Zaria Forman is a contemporary artist whose breathtakingly realistic, large-scale pastel drawings capture the fragile beauty of landscapes threatened by climate change. Unlike brushes or other tools, pastels allow for a direct, tactile connection with the artwork. Forman works primarily with her fingers and palms, smudging and blending the pigments directly onto the paper. This hands-on approach creates a unique intimacy and allows for an incredibly subtle layering of color and tone, resulting in the hyperrealistic detail that defines her drawings. The choice of pastels also reflects the ephemeral nature of the landscapes she depicts. Just as the glaciers are melting and the sea ice is breaking apart, the pastel itself is a delicate medium, susceptible to smudging and fading. By showcasing the breathtaking beauty of these endangered landscapes, she hopes to inspire people to protect them.

Arts Madness 2025

Season 11 is all about my Arts Madness Tournament. Once again, I hope you will weigh in on your favorite artists/artworks as we go from 64 down to 1. For this year’s tournament, I put 32 works from the AP Art History list in one bracket, and on the other side, I have 32 artists/works from my personal “Salon des Refusés” that were not included in the curriculum. Voting for Round 1 will begin Monday, February 24. In the meantime, learn about all the different artists/artworks. I will be posting daily mini episodes for 64 days (mostly encore presentations with some updates and new episodes most Mondays).

Arts Madness 2025 links:

Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab

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Zaria Forman | Lincoln Sea, Greenland