heidi mayo

My early training was at Vesper George School of Art in Boston, and with Gay Youse in Duxbury, Massachusetts where I worked alongside her and assisted with instructional programs. I studied filmmaking and writing at Emerson College, Boston, and have BFA in Mass Communications. In earlier years I worked mostly in oils, 3D, and later acrylics, not giving much thought to creating anything unless there was a direct need for it such as stage sets, costumes, holiday gifts and cards, or illustrations in my multimedia work. I was in the process of writing a book, and began sketching illustrations for it, when suddenly the need to create in the purest sense struck me. I got some pastels and went to work. The paintings in this portfolio are the result of that intuitive leap.

Since then I have enjoyed workshops with renowned pastel artists such as Terry Ludwig, Albert Handell and Maggie Price. I have been honored with numerous juried shows and awards for my work including National competitions such as Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, "For Pastels Only" and the Richeson 75 for Pastels. I was recently elected a Juried Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA). I teach drawing and pastels to adults and kids privately and for The Plymouth Guild.
I get as much joy and satisfaction from teaching as I do from painting, and am currently building a studio and classroom next door.

I love the immediacy of the pastels. A medium that seems so delicate is actually very hardy. Their luminescent quality, portability, and forgiving nature make them the perfect medium for me. They have an uncanny way of capturing and keeping the light of the moment. Our local landscape is changing so rapidly, just as the light changes during any given instant. What I’m doing with these pastels is catching brief moments in time and place. Right here, right now.

About me

heidi mayo