Pastels 101 -The Ultimate Soft Pastel Online Course

Word for the year - writing words on the wall - balance, courage, flow

Your Word For The Year (Choose It And Put It Into Action)

Friday, 20 December 2024

Discover how choosing a word for the year can inspire your art-making, fuel your creativity, and guide your goals all year long.

10 Must-Have Art Books from 2024

Friday, 13 December 2024

I’m often asked for book recommendations so here’s my list of 10 must-have art books I enjoyed in 2024.

Taking time to enjoy the warm colours of the sunset on the Villa Nobile

Taking Time in Tuscany – Sketch Your Way to Better Paintings

Friday, 6 December 2024

Discover how sketching in Tuscany, instead of relying on photos, helped my students create vibrant, emotive paintings that went far beyond what photos could capture.

Marie Tippets, Lemon Harvest, 2023, pastels, 22x22 in. AVAILABLE - feature image

Marie Tippets – No Hidden Meanings, Just Magic

Friday, 22 November 2024

Marie Tippets explores the beauty of still life art, revealing how simplicity and clear storytelling can transform ordinary subjects into captivating masterpieces.

You Need Bad Paintings to Make Great Ones

Friday, 8 November 2024

Bad paintings. We always want to avoid doing them and yet, we need the bad ones to get to the good ones, the ones where we make a breakthrough!

How I Fly With Pastels

Friday, 25 October 2024

Fly with pastels and streamline your supplies—see what I pack, why I pack it, and how I make it through airport security stress-free!

Susan Ellis, Green Sled, 2023, soft pastels on Pastelmat, 16 x 22 in. Sold - feature image

Susan Ellis – The Art of Clamming

Friday, 18 October 2024

Artist Susan Ellis paints the clammers of coastal Massachusetts. She shares her process and her love of painting these figures working in the mud.

Gratitude and the Search for a New Virtual Assistant

Friday, 11 October 2024

Finding a new Virtual Assistant didn’t go as planned… but here’s why I’m still grateful.

Featured Artists

Philippine Pastel Artists – Recipient Of An IAPS 2023 Global Society Grant

Friday, 5 January 2024

Nicolette van Dam, V. Violets, 22 October 2023, Schmincke pastels on Canson Mi-Teintes Touch, 6 x 12 in.

Nicolette van Dam-Through the Looking Glass!

Friday, 8 December 2023

David Shkolny, Ascent, 2018, Unison Colour and Terry Ludwig on Wallis Belgian Mist paper, 9 x 12. Sold. - feature image

David Shkolny – Laser Focused In The Landscape

Friday, 17 November 2023

Andrew McDermott, "Warm Lights on a Cool Evening," 2023, pastel on UART Dark, 10 1/2 x 11 inches

Andrew McDermott – How To Loosen Up

Friday, 13 October 2023

Judith Leeds, "Dreams of Youth," pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes, 18 x 24 in. I was walking through the lobby of an assisted living facility and saw this woman sleeping in a chair. The light on her grabbed me but it was also my feeling of her being in another world. I sat quietly and did a number of value sketches and colour notations. I worked over this composition many times in my studio and decided to subdue the background to have the focus just on the woman.

Judith Leeds – Capturing The Person Behind The Pose

Friday, 11 August 2023

Christine Debrosky, "Sedona Lace," 2016, Terry Ludwig, Great American, Schmincke and various other pastels on burgundy Pastelmat, 18x24 in. Sold. I am always taken with shadowed tree branches up against an illuminated backdrop. In this case, a twisted juniper and a rosy Sedona cliff face. It becomes like stained glass with the etched twigs like leading holding the glowing colours.

Christine Debrosky-Working Hand In Hand

Friday, 26 May 2023

You Need Bad Paintings to Make Great Ones

Friday, 8 November 2024

Bad paintings. We always want to avoid doing them and yet, we need the bad ones to get to the good ones, the ones where we make a breakthrough!

How I Fly With Pastels

Friday, 25 October 2024

Fly with pastels and streamline your supplies—see what I pack, why I pack it, and how I make it through airport security stress-free!

Susan Ellis – The Art of Clamming

Friday, 18 October 2024

Artist Susan Ellis paints the clammers of coastal Massachusetts. She shares her process and her love of painting these figures working in the mud.

Your Word For The Year (Choose It And Put It Into Action)

Friday, 20 December 2024

Discover how choosing a word for the year can inspire your art-making, fuel your creativity, and guide your goals all year long.

Latest Post 👆

10 Must-Have Art Books from 2024

Friday, 13 December 2024

I’m often asked for book recommendations so here’s my list of 10 must-have art books I enjoyed in 2024.

Taking Time in Tuscany – Sketch Your Way to Better Paintings

Friday, 6 December 2024

Discover how sketching in Tuscany, instead of relying on photos, helped my students create vibrant, emotive paintings that went far beyond what photos could capture.

Marie Tippets – No Hidden Meanings, Just Magic

Friday, 22 November 2024

Marie Tippets explores the beauty of still life art, revealing how simplicity and clear storytelling can transform ordinary subjects into captivating masterpieces.

