Unconventional Colours: My Self-Portrait in Quirky Hues
Friday, 22 September 2023
Dive into the fun of seeing my self-portrait come to life with unconventional colours. Restriction can be so beneficial!
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Welcome to
How to Pastel
the blog for soft pastel art lovers
How to Pastel is the go-to resource for improving your pastel painting!
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Recent Guest Artists
Karen Margulis – Journey Into Abstraction
Friday, 21 October 2022
Many of you will know Karen Margulis and her work. (And if you don’t, where have you been?!) I’ve always admired Karen’s work as well as her consistency in painting and commitment to teaching. I’ve
Carol Strock Wasson – Mastering The Greyscale
Friday, 17 March 2023
Guest Carol Strock Wasson often paints with limited and controlled values, creating evocative and glowing paintings. She shares tips and wisdom on how you can create this magic!
Favourite Tutorials
Demo With Sennelier Pastels At Their IAPS Booth
Saturday, 17 June 2017
A 10-Minute Painting? Yes You Can!
Tuesday, 25 July 2017
Playing With Colour To Create Unique and Bold Paintings
Friday, 7 April 2023
Using The Unison Colour 36-Set Of Pastels – My Experience
Friday, 2 November 2018
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Recent Editions
Understanding Colour Temperature
Friday, 8 September 2023
4 Comments
Uncover the magic and mysteries of colour temperature. Let’s look at why it’s so important to understand this aspect of colour!
Working in a Series – Unlocking Creative Potential for Artistic Growth
Friday, 1 September 2023
9 Comments
Let’s delve into the creative potential and transformative possibilities that come from working in a series!!
Paint What You Love (And Ignore The NaySayers!)
Friday, 25 August 2023
36 Comments
How the story behind The Vesuvius Ladies collection of paintings proves the importance of this idea!
Seeing Art In The Real vs Online – Does It Matter?
Friday, 18 August 2023
31 Comments
Gail shows you the difference between seeing an Edgar Degas painting online and seeing it in person!
Judith Leeds – Capturing The Person Behind The Pose
Friday, 11 August 2023
35 Comments
Judith Kazdym Leeds’s journey from creating over 3,000 book covers to painting in pastels and oils.
Why Are We So Hard On Ourselves? One Thing That May Help
Monday, 7 August 2023
22 Comments
As artists, it’s amazing how hard on ourselves we can be! Just a few mistakes, just a few missed days in the studio and bam, and we are beating ourselves up. Here’s one thing to do about that!
Unison Colour HQ – Where Handmade Pastels Come To Life
Saturday, 29 July 2023
12 Comments
Gail shares her visit to the home of Unison Colour pastels in the UK. She’s in awe of the truly handmade nature of these pastels!
Painting in the Yorkshire Dales, Rain or Shine!
Saturday, 1 July 2023
6 Comments
Painting in the Yorkshire Dales during my recent workshop came with unpredictable weather and stunning views! All part of the fun!
Painting On Location – Stop Avoiding It!
Friday, 16 June 2023
4 Comments
Five obstacles that can come up to prevent us from getting out and painting on location and how to get past them
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Gail Sibley
Artist. Blogger. Teacher.
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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