Tim Blackwell – The Quiet Voice That Never Sleeps
Have you ever felt a creative dream quietly waiting in the background? Pastel artist Tim Blackwell shares his return to art, his love of rural scenes, and why he paints from “Heart Speak” rather than “Art Speak.”
Colette Odya Smith shares honest, inspiring lessons from her own art journey—full of growth, reinvention, and being your own teacher.
When artist Terrilynn Dubreuil lost her mother, she turned to her pastels to make sense of the grief. In this moving story, she shares how painting became both tribute and transformation — revealing the profound power of art to heal and express what words cannot.
When an artist turns her gaze towards fire, something magical happens. In this guest post, Beth Tockey Williams shares how she captures the flicker, glow, and elusive dance of flames in pastel — from the first spark to the final trail of smoke.
Lush scenery, painting, laughter, delicious food, and the joy of stepping outside ordinary life for a while — here’s what made our Costa Rica retreat so memorable.
You want to paint. You mean to paint. And yet somehow you still do not get into the studio. So what’s really going on?
Do you need an art studio in order to paint regularly? Perhaps the better question is: what makes a space support your return to the work?
Sometimes it’s not the whole scene that makes you want to paint — it’s one gesture, one shadow shape, one small visual surprise. Here’s what drew me to this scene and how that shaped the painting.
A disappearing glass edge, reflections in cutlery, glowing leaves, and shadows on a church wall—small moments that reveal how artists learn to see.
A quieter portrait than his famed Pompadour, Maurice-Quentin de La Tour’s pastel of Jean-Charles Garnier rewards close looking — revealing how small, deliberate choices create presence and personality.
Portrait backgrounds can make or break a painting. In this guest post, Alain Picard shares four simple but powerful principles for creating backgrounds that truly support the portrait.
An email arrives. Someone loves your work. Your heart leaps. But not all enquiries are created equal. In this Studio Musing, I unpack a scam message and explore how to tell the difference between flattery and genuine interest.
While painting in La Manzanilla, Mexico, I noticed a quiet thread running through three small pieces — pairs of people together, talking, waiting, simply being. These beach conversations became an exploration of connection, restraint, and the power of suggesting just enough.
My love of pastel and the enjoyment I receive from teaching about pastel inspired the creation of this blog. It has tips, reviews, some opinions:), and all manner of information regarding their use through the years – old and new. Please enjoy!
Sign up for an online course and start right away. Courses are simple to use and you’ll be following along in no time.
IGNITE! is a membership programme at the Gail Sibley Art School. There’s no timeline and no grades. Only super motivating, always engaging, deeper learning with exclusive access to Gail and the IGNITE! community.
Here you’ll find encouragement, generous sharing, and inspiration from our members.
Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Privacy Policy
