About

Since I first picked up a pastel stick, I have felt passionate about creating artwork in the medium of soft pastel. I enjoy the feel of the pure pigment being applied to the sanded paper, the various colors and shades mixing together on the page to create form, light, shadow and atmosphere. I am captivated by the process of combining these basic elements to represent the scene before me.


I find inspiration in the world around us – the way the light falls across the trees and hills, the intense color of new foliage against a deep shadow, or the colors of light dancing on the side of a shaded building. I seek to call attention to the quality of light and color present in that moment, thereby evoking a sense of wonder regarding the abundance of natural beauty surrounding us every day. 


Meditating on an image in the back of my mind, I usually think about the aspect of a scene that caught my attention, until the shapes and colors have become like old friends. As the work begins, the composition is chosen to accentuate the component to which I wish to call attention. My impressionistic approach includes the use of design, abstract underpainting, value contrast, and color choice to come together in the piece to convey my passion for pastel painting as well as for the timeless transcendence of natural beauty.

Collect Fine Art

If you are interested in one of my pieces, please contact me using  the contact form and include the name of the piece.  If it has already been sold, we can discuss a comission if you like.

Recent Honors

August 2018 Palos Verdes Art Center Artist Groups Exhibition,

          Juror's Choice Award for "California Impression" awarded by Karl Dempwolf.

 

August 2016 Palos Verdes Art Center Artist Groups Exhibition,
          Ann Turner Memorial Award for "Springtime at the Marsh"
          awarded by Scott Ward, Executive Director of Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.


May 2016 Juror for San Diego County Fair Fine Art Exhibition Drawings and Pastels


Oct 2015 "Rejoice in Art" Exhibition Honorable Mention for "California Coast" awarded by Steve Shriver


Article in June 2015 issue of Southwest Art magazine, "Pastel Portfolio" by Bonnie Gangelhoff.


June 2015 Featured Artist at Destination: Art Studios/Gallery.


PSSC 6th Annual Members' Exhibition, March 2015, End of Day,
          Honorable Mention awarded by Richard McKinley.


"Site to Studio II" PAAR Exhibition at the Maloof Foundation, January 2015,
 Best of Show awarded by John Budicin, for The Plaza.


Grand Opening, Destination: Art, November 15, 2014.


"Local Color: Exhibition at the Loft", San Pedro, June 2014, juried by Jean Stern, Randy Higbee  3 pieces accepted: Sunset at Abalone Cove, PV and Redondo, Chapel by the Sea.


PSSC 5th Annual Members' Exhibition, April 2014, Blue Skies, 2nd Place Popular Choice Landscape.


"The Riverside Legacy: California Plein Air Paintings Past and Present" exhibit  comprised of select Plein Air paintings from the Riverside Art Museum’s permanent collection, featuring works completed by artists as early as the 1930s, and a choice selection of contemporary Plein Air artwork by RAM's Plein Air Artists of Riverside (PAAR) group. My painting, Historic California Citrus Grove accepted by juror Devi Noor, the curatorial assistant in the American Art department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and then Sold.  Dec 2013 - Apr 2014.


International Association of Pastel Societies Online Exhibition, Dec 2013, Truth.


"Home" Exhibition at Malaga Cove Library, December 2013, juried by Jean Stern, Randy Higbee, and Thomas Redfield,  3 pieces accepted: Going Home, The Shed, End of the Day.


South Bay Focus Juried Exhibition, Torrance Art Museum, Dec 2013, Still Water.


Pastel Society of Southern California 4th Annual Members’ Exhibition, Manhattan Beach, CA, April 2013, Truth.


"Site to Studio Show" at Maloof Foundation Gallery, January 2013
          Third Place for Beautiful Back Bay and Lovely Day at the Bay, awarded by Jean Stern.


First Solo Show at Amore Vino, Torrance, CA November 2012.


Americana added to William Fletcher Collection, September 2012.


 All Media Juried Exhibition, Palos Verdes Art Center, August 2012
          Docents’ Award for body of work, 2 pieces, Along the Road and Americana


 International Association of Pastel Societies 20th Juried Exhibition, Brea CA, August 2012, Going Home


 Plein Air Artists of Riverside Quick Draw, February 2012
          Honorable Mention for Morning Shadows


 

Randy Higbee Gallery 6x6 Juried Exhibition and Sale, Costa Mesa, CA,
          Multiple years.


Palos Verdes Art Center Holiday Juried Exhibition, December 2011
          Ann Turner Award for Malibu Lagoon Sunset.


APC Fine Art Gallery Small Pieces Show, Torrance, December 2011
          3rd Place Award for Central Coast Looking North.


APC Fine Art Gallery "Paint a Letter to a Friend" Invitational Show, November 2011.


Colored Pencil Society of America Juried National Exhibition, Dallas, TX July 2011. 

                                        July 13, Avalon Bay accepted.


Pastel Society of Southern California 2nd Annual Members’ Exhibition, Manhattan Beach, CA, April 2011
          2nd place Landscape for Going Home.


Pacific Arts Group Paints the Madrona Marsh, Torrance, CA February 2011.


Pencil Paintings Exhibition of the Colored Pencil Society of America Los Angeles Chapter, Cypress Community Gallery, March 2011, 2010, 2009, and many previous years
          Honorable Mention for Ojai Valley at Sunset, 2009
          Honorable Mention for July 13, Avalon Bay, 2010.


Pastel Society of Southern California Inaugural Members’ Exhibition, Manhattan Beach, CA, April 2010.

Juror's Choice Award with Karl Dempwolf at Palos Verdes Art Center, July 2018.
Juror's Choice Award with Karl Dempwolf at Palos Verdes Art Center, July 2018.

Biography

 Margaret Lindsey works in the pastel medium and has studied under several nationally known pastelists. 


She loves the California landscape and the California Impressionists from 100 years ago. These passions inspire her to work to become one of the top 21st Century California Impressionists! She begins color studies on location and then creates finished pieces in the studio.


Margaret likes to portray the landscape in a nostalgic manner, causing the viewer to long for home, whether that is a return to Eden or a yearning for Paradise while traveling through this less-than-perfect world.


Margaret Lindsey finds great joy in seeing and recording her observations.  Frederick Franke said, "Drawing is, before all else, seeing."  It is this ability to draw and see as an artist sees, first learned in a life drawing class at Westchester High School that touched her deeply and motivated her to pursue art.  In 1997, she had the opportunity to attend CSU Long Beach to become certified to teach the methodology of drawing pioneered and developed by Dr. Betty Edwards  known as “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.”  As a certified instructor, it has been Margaret’s pleasure to share the skills necessary for seeing with students, who never thought they could learn to draw, so that they may participate in the joy of drawing.  She has taught these skills at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center, the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department, Destination: Art, as well as in private instruction.


Destination: Art is the non-profit Studios/Gallery of which Margaret is the Founding President and CEO. The grand opening was held in November, 2014.  See www.destination-art.net for more information.


Margaret is the Founding President of the Pastel Society of Southern California, www.pastelsocal.com  which was launched in 2009 and now has more than 200 members. The PSSC holds an annual Exhibition and multiple workshops throughout the year.


She is also a juried member of the Pacific Arts Group, affiliated with the Palos Verdes Art Center.


She and her husband, Steve, live in Torrance, CA. They have two grown children, Rick and Christie.  Margaret’s art is evidence of her redemption and of becoming the person God intends her to be.

Margaret Lindsey painting on location while husband, Steve, takes photos.
Margaret Lindsey painting on location while husband, Steve, takes photos.