A: For centuries, pastel was dismissed as a “second-class” medium, used mainly for sketches. My mission for the past four decades has been to prove otherwise. Pastel is pure pigment—rich, permanent, and luminous. Great artists such as Degas, Cassatt, and Renoir used pastel for finished works, not just studies. Today, I remain dedicated to showing what pastel can achieve as a major fine art medium.