The Vault: Wendy Bombelles - Pathways

Artist Statement:

“As an artist, I seek to express the memory of time and place through the simple beauty of nature. I am passionate about the importance of nature and find meditative joy in the process of art.  Through my work, I invite you to share in the feelings that I experience when surrounded by the profound beauty of the ordinary. Often, my paintings reveal pathways, celebrating the moment through color, light, and texture.

Pastel is the perfect medium to reflect my own way of seeing and responding to the landscape. I have been drawn to pastel painting techniques for many years, and after retiring and at the onset of the pandemic, I immersed myself in the study and techniques of pastel landscapes. I use soft and hard pastels on sanded archival paper. Every landscape is started with an underpainting, much like a watercolor painting. I build up many layers of pastel to achieve the desired effect.

I am excited about these paintings that represent my response to the beauty around us. I hope my paintings bring you as much joy as they bring me.”

Artist Bio:

Wendy Bombelles is an artist based in Norfolk, Virginia specializing in pastel painting. She focuses on finding and expressing the beauty and spirit in ordinary landscapes by interpreting color, light and texture. She found a passion in working in soft pastels, particularly the colors of pure pigments and the variety of textures that could be achieved. Wendy was recently elected a juried Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA).

She has been an artist her entire life. After obtaining a formal art education at the Cleveland institute of Art, Wendy had a long career as a textile designer designing printed textiles and decorative products such as wallpaper, fabrics, gift wrap, and other products for major manufactures in the home goods industry. After the decline in the manufacturing textile industry and the emergence of computer-generated design she turned her attention to painting and drawing.

Wendy has always felt that one of the beautiful things about being an artist is that the need to create has driven her to explore other forms of creative expression. She also learned hand weaving on a loom as a member of Coastal Virginia Weavers which is a weaving studio in Norfolk. The meditative process of weaving combines her love of fiber, texture, pattern and color and fulfills her need to create.

During the pandemic Wendy spent days enjoying the outdoors which brought new life and joy to painting nature and perfecting her technique in pastel painting. Wendy takes hundreds of photos which inspire her to paint. She uses photos from her travels or from around the block that capture a memory or place in time.