Rachel Pearson began painting again in the summer of 2021 after a 20-year hiatus. Ever the outdoor enthusiast, she spends much of her time hiking, camping, and skiing in the Jemez Mountains and beyond, thus it’s no surprise that she prefers to paint en plein air. She finds one can witness details on location that simply cannot be captured in photographs. 

Though largely self- taught, a charcoal drawing class she took in college informs her pastel work. And while soft pastels are her preferred medium, she also works with gouache and oil. For Rachel, pastels combine the color and breadth of painting with the specificity of drawing in one medium. Pastels offer a strong painterly feel, but allow for bold expressive marks.

Captivated by light and shadow, Rachel’s ideal painting experience is found on a bright day, when the sun sits lower on the horizon. She strives to capture the essence of nature at that moment: whether it be a blustery, smoky April afternoon along the edge of the nearby mesas or a tranquil summer morning in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. 

Her work has been juried into shows including Pastel Society of New Mexico (PSNM) 2023 "Enchanted Colors" National Exhibition, IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) 41st Open Division 2022 Web Show, PAPNM (Plein Air Painters of New Mexico) 14th National Show, PSNM 2022 National Exhibitions, Arizona Pastel Artists Association 2023 Open National Show, and the Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada’s 2022 Online National Show. She was juried into the Sedona Art Center’s inaugural Plein Air Tailgate Paint Out in 2022. She is an associate member of the Pastel Society of America.

Her painting "Endurance" (pastel, 16"x20") won a sponsor award at the 2023 PSNM "Enchanted Colors" national show. "The Red Door" (pastel, 6"x8") won second place overall at the 2023 PAPNM "Hot Springs Cool Town" Paint Out in Jemez Springs, NM. In 2022, her painting “Chamisa Rising” (pastel, 12"x16") won second place overall in the PAPNM Los Alamos Paint Out.

She lives in Los Alamos, New Mexico with her husband, daughter, two dogs and a cat. 

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