---
title: Color in Hand - The Art of Soft Pastel
description: >-
  Juried soft pastel exhibition at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, California,
  co-sponsored by the Pastel Society of the West Coast, with awards up to $400.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/6eac48fe-b55f-4075-9783-5aa710e1d92f'
type: program
status: open
createdAt: '2026-09-04'
updatedAt: '2026-09-07'
programType: Exhibition
organization: Sebastopol Center for the Arts
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/sebastopol-center-for-the-arts'
deadline: '2026-11-13'
entryFee: 35 USD
location: 'Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, United States'
isOnline: false
compensationRange: >-
  Awards: Best of Show $400 (sponsored by PSWC), First Place $300, Second Place
  $200, Third Place $100, and 2 Coordinator Awards at $50 each.
disciplines:
  - soft pastel
  - painting
  - drawing
---

# Color in Hand - The Art of Soft Pastel

**Hosted by:** Sebastopol Center for the Arts

**Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA, United States | **Deadline:** November 13, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $35

## About This Program

> "Soft pastel painting"

An Exhibition at Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Soft Pastel is a dry painting medium in stick form, requiring neither liquid nor a brush to apply. The color is held in hand and applied directly to the painting surface. For these reasons, many artists love the immediacy. Pastels are made with pure pigment, the same raw materials as other artists' paints such as oil and watercolor.

The pigment is ground to a fine powder and mixed with just enough binder and water to be formed into sticks. To make a painting, pastels are dragged across a rough paper surface. Artists build up many layers of color over the course of creating a work. The expressive possibilities of pastel are unlimited. This exhibition is co-sponsored by the Pastel Society of the West Coast, whose mission is to promote and encourage the use of pastel through education, community, and artistic excellence.

All subjects and genres are welcome, from realism to abstraction. Works must be in soft pastel—no oil pastels. The artwork's final surface must be at least 80% soft pastel. Your work must be original and based on your own references, not copied from other artists or published material. All works must be framed and under glass for safety.

Work must be produced in the last 4 years. May not exceed 4 feet wide. Work must be framed, wired and ready to hang. No sawtooth hangers accepted.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** International
- **Disciplines:** soft pastel, painting, drawing
- **Note:** Open to artists worldwide. Works must be in soft pastel—no oil pastels; the artwork's final surface must be at least 80% soft pastel. Work must be original and based on your own references, not copied from other artists or published material. All works must be framed and under glass for safety, framed, wired and ready to hang — no sawtooth hangers accepted.

Work must be produced in the last 4 years and may not exceed 4 feet wide. All work must not have been previously shown in the SebArts Gallery. This call for entry allows up to 3 entries. PSWC members' entry fee will be discounted (available through organization communications).

### Additional Requirements

Submissions must be entered online only. Minimum 1, maximum 4 images. Please ensure that all images are 5MB or less in size and are in JPEG format. Please submit a high quality image that best represents your work. Work that differs from the submission image may not be included in the exhibition.

Entry fee $35 per application (with 2 detailed images); $10 for a second application; $10 for a third application. Submission limit: 3.

## Compensation & Benefits

Awards: Best of Show $400 (sponsored by PSWC), First Place $300, Second Place $200, Third Place $100, and 2 Coordinator Awards at $50 each.

**Includes:** Prize

Best of Show $400 Sponsored by the PSWC; First Place $300; Second Place $200; Third Place $100; 2 Coordinator Awards at $50 each. Artists receive 60% of the sales price of work sold; SebArts receives the remaining 40%. Artists are responsible for all shipping and handling costs to and from the exhibit.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** August 13, 2026
- **Deadline:** November 13, 2026
- **Program Start:** January 9, 2027
- **Program End:** February 14, 2027

## Contact

**Contact:** Damian Estrella

**Email:** destrella@sebarts.org

**Phone:** 707-829-4797 x 1003

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://pci.jotform.com/form/261756691144160