Dawn A. Gardetto pastels, etc.

About my art

I love the variety of contrasts found in everyday scenes, and I delight in surprising the viewer with intriguing juxtapositions. I find the attempt to reconcile all of the different aspects of a painting difficult but therapeutic. To be taken outside of myself and become completely absorbed in what is before me- to make order out of disorder- is very rewarding. Along with the contrasts I emphasize in my work, I also try to incorporate a fleeting moment. It might be the fluttering of a newspaper, wash of light onto pavement, or the sudden swish of a horse's tail.

"Fragments of heaven"

This phrase comes from my favorite novel Middlemarch and accurately describes how I feel about my pastel sticks. They are beautiful even just to look at. I love the deep, glowing colors of stained glass windows and tend to use those rich notes whenever I can find an excuse to.

Using pastel means working with pure pigment on paper. Pastels have a wonderful velvety opaque look to them, but I also appreciate the transparent quality of watercolor, so I have found ways to combine the two that gives me the flexibility that I need in order to achieve different textures and light effects.

About me

favorite artists: Corot, Van Gogh, Delacroix, Paul Klee.
favorite color: a deep blue/violet; the color of twilight.

I come from several generations of artists and grew up knowing and loving the smell of linseed oil, and frequently exploring books of master paintings. I always liked to draw, like any child, but didn't take it seriously until seventh grade when I had an excellent art class. It was then that I knew I really loved art and I am convinced that this class set me on the course that I'm on. My life now is so unusual and varied that sometimes I long for a steady nine-to-five desk job (not really!). Most of my daily work is at various monument shops where I etch onto granite monuments. My subjects can be portraits, landscapes, religious images; pretty much anything the customer wants. My other job is as a natural history guide for MassAudubon. My favorite part of teaching at the wildlife sanctuary is getting to do arts and crafts with my class. I do occasionally teach art classes there; for adults or children.

Until recently I was primarily a portrait painter working in oils, and I will always have a weak spot for an interesting face. But now that I have added pastels to my repertoire and have begun working with much more varied subject matter, I find myself maturing as an artist in ways that make me look forward to the next piece I might do.

education: BA in Studio Art from Kent State University

where I work: Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Hathaway Memorials O'Rourke Bros. Memorials Vitelli Monuments Gerry Granite Works

memberships: Leominster Art Association Pastel Society of New Hampshire

contact info:

Dawn Gardetto
Leominster, MA

Email me.

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