FEATURED ARTISTS
In Praise of the Prairie
Artist Kim Casebeer finds drama in the simple beauty of the Kansas landscape.
By Anne Hevener

Best Arrangements
June L. Maxwell's still lifes pair things of beauty with ordinary items in arrangements that balance order with a touch of play.
By Christine Proskow

Dialogue: Richard McDaniel
The artist and teacher tells how oils and pastels act like "partners in progress"â€"encouraging new ideas and ways of working.
By Michael Chesley Johnson

The Heart's Many Homes
Plein air painter Stephanie Birdsall forms artistic attachments to many different landscapes.By Sarah A. Strickley

Bright Lights, Big City
Janet A. Cook finds creative inspiration in the glow and bustle of New York City nightlife.
By Michelle Taute

Special Report: The 21st Century Pastelist
Find out how four artists use the computer in different ways to simplify or creatively impact the development of a painting.
By Tom Zeit

COLUMNS
Art Matters
Painting in and on the streets; how to make art and lose weight; a famous Vatican boarder; and more.
Compiled by Jessica Canterbury

Pastel Pointers
Unhappy with your composition? What's missing is more than likely balance. Find out what you can do to achieve better balanceâ€"and harmonyâ€"in your work.
By Mark Leach

Afterword
An artist rides the rails from Chicago to California, creating a valuable stash of sketches to inspire a variety of paintings.
By Kathleen Newman