"Benny" Painting

Rufus Chalmers pastel artist For as long as he can remember,always tried to create art.He started drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil.He was born in a small town in North Carolina and at the age of eleven moved to Washington,D.C. with his parents.Rufus continued in his passion for art all through high school in hopes of becoming an artist.Unfortunately his dreams were put on hold until after retirement.It was then he was able to pursue his passion full time.Self-taught he was drawn toward pastel.After visit New Orleans,he developed a technique and style unique among pastel artists.He found he could create a textural quality that he couldn't capture in other media. He began entering shows and competitions in 2010 and quickly recieved recognition and awards for his jazz interpretations.