Why do our lively, experimental colour studies sometimes turn into cautious, conventional paintings? A Studio Musing about artistic freedom, the pressure to make a ‘proper’ painting, and recognising when we’ve already created something worth keeping.
One small pastel colour study kept calling to me. So I took it further, staying with the original design and limited palette to see if I could develop a finished painting without losing what made the study work.
What happens when you give yourself fewer choices? During a recent limited palette workshop at Dakota Art Pastels, four colourful studies presented me with an unexpected dilemma. The painting that excited me most wasn’t the one I was about to choose. Here’s what happened when I followed my passion instead.
When did your reference photo stop being a reference and start telling you what to do? Let’s look at why photos have such authority over us, and how to put the decision-making back where it belongs: with the artist.
A Pondering Chair may not seem like an essential piece of studio equipment, but it can change the way you look at your work. A place to sit, step back, and simply ponder can help you see more clearly, slow down, and resist the urge to keep fixing.
Aline Ordman’s artistic journey has been filled with challenges, rejection, unexpected opportunities, and plenty of learning along the way. In this guest post, she shares why continuing to face what feels difficult has been essential to her growth as an artist.
“I don’t know what to paint.” It’s one of the most common frustrations artists face. Sometimes the answer isn’t finding a more exciting subject – it’s discovering how much one simple object can teach you. Here’s why I keep coming back to pears.
When I heard about David Hockney’s bedside note, I smiled. Then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why would one of the world’s most prolific artists need a reminder to get up and work? The more I sat with that question, the more I realised the note wasn’t about motivation at all. It was about something much deeper.
A Pondering Chair may not seem like an essential piece of studio equipment, but it can change the way you look at your work. A place to sit, step back, and simply ponder can help you see more clearly, slow down, and resist the urge to keep fixing.
Aline Ordman’s artistic journey has been filled with challenges, rejection, unexpected opportunities, and plenty of learning along the way. In this guest post, she shares why continuing to face what feels difficult has been essential to her growth as an artist.
“I don’t know what to paint.” It’s one of the most common frustrations artists face. Sometimes the answer isn’t finding a more exciting subject – it’s discovering how much one simple object can teach you. Here’s why I keep coming back to pears.
Why do our lively, experimental colour studies sometimes turn into cautious, conventional paintings? A Studio Musing about artistic freedom, the pressure to make a ‘proper’ painting, and recognising when we’ve already created something worth keeping.
One small pastel colour study kept calling to me. So I took it further, staying with the original design and limited palette to see if I could develop a finished painting without losing what made the study work.
What happens when you give yourself fewer choices? During a recent limited palette workshop at Dakota Art Pastels, four colourful studies presented me with an unexpected dilemma. The painting that excited me most wasn’t the one I was about to choose. Here’s what happened when I followed my passion instead.
When did your reference photo stop being a reference and start telling you what to do? Let’s look at why photos have such authority over us, and how to put the decision-making back where it belongs: with the artist.
When I heard about David Hockney’s bedside note, I smiled. Then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Why would one of the world’s most prolific artists need a reminder to get up and work? The more I sat with that question, the more I realised the note wasn’t about motivation at all. It was about something much deeper.
Home from the 2026 IAPS Convention in Albuquerque, I’m reflecting on what artists really bring back from a gathering like this: not just notes, photos, and supplies, but widened eyes, renewed energy, deeper connection, and inspiration that keeps seeping into the studio.
Students often assume tiny marks need tiny tools. In this pastel portrait progression, I show how big, chunky pastel sticks can create delicate details — from shaping the face to adjusting an eye near the end.
People often assume my artistic talent was inherited. After all, my grandfather, mother, and father were all artists. But the more I think about it, the more complicated the story becomes. Is artistic talent inherited? Or do we inherit something less obvious – permission, encouragement, curiosity, and a belief that creativity matters? In this post, I explore the question and invite you to weigh in.
Surrounded by lush mountains, tropical flowers, and sparkling Costa Rican views, I chose to paint…a bathroom. Follow the progression of A Slice of Blue Loo and discover why the subjects that seem ordinary, odd, or unexpected may be exactly the ones worth trusting.
Have you ever felt a creative dream quietly waiting in the background? Pastel artist Tim Blackwell shares his return to art, his love of rural scenes, and why he paints from “Heart Speak” rather than “Art Speak.”
Lush scenery, painting, laughter, delicious food, and the joy of stepping outside ordinary life for a while — here’s what made our Costa Rica retreat so memorable.
You want to paint. You mean to paint. And yet somehow you still do not get into the studio. So what’s really going on?
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?
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.
A disappearing glass edge, reflections in cutlery, glowing leaves, and shadows on a church wall—small moments that reveal how artists learn to see.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When an artist turns her gaze towards fire, something magical happens. In this guest post, Beth Tockey Williams shares how she captures the flicker, glow, and elusive dance of flames in pastel — from the first spark to the final trail of smoke.
Imagine painting surrounded by olive trees, the scent of sea air, and the sounds of laughter over dinner. That’s exactly what our Corfu art retreat offered — an unforgettable mix of plein air painting, friendship, and artistic courage. Join me as I share the magic, the moments, and the paintings from our week together in Greece.
There are so many ways to be artistic, and no one way is better. I believe, that art is a journey that we can all take, and that being creative is something that is healthy and possible for anyone.
In the How to Pastel Blog I let my love and the enjoyment I receive from teaching about pastels inspire and encourage others to explore the art form. The blog has tips, reviews, guests, and all manner of information about pastel use through the years – old and new.
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