Gail Sibley, Author at How to Pastel

Packing for a Plein Air Trip - My wood tray with assorted stuff: Styrofoam tray for pastels in use, tissue standing in for wet wipes that I need to go buy!, compact mirror, Body Shop Hemp cream, sketchbook and pencils, bungee cord, two types of tape, viewfinder.

Packing for a Plein Air Trip to PACE

Friday, 19 May 2023 6 Comments

Packing for a plein air trip shouldn’t be difficult. The problem is our tendency to want everything with us. Here’s how to pack light!

Gail Sibley, "Mother and Son with the Lark's Wing," Unison Colour on UART 500, 12 x 8 in

A Painting of Mother and Son with Miró (Gallery Goers Series)

Thursday, 11 May 2023 6 Comments

A painting of mother and son in front of a Miró painting from Gail’s gallery goer series. Gail takes you through its creation step by step.

Shower ideas: Photo credit - Victor Furtuna from unsplash

Shower Ideas – Their Refreshing Power

Friday, 5 May 2023 8 Comments

Shower ideas. I love them! What is it about the shower that inspires our creativity and unlocks our problem-solving abilities? Let’s find out!

Tim Reilly, "Remember #9," 2012, pastel on Crescent Illustration Board, 12 x 12 in. Sold.

Tim Reilly – Creating Realistic Stone Textures

Friday, 28 April 2023 11 Comments

Tim Reilly is a master at creating stone and concrete textures in soft pastel. In this guest post, he shares the secret of how he does it!

Mary Cassatt And Her Portrait Of Mabel S. Simpkins

Friday, 21 April 2023 12 Comments

Gail Sibley takes a close look at Mary Cassatt’s portrait of Mabel S. Simpkins. There’s much to learn about how Cassatt worked and what it can teach us as we work on our own portraits

A Painting Buddy – Why Every Artist Needs At Least One!

Friday, 14 April 2023 8 Comments

A painting buddy can offer valuable feedback, emotional support, and motivation to help you grow as an artist. Here are five benefits.

Playing With Colour To Create Unique and Bold Paintings

Friday, 7 April 2023 18 Comments

Tired of dull and lifeless paintings? Learn the art of playing with colour. I’ll show you how I transform a dull reference into something bold through colour exaggeration and imagination…and letting go!

The Making Of “Black Hats” – From Concept To IAPS Exhibition

Friday, 31 March 2023 10 Comments

The 42nd IAPS Open Division Online Exhibition is now open for viewing. And I’m happy to say that my painting, Black Hats, was accepted into the show. Oh what a feeling!!! I’m even more delighted to share that this acceptance gives me the fifth point necessary to add IAPS/MC after my name. Whoo hoo! So

Find Something To Paint En Plein Air Every Time!

Friday, 24 March 2023 4 Comments

Sometimes it really is difficult to find something to paint when on location. Gail Sibley offers five tips for when the going gets tough.

Carol Strock Wasson, Winter Haze, 2023, Pan Pastel and Blue Earth pastels over a monotype print. Working over monotypes is new and exciting. I struggle to know when to stop, allowing just enough of the print to show through the pastel

Carol Strock Wasson – Mastering The Greyscale

Friday, 17 March 2023 22 Comments

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!