Sarah Blumenschein, Pastel Artist

Sarah Blumenschein lives in Albuquerque and is known for her luminous pastel paintings of still lifes and landscapes. Although art was her first passion, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and spent 14 years working as an engineer before returning to art full time while raising her children.

Sarah initially focused on landscapes, but soon became drawn to still life painting for its rich variety of color, texture, shape, and reflective surfaces. She often combines elements of both genres in her work. Using pastel as her medium, she is inspired by the immediacy of color and the ability to build vibrant layers. Her paintings frequently feature glass, china, flowers, and other reflective subjects that allow her to explore the movement of light and create a strong sense of depth and atmosphere.

Since entering her first exhibition in 2003, where she received 2nd place, Sarah has earned numerous local, national, and international awards. Honors include 1st Place in the Still Life Category of The Artist's Magazine 2009 Annual Art Competition, the Grand Prize in the 2010 Pastel Journal Pastel 100 Competition, Best of Show in the 2014 New Mexico Masterworks Competition and the 2015 Pastel Society of New Mexico National Exhibition, and multiple top awards in 2021 from the Pastel Society of America and the International Association of Pastel Societies.

Sarah holds Signature status with the Pastel Society of America, Distinguished Pastelist status with the Pastel Society of New Mexico and Pastel Society of the West Coast, and Master Circle status with the International Association of Pastel Societies. Her work has also been featured in both The Artist’s Magazine and Pastel Journal.

With every painting, Sarah hopes to inspire feelings of joy, beauty, and connection through light, color, and form.