Tracy Klinesteker - Pastelist
Inspiration
Tracy is inspired by many things: Mother Nature, other pastelists, impressionist painters of old, teachers, and especially, color. Her experience in photography and graphic design infuse her compositions.
Techniques
Tracy employs many different techniques to create her work. She is, in general, a photorealist. She will loosen up a bit now and then, but most often her work is representational. She is always open to new ideas, new papers, new tools. She will sometimes apply underpaintings with watercolor inks and pastels. She will also add gesso and other materials for deeper textures. Pastel pencils and smudgers are vital items in her toolbox.
Commissions
Custom commissions are welcome: Architectural, Nature, Landscape, Animals. Please click on Contact Me to submit your inquiry.
Juried Awards - 2024
Semi-Finalist: “Self-Reflection” - 2024 American Professional Artists League 96th Grand National Exhibition, Skylight Gallery, Salmagundi Club, NYC
2nd Place: "Self-Reflection" - Kalamazoo Valley Community College 13th Annual Alumni+ Art Show
2023
Jury Favorites (Honorable Mention): "Self-Reflection" - 94th Annual Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art
Honorable Mention: "Winter Mosaic" - Kalamazoo Valley Community College 12th Annual Alumni+ Art Show
Committee Prize: "The Wisdom of Trees" - Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festival, Theme: "Eco-Wisdom"
2022
Third Prize: "Grandmother Moon" - Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festival, Theme: "A Certain Slant of Light"
2021
Savoir-Faire/Sennelier Sponsor Award: "Beaver Island Marsh" - 2021 Great Lakes Pastel Society SMALL WORKS Members Exhibition
Pastel Society of America Sponsor Award: "Locks of Love" - Pastel Society of New Mexico 29th National Pastel Painting Exhibition
First Place: "Beaver Island Marsh" - Kalamazoo Valley Community College 10th Annual Alumni+ Art Show
Third Prize: "Rains Have No Borders" - Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festival, Theme: "What Country Do Rains Come From?"
First Place: "Martini on the Rocks" - Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery 23rd Annual Juried Competition
First Place: "Martini on the Rocks" - Art Preservation Initiative Inc Curator’s Juried Art Competition
2020
2nd Prize and People's Choice: "Sacred Cairn" - Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festival, Theme: "Sacred Places, Wild Spaces"
Best in Show: "Spring Leaf" - Kalamazoo Valley Community College 9th Annual Alumni+ Art Show
2nd Place: "Martini on the Rocks" - NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery Annual Online Juried Show
2019
2nd Place: "Door Series #2: Red Portal" - Pastel Society of Colorado, Chroma Online Show
2nd Place: "H.O.M.E.S" - Kalamazoo Valley Community College 8th Annual Alumni+ Art Show
Honorable Mention:"Martini on the Rocks" - Pastel Journal's Pastel 100 Competition, Still Life & Floral, April Issue
2018
Special Recognition:"Sammy" - LightSpaceTime.com Animal Competition
People's Choice Award & Committee Prize: “H.O.M.E.S" - Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festival, Theme: "Honoring H.O.M.E.S."
2017
First Place: “Autumn Leaves” - Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festival, Theme: "Illimitably Earth"
Solo Exhibits
People's Church, Kalamazoo, MI 2024
Carnegie Center for the Arts, For the Love of Color 2023
Kiva Gallery, Friendship Village, Kalamazoo, 2021, 2023
Hand & Wrist Surgery Center, Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, 2021
Full City Cafe, Portage 2020, 2021
The Fountains at Bronson Place, Kalamazoo, 2020
Parkview Hills Clubhouse, Kalamazoo, 2020
Kalamazoo Arts Council, Kalamazoo Art Hops: Honor Federal Credit Union, Kalamazoo Defenders, Consumer’s Credit Union, Webster’s Prime Restaurant, Epic Center, Outfront Kalamazoo, Cherri’s Chocol’Art, 2016-Present
Art Fairs & Competitions
Art Epic Gallery Online Still Life Exhibition, September 2023
94th Annual Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI 2023
Art Weekly, Downtown Artist Cellar Gallery Show, Malone, New York, 2022
A Step Beyond Ordinary, Agora Gallery Collaborative Exhibit, New York City, 2022
36th Annual LowellArts West Michigan Art Competition, 2022
Regional Juried Arts Competition, Carnegie Center for the Arts
Signature Artists LLC Holiday Pop-Up Gallery -2021
NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery’s Online Juried Show Reimagine, 2021
The 38th International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition - The 2021 Webshow
Huse Skelly Fine Art Gallery Autumn’s Allure Show, 2021
Great Lakes Pastel Society Members and National Exhibitions - 2014
Dakota Pastel Competition - 2nd Qtr
Adirondack Pastel Society National Pastel Exhibition, 2021
Pastel Society of New Mexico 29th National Pastel Painting Exhibition
Carnegie Center for the Arts, Post Covid Reunion Celebration
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Gallery Exhibitions
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Annual Alumni+ Art Shows - 2020-Present
Westminster Presbyterian Church Art Festivals - 2012-Present
Adirondack Artists Guild Gallery 23rd Annual Juried Competition
NorthWind Fine Arts Gallery Annual Juried Shows
Art Preservation Initiative Inc. Curator’s Juried Art Competition
Left Coast Pastel Painters Society Pastels in Paradise International Web Show
Pastel Society of Southeast Texas Art of the Pastel International Web Show
Connecticut Women Artists National Open Juried Exhibition
Pastel Society of New Hampshire It’s Pastel 12th Annual National Juried Show
Pastel Artists of Oregon Spirit of Pastel Virtual International Open Juried Exhibition
Connecticut Pastel Society Renaissance in Pastel 27th Annual National Exhibition
Southwest Florida Pastel Society Valued Strokes Show
Pastel Society of North Carolina 4th Annual Pure Color International Juried Exhibition of Pastel Paintings
Pastel Society of Maine 20th International Juried Exhibition, Pastels Only
Pastel Society of So Cal Make Your Mark! International Open Juried Exhibition
Allied Artists of America, Inc. 107th Annual Exhibition
Central Mass Pastel Society Marks of Distinction
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, For Pastels Only
Carnegie Center for the Arts, Personal Landscapes
BoldBrush Painting Competition - January
1st Annual Cass County Regional Gallery Open Art Exhibit
Pastel of Society of Colorado Chroma Online Show
Pastel 100 Competition, Pastel Journal, April issue
Butler Institute of Arts: selections from PSA's 46th Annual Exhibition"Enduring Brilliance"
International Association of Pastel Societies - Juried Webshows
Pastel Society of America's 46th Annual "Enduring Brilliance" International Exhibition
Online 8th Annual Plein Air Salon - Oct/Nov
LightSpaceTime.com Animal Competition
Online Video Promotions
WMUK Art Beat: Interview by Zinta Aistars. Aired Dec 24, 2020. https://www.wmuk.org/post/art-beat-passion-color#stream/0.
PBS WGVU Kalamazoo Lively Arts: Season 6, Episode 2. Aired Mar 4, 2021. https://www.pbs.org/video/kalamazoo-lively-arts-s06e02-o7yaiu/.