Pastel Podcast Episode 1: Exploring the Soulful Art of Pastel with Kim Lordier

Welcome to a vibrant journey through the world of pastel painting, where passion, technique, and personal stories intertwine to inspire artists of all levels. In this engaging conversation, hosts Lisa Skelly and Kari Stober, share their experiences, insights, and heartfelt connections to the medium. This article delves into the soulful artistry of Kim Lordier, one of the nation’s finest pastel plein air painters, exploring her approach, inspirations, and the unique magic she brings to her work. Kim is known for her generosity and warmth, qualities that make her not only a brilliant artist but also a beloved mentor and friend. Her approachable nature and encouragement have helped many artists overcome self-doubt and embrace their creative voices.

Meeting Kim Lordier: A Serendipitous Beginning

Kim Lordier’s story is not only about her mastery of pastel but also about the profound connections that art can foster. The first encounter for Lisa and Kim was serendipitous—sparked by a magazine cover featuring her work. Both Kim and Lisa shared a surprising commonality: they had been flight attendants. This unexpected link led to an invitation to a plein air event in Sonoma County, and eventually a lasting friendship. It’s a testament to how art can unite people.

Beyond her artistic journey, Kim shares an unusual family connection with co-host Kari Stober, the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Both descend from siblings who survived this tragic event during a wagon train journey to California.

The Soulful Essence of Kim Lordier’s Pastel Paintings

What makes Kim’s paintings resonate so deeply? The answer lies in the soulful quality she infuses into her work. She explains that there is no simple formula; rather, it’s about pouring oneself into each painting and blending foundational elements like value simplification and shape composition with personal expression.

Kim often employs an underpainting technique, especially for larger studio pieces, which helps her build a strong tonal foundation before layering pastel. In plein air settings, she typically works directly with pastel, capturing the immediacy of the moment. Her process is patient and intuitive, allowing the painting to “talk” to her and evolve organically. For example, in one of her celebrated works, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, she used a Fibonacci spiral to refine the composition, patiently waiting to add a subtle puff of breath that brought the scene to life.

From Illustration to Pastel: A Journey of Confidence and Discovery

Kim’s artistic path began early, painting animal portraits in pastel since she was 15. She initially pursued illustration but found the competitive environment intimidating. Later, she embraced plein air painting, starting with oils and adapting those techniques to pastel. A pivotal moment came during plein air sessions with her mentor Brit, who encouraged Kim to appreciate the power of simplified tonal shapes and to trust her emerging style.

Painting in the Field: The Joys and Challenges of Plein Air Pastel

Painting outdoors presents unique challenges and rewards. Kim’s approach to plein air pastel is to capture intimate scenes and color notes rather than finishing fully detailed paintings on site. Her plein air works often serve as studies or inspiration for larger studio pieces. She emphasizes the importance of stepping back frequently to observe the overall composition and values, a practice that helps maintain clarity and depth in the work.

Her friend Lisa Skelly recounts painting alongside Kim during a plein air workshop, marveling at Kim’s ability to see and capture elements in the landscape that others might miss. Kim’s vision and mark-making are described as a “dance” with the pastel sticks—fluid, gestural, and full of life.

The Dance of Pastel: Gesture, Movement, and Expression

Kim likens her painting process to a dance, where every stroke reflects the gesture and growth of the subject. She doesn’t paint individual details in isolation but captures the essence and movement of forms, such as the sway of grasses or the posture of horses. This approach imbues her work with a dynamic energy and emotional resonance.

Understanding and Mastering Atmospheric Perspective in Pastel

One of the technical challenges in landscape painting is achieving atmospheric perspective—the illusion of depth created by changes in color, value, and contrast. Kim stresses the importance of understanding how values compress and colors cool as the eye travels into the distance.

She advises artists to observe how contrasts between light and dark lessen with distance, and how warm colors in the foreground gradually shift to cooler blues and purples in the background. To assist with value assessment, she recommends stepping back frequently and using tools like black-and-white photos or phone screenshots to evaluate the painting’s tonal structure objectively.

Color Challenges and Solutions in Pastel Painting

Unlike paint mediums that allow mixing colors on a palette, pastel artists work with discrete sticks of pigment. Kim shares strategies for overcoming color limitations, such as glazing—applying thin layers of complementary colors to modify intensity and hue. She emphasizes the importance of simplifying values to accommodate the inherent jumps in pastel colors and encourages playful experimentation within those constraints.

Both Kim and Lisa advocate for light, translucent layers over heavy-handed applications, which can dull the vibrant colors and reduce the layering possibilities. This delicate layering technique, combined with gestural mark-making, helps bring luminosity and depth to pastel paintings.

