About the Artist
It was the hope of capturing our amazing Arizona sunsets which first drew me to the medium of soft pastels - “reactivating” an art degree used during the years of raising kids in diverse/creative ways, ranging from youth art instructor to prop designer for youth theater.
Whether whimsical saguaros, glowing “golden hour” desert mountains, or the reflections and shifting colors of water, my paintings are inspired by the beauty found in God’s creation. There is a great tactile pleasure in holding a chunk of pure pigment and laying down vibrant, expressive color to capture the play of light and shadow, the movement of water, the facets of stone, or a cluster of wildflowers.
The only problem: there are just so many things begging to be painted! Landscapes, waterscapes, still lifes....all can be found as you browse this site. No portraits yet, but some day. Over the past few years, I've been blessed with opportunities to grow as an artist through the generous instruction of some well-known and incredibly talented pastelists. Support of my work has come from the galleries where my paintings are displayed, acceptance and awards from juried exhibitions, and, of course, my wonderful collectors.
My heartfelt desire is to share the beauty and joy I find in God's creation with others. In doing so, I feel I'm embracing a family artistic heritage. My grandfather was both a professional artist and served in WWI and WWII. He was a "Monuments Man" and oversaw the first collection center tasked with identifying and returning art work stolen by the Nazis. I hope he would be proud.
The purpose of art is to help to see , to feel, and to appreciate the world in which we live. It is concerned, not with prosaic facts, but with the poetic joy of discovering beauty wherever it may be found. In the landscape, the sea, the sky, the human soul and many other sources, art discovers and pictures for those of us who would otherwise be inarticulate, the love of God, incarnate in Christ Jesus."
Cynthia Pearl Maus
Selected Affiliations
Signature Member - Arizona Pastel Artists Association
Scottsdale Arts League
Selected Juried Shows and Awards
* International Society of Pastel Associations (IAPS) PastelWorld Exhibition -2026
Once Upon a River
* Arizona Pastel Artists Association - Desert Dreams: Miniature Masterpieces Signature and Distinguished Member Exhibition - 2026
Do Not Cross When Flooded
*Arizona Pastel Artists Association - 10th Open International Exhibition - 2026
Award: CMPS Award of Excellence for From the Bridge: Summer Remembered
* For Pastels Only: Pastel Society of Maine: 25th Annual Juried Exhibition - 2025
Award: Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod Award for Where the Light Lingers
* 99 Voices in Pastel: Pastel Society of the West Coast - 2025
Gold in the Hills
* Arizona Pastel Artists Association: 2025 Fall Online Open Show - 2025
Sedona Awakening
* Iowa Pastel Society: Glorious Pastels -2025
Lincoln City Tide Pools
* Quirky Categories: Arizona Pastel Artists Association - 2025
Colors of Ukraine
Gathered from the Tide
