Landscape Artist in Pastel and Oil
Richard McKinley was inducted into the Pastel Society of America's Hall of Fame iin 2010. Worldwide, just one pastelist is chosen each year for the coveted PSA Hall of Fame. He joins Edgar Degas and other famous pastelists with this honor.
American master artist Richard McKinley is one of the most sought after artists of our time. The 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee into the prestigious Pastel Society of America, Richard has risen to the top of his field. He is President of the International Association of Pastel Sociieties, having assumed the Presidency in June 2017. Among many honors he has earned the rank of Master Pastelist from the Pastel Society of America and serves on their Board of Directors.
For many years, Richard published a weekly blog, Pastel Pointers, on artistnetwork.com, his column in his capacity as Contributing Editor of The Pastel Journal Magazine. In May 2015, his second book was released: THE LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS OF RICHARD McKINLEY, "Views from a Master Artist: 100 breathtaking paintings in pastel and oil and the stories behind them." Several of the paintings featured in his new book are available at Gallery 31 Fine Art.
McKinley teaches art workshops on several levels throughout the US and Europe in oil and pastel, and his renowned underpainting techniques for pastel painting and theory of simultaneous contrast are among his best known tomes. McKinley is the author of Pastel Pointers, Top Secrets for Beautiful Pastel Paintings, a book and video published by NorthLight in 2010 as well as several teaching videos in oil and pastel. He has been a professional artist for four decades, amazing for one so young. His art workshops are in great demand. His art is treasured by collectors worldwide, and Gallery 31 Fine Art is honored to be the sole representative of Richard's art in New England.
Path to the Beach 9 x 12 Pastel en plein air (SOLD!).. This scene reminds me of the beach area at Bass Hole at Grey’s Beach in Yarmouthport on the Bay Side. Richard has tainted here many times. Note how he creates the trees largely by cutting in the sky holes — a classic use of negative space allowing for form and lightness on a painting. Beautiful!
Evening Aglow 16 x 12 Pastel SOLD
Twilight Moon 14 x 14 Pastel SOLD
Water Lands 16 x 20 Pastel $2100
Cobalt Echos 12 x 16 Pastel $1450
This painting shows Richard’s use of texture in the set up on the surface of the painting employed in the underpainting stage. The pumice and gesso paste, painted on top of the surface, is applied with the precise composition in mind. Look closely and you will see the impasto effect that one can achieve with oil painting and yet this is a painting in soft pastel. The richness is captivating, the technique one that Richard formulated. Bravo!
Something Waits 6 x 9 Pastel en plein air $595
Indigo Evening 6 x 9 Pastel en plein air SOLD
Song of the Loons 12 x 16 Pastel SOLD
Picking Wildflowers 6 x 9 Pastel en plein air $595
Morning Impressions 9 x 12 Pastel en plein air / SOLD
McKinley's Art Affiliations include:
• President, International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), the worldwide non-profit uniting pastel societies
• Signature Member and Master Pastelist, Pastel Society of America — The 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee; Member of the Board
• Artist Member, Salmagundi Club of New York City
• Signature Member, Pastel Society of the West Coast — Distinguished Pastelist and 2012 Pastel Laureate Inductee
• Signature Member, Northwest Pastel Society
• Signature Member, Pastel Society of Oregon and Master Pastelist
• Associate Member, Oil Painters of America
• Contributing Editor — Pastel Journal - F+W Media
• Honorary Member of the Degas Pastel Society
Richard McKinley paints for a workshop group through Gallery 31 Fine Art on Cape Cod.
This painting was done at Chapin’s Beach in Dennis on the Bay Side. See how impeccably clean all of his pastels are in his palette box, and how carefully he paints with a class of 18 avid students en tow. McKinley is remarkable.
“I was born in the Rogue Valley of Oregon, and spent my youth growing up with the rivers and mountains that form this special place. It is from these subjects that I receive inspiration, whether painting on location at home or at Fort Hill in Eastham or Bridge Road in Chatham on Cape Cod. My goal is to capture a piece of the spontaneous dance of light across the palette of nature. I hope my pieces are like a glance when we see something that makes us linger for a moment.”
Poplar Guards 16 x 12 Pastel. SOLD
Tones of Asilomar 9 x 12 Pastel en plein air $900