APS Presents: Margaret Dyer

“The Figure in its Environment”

Saturday, July 12, 2025
Meeting and LIVE Demo 10am – Noon • Workshop 1:15 – 4:30pm
Registration opening soon
Workshop Fee is $60.00

About the Artist
Born in New York, Atlanta based Margaret Dyer is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America; she is in the Masters Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS); and she is a Member of Excellence with the Southeastern Pastel Society. Some of her many awards are: Best of Show, American Impressionist Society Associate Members Exhibition Best Impressionist Painting, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Small Works Exhibition First Place, Southeastern Pastel Society International Exhibition, Atlanta, GA, Best of Show, International Association of Pastel Societies Online Exhibition.

Margaret has been featured many times in The Pastel Journal, American Artist, International Artist and The Artist’s magazine. You can also find her in “Pure Color-The Best of Pastels” I and II. In the June 2002 issue of The Artist’s Magazine, the author wrote: “Dyer is adamant about what she wants to portray: beautiful—not overtly provocative— figures in action. She tries to avoid languid, sentimental posturing, and prefers to show her model in an unguarded moment, when she’s not worrying about the ‘right pose.’ Dyer’s attention is caught by telling gestures, such as a direct gaze or a hand on a hip… Above all, Dyer seeks to establish an atmosphere and mood particular to the developing painting.”
For more award info: www.margaretdyer.com/about

Morning Demo – “The Figure in Pastel”

I will demonstrate a basic method of constructing the figure in pastel, explaining measuring, value and color.

Afternoon Workshop – “The Figure in its Environment”

For many students, the background of a figurative painting is often an afterthought. In this workshop we will integrate the figure into the environment, so the student never has to ask, what do I do with the background? Students can have the choice of working from my selection of reference photos or from their own, as long as I approve that photo for having adequate value structure.

Supply List

• Paper: middle-tone gritty pastel paper. No smaller than 11×14 and no larger than 18×24. Your choice of paper: Sennelier La Carte, Art Spectrum, U-Art (you’ll have to tone U-Art with alcohol and a middletone
  pastel), Ampersand PastelBord or similar substrates.
• Compressed charcoal or dark NuPastel.
• Backboard and clips.
• Soft Pastels – Preferably 60 or more (Schmincke, Unison, Art Spectrum, Terry Ludwig, Richeson,
  Grumbacher, or similar soft pastels.).
• Optional: Pharmaceutical gloves and apron.

Workshop cost is $60.00
Click here to download Workshop PDF

NOTE… that to view the morning DEMO or participate in the afternoon WORKSHOP, you must be a current APS Member. Current members will receive a link to the morning Zoom in their email. [The 2025 Membership Year began on January 1. Have you renewed?] IF YOU WISH TO RENEW OR JOIN, click the “JOIN/ RENEW” tab at the top of the page…or use the following link…https://www.appalachianpastelsociety.org/?page_id=142