About the Artist

BIOGRAPHY

Gina Carstens spent her first 45 years in Berlin/Germany. After having studied Classical and Romance philology she taught Latin, French and Italian at a Berlin Secondary School. In 1994 she left Berlin to work at the European School in Brussels/Belgium. After retiring she decided to settle in the south of Belgium, near the French border where she now lives with her cat and her dogs, surrounded by her garden and the beautiful landscape of the Ardennes, a perpetual source of inspiration.

My drawing and painting started in my childhood, always encouraged by my Mom. For many years I worked in watercolour. After retiring however in 2004 I discovered pastels and was immediately fascinated by the possibilities of the medium.

Apart from several international workshops I am self-taught. At the start of my artistic journey I painted mostly from photographs, meanwhile photography is just a starting point from where I move on into the realm of fantasy and imagination. An experimental approach to pastels plays a major role in my work, especially wet underpainting. Over the years I have experimented with figures, animals and moody landscapes. Luminous colour has always fascinated me and this fascination finds expression in my favourite motifs, flowers. My mother passed down her passion for blooms to me, seeing in flowers creatures who have their own mysterious life, like entering a secret garden. The portrayal of both mysticism and beauty features strongly in my work.

 Memberships:

Gina Carstens  is

a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America,

a Signature Member of the Degas Pastel Society.

She is a member of

the Pastel Guild of Europe,

the Pastel Society of the West Coast,

the Pastel Society of Nevada.

Awards and Honors 

2025 In September, my two paintings 'Lupin magic' and 'Twilight Dahlias' have been accepted into the Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada, Open Member online exhibiton.

2025 In April, my painting 'Only for one day' has been accepted into the 2025 IAPS Juried Webshow - 46th Division

2024 In November, my painting 'Enchanted' has been selected into the Degas Pastel Society 20th Biennal National Exhibition. Juror Lyn Asselta.

2024 In August, my painting 'Floral Firework*has been selected for the Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada. Juror Jacob Aguiar.

2024 In Juli  (5,6,7), the Centre  Culturel Action Sud de Viroinval invited me to exhibit 16 of my floral paintings. The exhibition was agreat success.

2024 In March, my painting 'Midsummer Glory' has been accepted into the 2024 Pastel Society of the West Coast Members Only Online Show (MOOS). Judge Sally Strand.

2003 In October, my painting 'Golden Petals' has been selected for the Degas Pastel Society 23rd Biennial Savage.

2003 In August my painting 'La Vie en Roses' has been accepted into the Pastel Society of Southern California show 'Make your

Mark'2023. Jurors Ellen Eagle, Julie Freeman and Isabelle V.Lim.

2023 In May, my painting 'Sweet aquilegia' has been accepted imto the Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada member exhibition.

2023 In March, my painting 'Honeysuckle' has been accepted imto the IAPS Spring Juried Exhibition - 42nd Open.

2023 In February, my painting 'Honeysuckle' have been juried into th PSWC Members Only Online Show.

2022 In September, my painting "Hidden delight"was the winner of the Harvest Giveaway, Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada.

2022 In August, my paintings "New Hope" and "Honeysuckle" have been juried into PSNC's PURE COLOR 6th Annual ONLINE International Juried Exhibition. Juror Michael Freeman.

2022 In August, my paintings "A Passion for Peonies" and "New Hope" have been juried intom the online juried exhibition MAKE YOUR MARK, Pastel Society of Southern California. Jurors Daniel Keys, TaiMeng Lim and Kim Lordier.

2022 In May, my paintings "Purple Mystery" ans "Bird of Paradise" have been juried into the Red Rock 2022 Juried Member Webshow. Juror Vanessa Turner.

2022 In February, my painting "Farewell to summer" has been juried into the 2022 PSWC Members Only Online Show MOOS.

2021 In October, my painting "Late summer glory" has been juried into the Degas Pastel Society 22nd Membership online exhibition, juror Bethany Fields.

