The new exhibit, “Salubrious Chalk Lines and Notes to Self,” by Lynne Seitzer, is a salubrious (good for the heart and soul) little group of exuberant paintings. Mental images captured as small pastel works of art. Each clipped to a hand colored back board and set into a shadowbox.

Lively and fun, there is one titled “Velocity” depicting an acrobatic figure balanced while motivated by the spirals that also hold him up. Another, titled “Salient Circles,” alluding to the prominent magenta spirals that energize the riot of colors. All are created in soft pastels which are not necessarily pastel in color. The color effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments that also make up oil paints than that of any other process. Some of her works are expressed by direct application of pigment while others are a blending of technique and tonal values.

“Unlike other artistic media, pastel offers the experience of painting with dry colors. Pastel is made from pure pigment in powdered form, which is bound together into sticks, similar to chalk. However, unlike colored chalks, pastel is composed of the same pigments found in oil paints. As pastel colors are applied dry, artists know immediately what effect a color will have on a composition.” (from the website arthistory.net)

A time honored tradition, artists have been creating with pastel since the 15th century, Lynne Seitzer continues this tradition with her creations today.

Seitzer has been painting professionally since 1980. She has developed as a pastel artist by working in the fields of fashion illustration, greeting card design. art education and fine art. She also paints in oil and in watercolor enjoying the mental “stretch” of switching media as well as a working in a diverse number of styles.

Seitzer will be showing the new works of “Salubrious Chalk Lines and Notes to Self” at Joy To The Wind Gallery through July 31. An opening reception for this new exhibit will be held on Friday, July 4 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Joy to the Wind Gallery is located at 34 Atlantic Avenue on the east side of the harbor (just over the footbridge across from the Rocktide Inn.) For more information, call 207-633-7025.