Unexpected Painting Subjects: Why I Painted a Bathroom in Costa Rica
Surrounded by lush mountains, tropical flowers, and sparkling Costa Rican views, I chose to paint…a bathroom. Follow the progression of A Slice of Blue Loo and discover why the subjects that seem ordinary, odd, or unexpected may be exactly the ones worth trusting.
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.
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.”
Entering art competitions can be exciting, daunting, and deeply personal. In this guest post, Michael Freeman shares thoughtful, experience-based insights into navigating the competitions landscape — from deciding whether competitions are right for you, to improving your chances of acceptance, and handling disappointment when things don’t go your way. Grounded, honest, and practical, his reflections help artists approach competitions with clarity, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.
![Pastels on black aper: Gail Sibley, "Untitled [at this point], Mount Vision pastels on Sansfix pastel card, 5 1/2 x 7 3/4 in](https://www.howtopastel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IMG_9649-2.jpeg)
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.”
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.
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!
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