2021 In July, my painting "Joie de Vivre" has been accepted into the Pastel Society of the West Coast's 35th Annual Pastels USA International Open Exhibition, juror Wende Caporal.

2021 In May, my painting"Joie de Vivre" was awarded "VIEWER'S CHOICE Runner-up" at the Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada Juried Member Webshow.

2021 In May, my paintings"Joie de Vivre" and "Explosion" have been accepted into the Red Rock Pastel Society of Nevada  Member Webshow. Jurors: Lana Ballot, Karen Margulis and Corey Pitkin.
 

 2021 In February, my painting "Joie de vivre" has been accepted into the 2021 Pastel Society of the West Coast Members Only Online Show (MOOS). Juror  Gwenneth Barth-White.

 2020 In August, my painting "Flamenco" has been accepted into the Pure Color 4th Annual Exhibition of the Pastel Society of North Carolina. Juror Christine Ivers.
 

2020 In July, my painting "Exuberance" has been accepted into the Central Mass Pastel Society's international online competition, "Marks of Distinction 2020". Jurors Lynn Asselta and Micheal Freeman.

2020 In June, I have been chosen by Adrian Frankel Giuliani as Featured Artist of the Pastel Society of America, Facebook page.

2020 In June, my painting"Summer tapestry", part of the Red Rock Pastel Socviety of Nevada 2020 Juried Member Webshow, was revied on Instagram by the Master Pastelist Casey Klahn.

2020 In May, my 3 paintings "Cascade of Roses", "On an Evening in May" and "Summer Tapestry" have been accepted into the Red Rock Pastel Socviety of Nevada 2020 Juried Member Webshow. Jurors Jimmy Wright, Olga Abramova and Bethany Fields.

2020 In March, my paintings" "The Sweetv Fragrance of an April Evening" and "Missing you already" have been selected for the Salon International du pastel Opale in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

2019 In October my painting "On an Evening in June" has been selected for the Degas Pastel Society Membership Exhibition in New Orleans,  juror Cybèle T. Gontar.

2019 In August my painting "The Sweet Fragrance of an April Evening" has been  accepted as a finalist with a Honorable Mention in the Pastel Society of Northern Carolina, Pure Colour International Online Exhibition, j uror Deborah LaFogg.

2019 In August my painting "The Sweet Fragrance of an April Evening" has been juried into the Pastel Society of Southern California, Make Your Mark, International Online Exhibition and has received the Four Sticks Picture Frame Award, juror Lyn Asselta.

2019 In May I have been juried a Signature Member of the Degas Pastel Society.

2019 In April my four paintings  "Dreams of Summer in Winter Darkness", "Winged Visitor", "A Fairy Hideaway" and "Blooming and Wintering, they are all but one!" have been juried into the Pastel Society of Nevada Online Show, juror Marsha Savage.

2019 In February "Cascade of Roses"  has been juried into the Pastel Society of the West Coast Online Show, juror Terry Ford.

2018 In October I have been juried a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America.

2018 in August my painting "Bowing out" has been juried into the Pastel Society of North Carolina, "Pure Color 2018", Online Show. Juror Jen Evenhus.

2018 In July my painting "The Apple Blossom Waltz" has been juried into The Pastel Society of America, 46th Annual Exhibition, Enduring Brilliance, at the National Arts Club in New York, jurors Jimmy Wright, Colette Odya Smith and Rainie Crawford.

2017 In November the self portrait "In the mirror" finished amongst the 25 best portraits at the Jackson's Art blog Pastel Portrait competition.

2017 In May the self portrait "In the mirror" was selected by Gail Sibley for her monthly pastels picks.

2017 In June the self portrait "In the mirror" was selected by Richard McKinley amongst the 100 best pastels of the yearly UART competition. 

2015 The flower painting "Opium" got the "Prix de la ville de Namur"/Belgium.