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.
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.
Join me as I share the progression of a pastel nocturne — from thumbnail and charcoal block-in to layered colour and deepening night with glowing light — along with the thinking behind each stage.
Ever told yourself there’s just no time to paint? It’s easy to think that but a few snatched sessions in a tiny Greek village reminded me of what’s possible. In this post, I share three quick plein air paintings each created in well under an hour, how thumbnails made it happen, and why even short bursts at the easel can bring so much joy.
Plein air painting with my Mum led to two paintings of one scene — and one powerful lesson about how thumbnails bring freedom to your art.
A light plein air painting trip with no easel and no grand plans—just five scenes, painted in the moment, with whatever was at hand.
![Gail Sibley, [Not yet titled], Unison Colour pastels and a Sennelier pink on UART 400 mounted on board, 15 1/4 x 11 1/2 in -close up of face](https://www.howtopastel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11.-Gail-Sibley-Not-yet-titled-Unison-Colour-pastels-and-a-SEnnelier-pink-on-UART-400-mounted-on-board-15-14-x-11-15-in-close-up-of-face-Feature-image-300x229.jpg)
Explore each stage of this pastel painting and learn about the woman who sparked its creation.
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.
A playful pastel demo turned into a surprising lesson on moving toward abstraction. Learn the simple process, see the studies, and discover tips to loosen up your art.
Using charcoal in a pastel painting? It might be just what you need. See how I rescued a piece with this soft and surprising solution.
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