in China and Singapore.
Since living in the US, I have joined the Westfield Art Association, Somerset Art Association, Scotch Plains & Fanwood Art Association, Watchung Arts Center and the Pastel Society of New Jersey. I have studied pastel painting, particularly portraiture, with Jeanne Smith, and figure painting with Rhoda Yanow at the duCret School of Art. I have also studied pastel portraiture with Enrique Flores-Galbis at The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, and landscape painting with Julie Friedman in her studio in Morristown, New Jersey.
I love the way pastels can be built up in layers, allowing the lower layers to shine through the upper ones, especially with skin tones, as it gives a living glow to the portrait.
I like to paint all subjects, but best of all I like to paint portraits, both pets and people.
My interests also include writing Children's story books. My books are obtainable from http://stores.lulu.com/marionderrett
