Adrian Giuliani is an award winning pastel artist.  She was an artist from the time she was a tiny toddler, growing up in Queens, NY. She drew constantly, and it quickly became obvious that art was an essential part of who she was.  After a family trip to the Museum of Modern Art, 3 year old Adrian quietly came through the door, picked up some chalk, and, inspired by the modern masters, started sketching little nude figures!   When she was about six or seven years old, she began creating her own children's books, writing and illustrating them.   Her family encouraged this passion, and her love for art continued.

At 17, Adrian was introduced to soft pastels by Flora Giffuni, the founder of the Pastel Society of America. She had the great fortune of studying with Flora that year. Adrian, inspired, became intrigued with this new medium.

In 1983, Adrian began her studies at the Rhode Island School of Design. Experimenting with different media, she was most drawn to pastel, oil and charcoal.  Adrian delved into pastels in her Junior year, when she took a class with Richard Merkin, a fabulous instructor.  Pastel became "her medium." She could not get enough of it: with its immediacy, flexibility and rich, vibrant colors. It was versatile and tactile, too. She was hooked!   

Adrian graduated from RISD with a BFA in Illustration in 1987. Today she is thrilled to be focusing on fine art, creating both portraits and still lifes and working almost exclusively in soft pastel. 

Known for her pastel portraits of children, she captures not only a great likeness, but also the child’s personality and emotion.  She does commissioned portraits of children and grandchildren and also has done some pet portraits! Adrian’s goal is always to capture a moment in time.  She loves painting children, because of their expressive nature. All of Adrian’s still lives are done from life, as she pushes and plays with reality, taking artistic risks.  She believes working from life is essential, as it so strengthens your skills as an artist. Adrian’s still life work is well known. Her tea kettle series, still lifes and florals have been recognized numerous times in International Exhibitions.  Painting from life is her greatest joy.  In fact, plein air pastel painting will be Adrian’s next adventure.  Adrian was honored to have been guest blogger for How to Pastel this past May, writing about her tea kettle series. https://www.howtopastel.com/2018/05/adrian-frankel-giuliani-tea-kettle-series/  

Adrian is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America, the Pastel Society of New Jersey and the Alabama Pastel Society.  Her work has been noted for its beautiful color, composition, movement, emotion, energetic pastel strokes and original vision.   Recognized nationally and internationally, Adrian’s pastels, both portraits and still lifes, have been juried into the prestigious 34th, 41st, 42nd, 44th, 45th, and 46th Pastel Society of America Annual Juried Exhibitions, Enduring Brilliance, at the National Arts Club in NYC.  Her pastel, Jami Swimming II, from the 41st Annual PSA show, was featured in Frankly Penn’s blog, Who Knew, the Pastel Society of America.   She was also greatly honored to have her portrait, Childhood, juried into the International Association of Pastel Societies 24th Annual Exhibition at Vose Galleries in Boston and her still life, Emergence, into the International Association of Pastel Societies 31st Juried Exhibition/IAPS Web Show.   
Join Adrian on her website to see more of her work:  https://adrianfineart.wixsite.com/adriangiuliani