Every October for the last four years, I’ve run a 31-pastels-in-31-days Challenge in my HowToPastel Facebook group. It’s awesome to see all the work and everyone pushing themselves (cos the going does get tough!). I think it was in our first or second year when this month’s guest, Silja Salmistu, was posting her still life
Pastel paintings need to be protected…that’s just the way it is. A piece can be smudged (and changed dramatically) if left uncovered or at least where fingers other than yours can get at it! That pastel pieces need to be protected before putting them on display is probably the main downside to using pastels (and
I’m delighted to introduce you to this month’s guest blogger, UK artist Janine Baldwin. (I wrote about one of Janine’s pieces in a roundup – you can read it here). When I look at Janine Baldwin’s work, I can feel her response to her environment. She explores this relationship with vigorous strokes, with gestural lines, with scribbles,
I’m an expert procrastinator. I freely and utterly admit it. I have procrastination down to an art! And yet, I’m often congratulated on how much I get done. A paradox yes? What is procrastination? It’s simply the act or habit of delaying or putting off something. There’s nothing negative per se in this meaning and
Some artists create work that you may deeply admire and you think, It’s not in me to create work like that, I just don’t work that way although I sure wish I could. Ever had this feeling? One such artist that brings up these feelings for me is Moira Huntly. I’ve been a fan of
Recently in our HowToPastel Facebook group, I read this question: “I’m a beginner and I am starting to gather the needed materials. Do I need an easel and what would you recommend?” (Thanks Dolores M!) And my answer is… Heck yes!!! Okay, you may be asking, WHY do I need an easel Gail? And specifically,
I’ve had a number of requests asking: How do I paint snow? I have my ideas but why not go to an expert?! This is where my guest steps in. Diane Fechenbach paints snow scenes where you can feel the cold nipping at your face and hands, smell the freshness of new-fallen snow, hear the
Recently in my IGNITE! art-making membership, I asked members: What’s your favourite lesson so far? Happily, many of them said they found it difficult to make a decision (“A difficult question- each lesson has been so valuable”) but one of the lessons that emerged as a group favourite was the one on value dominance. And
For ages now, on Instagram and Facebook, I’ve seen the bold, confident, colourful life drawings in soft pastel posted by Yuji Sakuma. Not only does this artist produce startling work, he produces A LOT of it! You can feel his passion for the medium and subject come blazing through. 🔥 Recently, I also noticed that
Recently in my IGNITE! art-making membership, a member asked about how to make an interesting painting from a boring photo. This isn’t an uncommon question. I’ve also been asked: “How do I the greyness that I see in my photo more colourful in my painting?” Or how about this: “I was so taken with the
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