Diners at Marygold’s on Main have more artwork to view while a current exhibition is on display: Local artist Claudia Mitchell has pastel works she created on view throughout the main entry and eating areas of 19 Main Street.

The space already had other art adorning the walls. Mitchell’s work fits right in.

Mitchell’s artist statement for the show reads, “My intro into serious pastel painting came after retiring as an art teacher at Newtown Middle School. My first glorious workshop with Alain Picard took me away from my exclusive relationship with watercolor to a medium new to me. Now I paint in both and love both.

“During lockdown, and twice afterwards, Alain challenged his students: 30 paintings in 30 days! What you see here are some of the results of my three challenges — self exploration of everything around me. Mostly simple objects seen walking either outside or in my kitchen or garden, or from photos from my many travels with students, family, and friends. I’ve taken the mundane — eggs, jars, bowls, foods — and attempted to speak of them in a language of form, design, and saturated color. I think in the visual and am seduced by color — even in the dark.

“My work is my own expression. Hopefully some of my viewers will feel some of the joy I find in painting.”

Walking around Marygold’s on Main on August 2, Mitchell said she took up Picard’s challenges because she thought, “This is going to be good for me.”

After the first challenge, Picard again put out another challenge, this time for 30 paintings in 90 days.

“It sounded a lot easier, but actually it was harder in a way ... pressure to do more in your own self, not by him.”

And finally, in February 2022, Picard shared another 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

“I did them all,” said Mitchell, adding that all of the paintings were done in pastels. “All my other work has been in watercolor since 1982.”

Mitchell said she was first inspired to try painting with pastels after attending a Society for Creative Arts Newtown (SCAN) event, which was a demonstration by Picard.

“He started off the pastel with a big under wash of pastel and alcohol, which mimicked watercolor,” said Mitchell. “And that’s what caught me. I said wow, he’s going to be loose and expressive and he’s like kind of in tune with the whole aspect of watercolor.”

So Mitchell took three sets of four classes with Picard.

“It got me really interested in the medium,” said Mitchell.

She began collecting pastel paints, so when Picard posed his first challenge, Mitchell was ready.

Painting in lockdown in March 2020 “was food for my soul,” said Mitchell.

For the setting, Mitchell focused on hanging pieces with food subjects, such as cherries, eggplant, and clams. There are 14 pieces on display. An end date for the display has not been set yet.

All the pieces on display at Marygold’s on Main are for sale through the restaurant. Prices range from $300 to $500. More details are available at the restaurant.

More information about Marygold’s on Main is available on its website, marygoldsonmain.com. Some of Mitchell’s artwork is available to see online on her Instagram account, claudia.mitchell.paint.

Education Editor Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.