Dare to Dream: Art Tips, and Testimonials from Urania's Studio and over 50 artists she inspired
Urania is the Founder/President Emeritus of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), established in 1994. For information about IAPS: www.pastelinternational.com MEMBERSHIPS Pastel Society of America, NY, Signature and Life Member; Salmagundi Club, NY, Artist Member; California Art Club, Pasadena, CA, Artist Member; Knickerbocker Artists, NY, Signature Member; Pastel Society of Canada, Signature Member; National League of American Pen Women, Washington, DC, Artist and Writer Member; Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies; Honorary Membership held in numerous Pastel Societies AWARDS Mary and Fred Trump Award Society of Western Artists, Flax Award Women Artists of the West, Pastel Award of Excellence Degas Pastel Society, Award of Excellence Kansas Pastel Society, Daniel E. Greene Award Kansas Pastel Society, Honorable Mention Society of Western Artists, Neva Rall Memorial Award Over one hundred ribbons, trophies and cash awards ART EDUCATION Official art education began at Pasadena College in Southern California; followed by two years of intense studies at Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles and the Sergei Bongart School of Art, Santa Monica. Workshops with nationally known artists: Joyce Pike, Albert Handell, Daniel Greene, and Claude Ellington served to hone and refine her skills. ART PROVENANCE Urania's work has been exhibited in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, New Orleans, France, Canada, Taiwan and Mexico. She has conducted pastel and oil workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, France, Ireland, and Scotland. Her work is included in ten how-to art books; and has been the subject of many articles published in American Artist, The Artist's Magazine, Art Review, Leisure Painter, Designer's Illustrated and Sacramento Home. Urania is represented in print by Aaron Ashley, New York. "Travel and painting throughout the United States and Europe has increased my love for the joy of plein air painting. Most of my major works stem from field sketches in plein air."