RHODA YANOW

Rhoda Yanow was born in Newark, New Jersey. She studied at Parsons School of Design and at The National Academy of Design. She teaches at DuCret School of Art; Newark Museum and The Pastel Society of America School. She is a member of American Women Artists, Allied Artists of America, Pastel Society of America, Degas Pastel Society, New Jersey Watercolor Society, Artists Fellowship, Audubon Artists, American Artists Professional League, Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, National Association of Women Artists, Associate Member American Watercolor Society.

She received the 2002 Community Art Association Award for Pastels, 2001 New Jersey Watercolor Nabisco Award, 2001 The Nieman Marcus Watercolor Award, Windsor Newton Painting Award, New Jersey Watercolor Award for Excellence, 2000 American Women Artists Painting Trip to Tuscany, Italy, International Artists Magazine; Allied Artists of America Award for Pastel; Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Metropolitan Museum of Art Award, the Pastel Society of America Award; The Jack Richeson Award for Pastel from Audubon Artists;Millburn Short Shills Art Group Award of Excellence; Ridgewood Art Institute in New Jersey Mosho Bahiri Award amongst others. In 2003, she received the Best Show Award from The Connecticutt Pastel Society and Gold Medal Award from Audubon Artists and Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club.</p>
Ms. Yanow is in the collection of The Butler Institute of American Art, The Chinese Government, a Pastel Painting for the First Pastel Museum in China, Pastel Society of America, Newark Museum, NJ; Nwark Public Library, New Jersey Ballet, Prince Albert Museum, London, Rensselaer University, NY, Township of West Orange, NJ, Shering Pharmaceuticals, Warner Lambert Company, Morris Plains and numerous private collections.

She was featured in the American Artists Magazine, New Jersey Goodlife, NJ Music and Arts and the Newark Star Ledger. She is in Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in the World, Drawing with Pastels by Lister, The Art of Pastel Portraiture by Madlyn-AA Woolwich, The Best of Pastel from Rockport Publishers, The Best of Sketching and Drawing from Rockport Publishers; The best of Pastel from Rockport Publishers; International Artists Magazine: International Pastel Artist, The Best of Watercolor, Watercolor Expressions: Contemporary Master Pastellists, Gallerie Luminous, Taiwan. American Artists Magazine February 89; International Artist and International Pastel Artist

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Artist's Statement:
"Luminosity and Life"

​I have been entranced since childhood with the luminosity of pastels and the vibrance of life --- of dancers tense before the curtain rises, of old folks recreating other times, of students eager for challenges yet unknown.

My artistic adventure began with a grandmother intent upon devising private entertainment for an only child, something that would keep me amused and out of trouble.

It evolved into a search for special moments, for glimpses behind the masks we all wear, a search for telling gestures and grimaces, postures and poses.

​It was enriched when a friend, a teacher, fell ill and asked me to substitute for a couple of weeks. He was never able to return, and two weeks have stretched beyond two decades.

The luminosity has shown brighter since that first day before a class. The lights in students' eyes outshine any pastel highlight. The student are the future. Their light is our light.

It is everything.