Pastel Painting as Art Therapy

For the month of May, all patrons of the Lake Travis Community Library are invited to enjoy the exhibit of local artist Julie Schmidt. Schmidt has always loved color and design. She began painting when she was a teenager and continued to take various art classes while in school at UT. Yet as a professional working in Houston in the oil industry, Schmidt found that she had little time left for her art. Now, after a forty year hiatus, Schmidt has resumed her art journey.

She says the light came on during a pastel workshop in early 2017 and it was apparent that this was the path to her new identity and doing what she loved. The artist that held the workshop in the Galveston Bay area opened her mind to seeing things with a painter’s eye and instilled the tools and confidence that has led her to consider herself an artist. After relocating to the Austin area, Schmidt was fortunate to find a “guiding light” who introduced her to the Bunkhouse Gang which is comprised of very talented and versatile artists that paint weekly. Needless to say, painting with such talent has fueled her passion even more, and continues to expose her to different techniques and valuable input from the “Gang”.

Schmidt started painting in oils in my teens, took watercolor lessons during her “first” career, but when she started working with pastels, she fell in love with them and the multitude of colors. She’ll still tackle other mediums like watercolors and acrylics, but soft pastels are her comfort zone.

Schmidt is a member artist of the Art on 12 Gallery and Bunkhouse Gallery, and is a member of various pastel societies and art groups. Visit the library’s meeting room during the month of May to view Schmidt’s exhibit.