Exploring Mixed Media: Oil Underpaintings with Pastel

Kim is an innovator who embraces the versatility of pastel by incorporating mixed media into her work. Recently, she created a painting with an oil underpainting topped with pastel strokes, which was accepted into an experimental show by the Pastel Society of the West Coast. This approach allows her to build texture and tonal depth before adding the vibrant pastel layers, expanding the creative possibilities of the medium.

She notes practical considerations such as allowing the oil paint to cure fully and using museum glass with spacers to protect the delicate surface. This blending of traditional and contemporary techniques highlights the evolving nature of pastel art.

Finding Your Artistic Voice: The Concept of “Drive-By Painting”

Kim introduces the idea of “drive-by painting” as a metaphor for discovering one’s style and preferences. Just as you might glimpse a striking scene from a car window, artists often develop internal preferences for shapes, colors, and compositions through repeated exposure to visual stimuli. Becoming aware of what naturally attracts you is key to cultivating a unique artistic voice.

She encourages artists to be self-aware and to trust their instincts, even when they don’t fully understand why a particular scene or color combination resonates. This process of tuning into personal aesthetics helps artists move beyond imitation toward authentic expression.

Seeing Beyond the Obvious: The Magic of Color in Nature

A transformative insight Kim shares is the realization that natural elements like snow, clouds, and waves are rarely pure white. Instead, they reflect a spectrum of colors influenced by light and environment. To help students grasp this, Kim uses an innovative teaching exercise involving colored construction paper, light sources, and absorbent materials to simulate the subtle color reflections found in nature.

This exercise teaches artists to reserve the brightest white for highlights and to explore the nuanced colors that give life to seemingly white subjects. By understanding these color relationships, artists can create more realistic and compelling paintings.

Personal Color Palettes and the Signature “Tickle” of Color

Every artist develops a personal color palette that reflects their tastes and emotional responses. Kim shares how she used to add small touches of brilliant orange in her paintings as a subtle guide for the viewer’s eye—a “tickle” of color that became a signature element.

Lisa, for example, gravitates toward teals and blues, while Kim leans into rich autumnal hues. Recognizing and embracing these preferences helps artists create cohesive bodies of work that reflect their unique identities.

The Importance of Play and Experimentation in Artistic Growth

Mastering pastel painting involves a balance between disciplined practice and playful experimentation. Kim encourages artists to set aside time for “recess” — moments to explore, ask “what if,” and try new approaches without pressure. Such play fosters creativity and can lead to breakthroughs in style and technique.

She references Larry Moore’s “Fishing for Elephants” exercises as examples of fun, thought-provoking ways to engage with art beyond traditional methods. Amidst the demands of shows, teaching, and life, carving out time for experimentation is essential for artistic vitality.

Looking Ahead: Kim Lordier’s Upcoming Projects and Legacy

Kim is actively involved in teaching workshops, including a recent one and an upcoming event with the Tucson Pastel Society. She is preparing new works for the show Wild Wild Women Paint the West, featuring a stellar lineup of women artists, which will open at the Loom Gallery in Montana.

In recognition of her significant contributions, Kim will soon receive the prestigious Pastel Laureate distinction from the Pastel Society of the West Coast, joining a distinguished group of artists. This honor reflects her mastery, influence, and dedication to the pastel medium.

When asked about her legacy, Kim expresses gratitude for her time on earth and hopes to be remembered as open, friendly, and a good mother. Her humility and warmth shine through, reminding us that art is not only about creating beautiful objects but also about connecting with others and living authentically.

Conclusion: Embracing the Vibrancy and Soul of Pastel Art

The world of pastel painting is rich with color, emotion, and endless possibilities. Through the inspiring journey of Kim Lordier, we see how technical skill, personal history, and heartfelt expression combine to create art that resonates deeply with viewers.

Whether you are a seasoned pastel artist or just beginning your creative journey, embracing foundational principles like value, atmospheric perspective, and color harmony is essential. Equally important is cultivating your own artistic voice, trusting your instincts, and allowing time for play and exploration.

Pastel painting is much more than a medium; it is a dance of light, color, and gesture—an invitation to connect with nature, history, and oneself. As Kim’s work beautifully illustrates, when you pour your soul into your art, the result is a luminous reflection of life’s vibrant spirit.

Related Links from this episode of the Pastel Podcast:

• Pastel Today e-newsletter
• Kim Lordier website
• Tucson Pastel Society
• Pastel Society of the West Coast