Joe Kluck, PSA-MP, IAPS-MC, PPS
I have been involved with art ever since I can remember…
As a kid I was always filling out those “Draw Me” contests in the Sunday newspapers. As a student, I always drew in my notebooks and textbooks and as a result spent several hours in the Principal’s Office drawing the people and objects I found there. Ironically, I became a teacher and for 33 years I used art as a bridge to reach my students. It was fun walking into a classroom, grabbing a student’s paper, and drawing a personalized cartoon. Consequently, hundreds of students in Northeastern Pennsylvania have an “Onionhead” drawing on their kitchen refrigerators.
My art career has certainly gone through many phases throughout the years. In the 1980’s, I created an “Onionhead” comic strip that was circulated in several small weekly newspapers in the United States, South Africa, and the Philippines. For over 30 years, I have owned a sign business Signs Around Town. Currently, I specialize in hand-carved gold leaf signs. My signs have found homes all over the United States. My recent passion has been to explore my creative energies through the use of pastels.
My curiosity with pastels led me to discover the works of Elizabeth Mowry, Jane McGraw Tubner, and Albert Handell. I have found their work spectacular, their color selections captivating, and their perspectives refreshing. Recently, I have been exploring the amazing works of Brian Bailey, G. Daniel Massad, and many others. I enjoy the ability to capture the innocence of a little girl feeding a bird, the spirit of a summer afternoon at a lake, or the curvature of light around objects.
My fellow pastel society members also continue to be a source of marvel and inspiration for me. When I grow up…(you know the rest).
Affiliations and Awards
Affiliations
AFA (Artists for Art) Gallery, member. Scranton, PA. (March 2010 – present)
Pastel Society of America, Master Pastelist. (January 2015 - present)
International Association of Pastel Societies, Master Circle Status (2016 - present)
Philadelphia Pastel Society, Signature Status (2022 - present)
Daily Painters of Pennsylvania (member) -Mechanicsburg PA (May 2010 - 2018)
Wayne County Arts Alliance - Honesdale PA Participant in Open Studio Tour (2008 - 2018)
My work has been exhibited in the following galleries:
National Arts Club - New York City, NY
Salmagundi Art Club - New York City, NY
AFA Gallery - Scranton, PA
Artworks Gallery - Scranton, PA
Marquis Gallery - Scranton, PA
Art E Fekts Gallery - Pittston, PA
Marquis Gallery - Wilkes Barre, PA
Butternut Gallery - Montrose, PA
Endless Summer Gallery - Forest City, PA
Hanson Gallery - Honesdale, PA
Phillip Hone Gallery - Honesdale, PA
Willow River Gallery - Honesdale, PA
Gallery Thirteen - Mechanicsburg, PA
Daily Painters of PA, State Capitol Exhibition - Harrisburg, PA
Endless Mountain Council for the Arts - Tunkhannock, PA
Windsor Whip Works Gallery - Windsor, NY
Cloud Croft Studio - Owego, NY
Awards + Recognition
Pastel Society of America - Enduring Brilliance! Exhibition, Promotional Image. Yellow. March 2023
Pastel Society of America - Enduring Brilliance! Exhibition. Pan Pastel Award. September 2022.
Pastel Society of America Master Pastelist Status. August 2022.
Philadelphia Pastel Society. Hello Spring! Members Exhibition, Promotional Image. I Miss This. April 2022.
Pastel Society of America - Enduring Brilliance! Exhibition. Clairefontaine Pastelmat Award. September 2021.
Pastel Society of America - Enduring Brilliance! Exhibition. Terry Ludwig Award. September 2020
International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle Status. March 2020
Cover Image North Branch Art Trail. February 2019
Featured artist Pastel Society of America Facebook page. January 2019
Butternut Gallery Montrose PA Focus Exhibition Best Painting. May 2016
Butternut Gallery Montrose PA Focus Exhibition, Best Painting. May 2015
Pastel Society of America. Signature Member Status 2015
AFA Gallery Scranton PA Annual Auction Keynote Piece. November 2014
Endless Mountain Council for the Arts Tunkhannock PA, 1st place. July 2014
John Hopkins Hospital Baltimore Md. National Arts Program, 1st place. January 2010
Wilkes Barre Fine Arts Council, 2nd place. May 2009
Juried Exhibitions
International Association of Pastel Societies - 12th Master Circle Division Juried Exhibition. Sitka Spruce. Albuquerque, NM. June 2024.
International Association of Pastel Societies. 2023 IAPS Juried Fall Webshow - The 11th Master Circle Division. Beets 7/23. October 2023.
Philadelphia Pastel Society. 2nd National Open Juried Exhibition. Golden Apples. Wayne Art Center - Wayne, PA. September 2023.
Pastel Society of America. 51st Annual Juried Exhibition - Enduring Brilliance! Cola Cola. Juried Webshow. September 2023.
International Association of Pastel Societies. 2023 IAPS Juried Webshow - The 10th Master Circle Division. Old Leathers. April 2023.
Philadelphia Pastel Society. 1st National Open Juried Exhibition. Red Apple with Leaves. Community Arts Center - Wallingford, PA. October 2022.
Pastel Society of America. 50th Annual Juried Exhibition - Enduring Brilliance! Yellow. National Arts Club NYC. September 2022.
International Association of Pastel Societies - 8th Master Circle Division Juried Exhibition. Little Green Apples. Albuquerque, NM. June 2022.
Philadelphia Pastel Society. Hello Spring! Members Exhibition. I Miss This. Chevy Impala. Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, PA. April 2022.
International Association of Pastel Societies. 2021 IAPS Juried Webshow - The 7th Master Circle Division. Mr. Wilkerson’s Apples. November 2021.
Pastel Society of America. 49th Annual Juried Exhibition - Enduring Brilliance! Chevy Impala. National Arts Club NYC. September 2021.
International Association of Pastel Societies - Master Circle Division Juried Exhibition. The Red Stem. Chicago, IL. June 2021.
International Association of Pastel Societies On Line Juried Exhibition. I Miss This. October 2020.
Pastel Society of America Enduring Brilliance! Juried Exhibition. September 2020.
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition Dunedin, FL. Leather and Laces. 2020.
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition Albuquerque, NM. Spotlight 2019.
International Association of Pastel Societies On-Line Juried Exhibition. This Joint is Jumpin’. 2018.
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition Albuquerque, NM. Radishes IV. 2017.
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition. Salmagundi Club, NYC. Radishes. 2016.
Enduring Brilliance! – Pastel Society of America Juried Exhibition National Arts Club, NYC. 2016.
Enduring Brilliance! – Pastel Society of America Juried Exhibition National Arts Club, NYC 2015.