About
the blog for soft pastel art lovers
Inspired by my love of pastels and the enjoyment I receive from teaching about them the How to Pastel Blog has tips & tricks, reviews, step-by-step progressions, guest bloggers, and a great community on Facebook.
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A bit about me
I am very lucky to have been born and brought up in Jamaica, a land of beauty and complexity, of warmth and coolness, of vibrancy and tension. Many say that my Caribbean upbringing influenced my palette and I think they may be right. I do know that it shaped my worldview. Check out these sites to learn more about me and my work.
My Art Practice
Gail Sibley
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Peninsula Gallery
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Friday, 4 July 2025
6 Comments
I hadn’t been plein air painting in a while, but a spontaneous afternoon with my Mum reminded me why I love it. This post isn’t about masterpieces—it’s about showing up, painting what’s in front of you (even if it’s bins!), and rediscovering the joy of simply doing.
More Editions...
Using A Viewfinder Can Help You Create A Better Painting
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
One of the most common questions I receive about plein air painting is, “How do you decide what to paint when there is so much to choose from?” My answer? Using a viewfinder can help enormously! The landscape can be so overwhelming and using a viewfinder will help you isolate the part that appeals to
Delacroix’s Pastels – how he portrayed the Crucifixion
Thursday, 17 April 2014
In one of my earliest blogs on this website, I wrote about my surprise at discovering that Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) worked in pastels from time to time. (Click here to read that post.) Since it’s the Easter weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to share three of Delacroix’s pastels of the crucifixion. The first
How Creating Colour Studies Can Improve Your Paintings
Tuesday, 14 February 2017
I know how tempting it is to get right in there and paint when you’re excited about a subject. But hold on, did you do a thumbnail?! And what about creating colour studies, have you drawn up a couple of those? I know I know, I hear you – it all takes so much time!! But
How To Choose Different Value Options For Thumbnails
Friday, 31 May 2024
We’re often told to try different value options when creating thumbnails of a subject. But how do we do that? Gail spills the beans!
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14 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Workshop
Are you taking a workshop anytime soon? I recently taught my workshop, Ramp Up Your Colour, to a small group of
How to sort a new box of soft pastels into values
It’s about time I published a new video with a pastel painting tip. So here it is! I talk about
Focus On Process Not Outcome
Before every workshop I teach, I have students read a blog I did some time ago called the 14 Ways To
My Unison Colour Set and What Others Have Painted With It!
“I love the gorgeous colours in your Unison Colour set but I’m not sure if they will work for me.” I’ve
A Lesson From A Plein Air Pastel Painted In La Manzanilla
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Translating Your Thumbnails – Painting From Your Black, White, and Grey Sketch
Friday, 9 July 2021
How To Make Changes in Pastel – My Approach
Friday, 5 July 2024
Trust Your Impulse!
Friday, 29 November 2019
Creating Thumbnails En Plein Air (My Mexico Paintings)
Friday, 19 January 2024
Pastel Demo At Opus A Marvellous Experience!
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
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6 thoughts on “About”
Gail! Just got turned on to your website by a fellow artist from Wellington, Ontario… both of us former presidents of the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada. I work primarily in pastel and it will always be my medium of choice! I could never give them up! Being a landscape artist for years, I would now like to change things up a bit and try abstract. I was inspired by your article about the progression of your abstract painting…it’s given me the courage to take that (for me) giant leap and go ahead with an image I’ve had in my mind for a long time. Thank you! I look forward to future e-mails! Your’s is one of the best Pastel websites I’ve come across. Look forward to receiving your emails.
Kathryn
Thank you for writing Kathryn, and for your enthusiasm! It comes over loud and clear 🙂 I am wondering which article on abstraction you are referring to. Perhaps you can add a comment directly on the blog? Good luck with your leap. I know how difficult it is to make. It’s ongoing risk-taking that’s for sure! Please let me know how it goes.
Look forward to hearing more from you
I just read your article in the April issue of “Pastel Journal”. Thank you so much. I felt as if you were speaking directly to me. I am going to tear it out and tape it to my studio wall.
Marcia
Marcia, that’s the best reward a writer/artist could hear!! Thank you for letting me know. (As yet, I still haven’t received my copy!)
Hi Gail. I’m really excited and pleased to have discovered your website. I live in southern Australia and I started painting with pastels a few years ago (self taught) , but went a bit stale after doing a couple of workshops- mostly because the pastel artists here who I came across seem to be very conventional and felt that I wasn’t learning much. I’ve been working in oils since and enjoyed it- as I’ve realised, it’s similar in many ways. You showcase so many exciting works – use of colour, composition etc. , and your quick tips are helping me rethink how to approach my work. Looking forward to hearing more about your workshop in Tasmania, or perhaps one in Europe in a couple of years’ time.
Hi Judi,
Thanks for writing such a lovely introduction to yourself and your work. Certainly oils are similar to pastels in the way one builds a painting. Interesting that! I’m glad though that my blog may bring you back to the pastel side 😀 Even if not, so much of what’s here can be applied to the other media available for painting.
I look forward to having you in one of my workshops whether in Tasmania or Europe!!