Gail Sibley, Author at How to Pastel

Open doorway with sunlight falling across a wooden floor and walls beyond

What Is A Studio, Really?

Friday, 3 April 2026 No Comments

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?

what draws you to a scene: FEATURE IMAGE Gail Sibley, Marking Time, Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 18 x 12 in - Detail

What Draws You to a Scene? This Is What Pulled Me In.

Friday, 20 March 2026 8 Comments

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.

Glass of water with one edge disappearing because its value closely matches the background—an example of how artists see subtle value relationships.

How Artists See: The Curious Case of the Disappearing Glass

Friday, 13 March 2026 12 Comments

A disappearing glass edge, reflections in cutlery, glowing leaves, and shadows on a church wall—small moments that reveal how artists learn to see.

de La Tour: Maurice-Quentin de La Tour, Jean-Charles Garnier, Seigneur d'Isle, c.1751, pastel on paper wrapped around and adhered to canvas, 25 3:8 x 21 1:4 in (64.4 x 53.9 cm), The Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, MA, USA

Maurice Quentin de La Tour “Jean-Charles Garnier” – A Close Look

Friday, 27 February 2026 10 Comments

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.

Alain Picard; Alain Picard, Glimmer, pastel FEATURE

Alain Picard – Four Keys to Creating Beautiful Portrait Backgrounds

Friday, 20 February 2026 2 Comments

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.

Art Scam Emails: When Your Heart Leaps

Friday, 13 February 2026 22 Comments

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.

Gail Sibley, Beach Conversation, Sennelier pastels on Pastelmat, 9 1:/2 x 7 in-detail

Painting Figures In Conversation – Quiet Moments From The Beach

Friday, 6 February 2026 6 Comments

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.

Leaving Home to Get the Work Done

Friday, 16 January 2026 20 Comments

What I thought would be a plein air painting trip turned into something quite different. Away from home, with fewer distractions and quieter demands, I found myself finally getting to the work I’d been wanting to do for a long time.

Creative Pause feature image sixteen-miles-out-GuWy7FSPLd8-unsplash - photo of tea cup, flowers and notebook

A Creative Pause at the Start of the Year

Friday, 2 January 2026 2 Comments

There’s a particular kind of pressure that shows up at the start of a new year — especially for artists. Whether the year behind you felt full or frustrating, the urge to rush forward can be surprisingly loud. This studio musing is a gentle invitation to pause, release self-judgement, and begin the year with curiosity rather than pressure.

Michael Freeman: Michael Freeman, UFOs, 2018, pastel on paper, 7 ¾ x 15 ¾ in

Michael Freeman On Surviving the Competitions Rollercoaster

Friday, 19 December 2025 6 Comments

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.