Ms. Morgensen, part Commanche Indian and President of the Northwest Pastel Society from 1998 through 2000 and a member since 1995, works in an impressionist style in pastel on paper with plenty of emotional intensity. Her complex skies and sunsets are powerful, combining strong colors with subtle, virtuoso strokes and tonal fields. The magic water/mountain environments of her former home in the Olympic Peninsula serves as rich subject matter. Recently, she established a new residence on Floridaís Gulf Coast. Some of the work in this exhibit will feature the landscape of Floridaís coast and that of the Everglades, "Gator Alley", west of Miami. Ms. Morgensen has had reviews and interviews published in the nationally distributed Pastel Journal and issues of The Northwest Pastel Society's newsletter. Her work has earned her a half dozen first place and many other awards in the 9 year period that she has been making pastel paintings. During the Seattle Art Museumís popular Impressionism exhibit in 1999, Ms. Morgensen was hired as an artist in residence, performing demonstrations and answering questions for visitors.



Darlene Morgensen
"Green Light"
oil on panel
8 x 10
2004