On the heels of a fantastic and well-received fiber arts exhibition, the Leesburg Center for the Arts of Leesburg, FL brings yet another often overlooked medium into the spotlight. The Pastel Society of Central Florida’s member show – I Spy Something… Red! – is a delightful exploration of a medium used by artists for centuries but not always acknowledged as a proper, or so-called “fine art,” medium. The work in this exhibition puts that debate to rest once and for all.

The exhibition’s title might emphasize the color red, but visitors will find every color of the rainbow (and then some!) on display. In fact, some of the most powerful pieces were crafted with neutral and earth tones which only speaks to the versatility of the medium and the technical skill required to work with said medium.

My favorite aspect of this exhibition is that, when it comes down to subject matter, it features a little bit of everything. From loosely abstracted botanical forms to practically photo-real depictions of candy, crayons and cars, the artists were clearly undaunted when choosing their subjects. I think there’s also a creative playfulness that shines through in a lot of these pieces which makes for a very fun and enjoyable gallery experience.

Plus, I’d recommend multiple visits or allowing for extra time during your visit as the details of each piece are quite enchanting. When I visited, I found myself mesmerized by a glorious orange beta fish staring out at me from a mysterious black background. The incredibly fine detail work of the fish’s fins as it seemingly floated in space were enough to induce hypnosis.

I Spy Something… Red!, the Pastel Society of Central Florida’s member show, will be on view at the LCFA though December 22, 2023. For more information, please visit…

https://www.leesburgarts.com/cfagallery