Mississippi’s Deana Goldsmith is known for her playful pastel drawings. Her colorful still-life works reflect a love of books, thrift-store finds and nature.
The artist: Born and raised on the Oklahoma side of the Red River (aka Texhoma) Goldsmith discovered at an early age she had a knack for doodling.
After raising four children and delving into all types of mediums through the years, Goldsmith began to focus on her art career and her first love: drawing.
The studio: Goldsmith shares space in Red Creek Studio in Perkinston, MS, with her artist-husband Bobby Goldsmith.
The art & materials: Still-life drawings ($1,000 to $10,000) with soft pastel sticks and pencils on sanded paper.
The artist loves to go junkin’ and search for treasures, such as books, old cameras and jars, for her stills.
“I enjoy arranging the pieces around a theme to try to tell a story,” said Goldsmith. A bird or birds often land in her drawings.
Why birds: “I’ve had an obsession with birds since my youth, and pencil is the perfect medium for portraying them as accurately as possible.”
What’s popular: The print “Party Line,” which features and old black corded rotary phone with three birds.
Awards: Many including:
- Award in the Pastel Society of America’s 49th annual exhibition, “Enduring Brilliance, 2021.
- Award of exceptional merit from the Degas Pastel Society, 2021.
- Best of Show, Orange Beach (AL) Festival of the Arts, 2020.
- Best of show at the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Springs, MS, 2020.
Honors:
- Signature member of the Pastel Society of America,
- Member of Degas Pastel Society in NOLA.
What’s new: Adding more flowers, insects and furry creatures to her drawings.
What next: Many art shows, including:
- Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa, March 5-6.
- Orange Beach Festival of the Art, AL, March 12-13.
- Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, FL, March 18-20
- Main Street Fort Worth Art Festival, April 7-10.
- Mainsail Art Festival St. Petersburg, April 16-17.
- Artisphere Greenville, SC, May 6-8.
Where to buy: DeanaGoldsmith.com.
Get social: Instagram: @deana_goldsmith
