We welcome pastel artists from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States to join.  We have two membership levels: Artist and Signature.

Artist Member

There are no prerequisites to join as an Artist member.

Benefits:

• Invitations to general meetings, paint-outs, critiques, and other MPS special events
• Opportunity to submit artwork for the juried MPS "Member's Only" shows and the biennial MPS "Shades of Pastel" National Juried Exhibition
• Early enrollment in MPS-sponsored workshops with nationally known pastel instructors
• Access to the MPS Membership Directory
• IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) Membership. Ability to enter two of their annual exhibitions.

Cost: $35 per year.

Click here to join

Signature Member

Signature member status represents the member's achieving excellence in the use of soft pastel and application of the principles of design.

There are two paths to Signature Membership:

• Automatic: Artist members of the MPS in good standing are eligible for Signature membership after being accepted into three MPS juried exhibitions (calculated starting with the MPS's 2011 Shades of Pastel show). Eligibility is granted after being accepted into three separate shows; it is not based on the number of paintings juried into any single show. Email us if you meet the above requirements and want to change your membership status to Signature. 
  
  
• Self nomination: MPS members in good standing may submit work to be juried. The MPS Executive Board reviews applications for Signature membership at their quarterly meetings, the dates for which are on our calendar. 

Benefits:

In addition to the benefits of Artist membership, Signature members may:

• Exhibit artwork in all MPS Signature Member exhibitions
• Have two images displayed on a Gallery Page on the MPS website
• Be a "Featured Artist" in the MPS quarterly news update

Cost: If accepted, you confirm your Signature status by paying the difference in Artist dues, $10.00, waived October through December.