Featured Artists

Nancie King Mertz, "Irving & 18th," soft pastels on UArt paper, 14 x 11 in. Plein air painted in Grammercy Park as a demo for a class I taught for PSA last fall.

Nancie King Mertz – Urban Architectural Painter Extraordinaire

Tuesday, 20 June 2017

Diane Fechenbach, New Year Blues, 2014, Ludwig, Unison, and Girault pastels on Wallis paper, 11x14 in. From a plein air sketch made on the annual New Year day paint out.

Diane Fechenbach – Warm Up To Snow

Friday, 26 March 2021

Felicity House, "Almuna Terrace - Andalusia, Spain," 2012, various soft pastels on Art Spectrum, 9 x 12 in. Sold. A fast pastel at the end of a teaching week.

Felicity House – A Spillage From Head, Hand, And Heart

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

Carol Peebles, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! –Emma Lazarus, Inscribed on the Statue of Liberty," 2016, mixed hard and soft pastels on Colourfix paper, 14 x 19 in. I drew this while trying to recover from the Presidential election results, contemplating what was inscribed on the greatest symbol of America: the Statue of Liberty. This piece is meant as a symbol of hope and strength to work in solidarity for our values.

Carol Peebles – Awakening The Spirit With Pastel Portraits From Life

Tuesday, 16 May 2017

Julie Grieg - The Feeling Of Being There - feature image

Julie Greig – The Feeling Of Being There

Friday, 22 March 2024

Steph Mouw, "First of May Daffs," assorted pastels on Pastel Premier, 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. I spotted this bunch in the grocery store and immediately wanted to paint them!

Steph Mouw – Flower Power!

Wednesday, 23 January 2019

Marcia Holmes, "Floating at Dusk," 2016, pastel, 26 x 26 in. Sold.

Marcia Holmes – From Realist To Abstract Expressionist

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

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More recent editions

Gratitude and the Search for a New Virtual Assistant

Friday, 11 October 2024

Finding a new Virtual Assistant didn’t go as planned… but here’s why I’m still grateful.

Gail Sibley, “Table Cape, Tasmania,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 600, 6 x 9 in - feature image

From Snapshot to Painting

Friday, 4 October 2024

Discover how a simple snapshot, even from a moving vehicle, can spark an inspiring painting, as I show you how to ‘see’ the potential hidden in those quick photos!

Julie Freeman, Battery Eggs, 2020, Soft pastels & pastel pencils on Pastelmat, 21 x 41 cm. SOLD.

Julie Freeman – Infusing Life into Every Detail

Friday, 27 September 2024

Julie Freeman, hyperrealist in soft pastels, shares her work and process as well as the evolution of her artist identity and creative expression.

Gail Sibley, Macquarie Reflections, Unison Colour on UART 500 paper, 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. - feature image

Painting Reflections on Water

Friday, 20 September 2024

Gail shares guidelines on how to paint reflections on water. She takes you through a demo to illustrate them. It’s from the IGNITE! Membership.

Everett Shinn, "Winter on 21st Street, New York," 1899, pastel on grey paper mounted overall to pulpboard, 20 3/8 x 24 3/8 in (51.8 x 36.8 cm), Brooklyn Museum, New York, USA

Everett Shinn – The Art of Simplifying Urban Chaos

Friday, 13 September 2024

A detailed examination into a pastel painting of New York by Everett Shinn. We’ll see how he gets to the essence of the scene.

Simplifying a Scene – How To Focus On What Matters Most

Friday, 6 September 2024

See how Gail simplifies a street view in Trequanda, Tuscany by focusing on what matters most…to her!

Get Out Painting – Here’s Why!

Friday, 30 August 2024

Sometimes, it’s the unplanned encounters that make painting on location truly special.

Mark Ivan Cole, Inner Light, 2023, Various soft pastels on HahnemŸhle Collection Sketch paper, 8 x 10 in.

Mark Ivan Cole – Deep Observation and Emotional Realism

Friday, 23 August 2024

Join guest Mark Ivan Cole as he shares his wisdom and his works of forest, mountains, rocks, and water.

The Messy Middle – Don’t Quit!

Friday, 16 August 2024

I recently had the experience of watching one of my demo videos with a friend and I cringed when we watched the part where everything looks an absolute mess. That unpleasant feeling led me to writing this post.

Being Authentic - image of people talking about art in a gallery

Being Authentic: When Being Real Can Hurt Your Art

Friday, 9 August 2024

What you say about your art could be the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Let’s dig into that!

How I Decide What To Paint

Friday, 26 July 2024

“How do I decide what to paint?” Gail addresses this common question by taking you through her starting process. You’ll hear her thoughts in a short video.

Jane McGraw-Teubner, Drift Inn Beach, 2016, Plein Air, Ampersand Pastelbord, 9x12 in.

Jane McGraw-Teubner – Plein Air Versus Studio Painting

Friday, 19 July 2024

Jane McGraw-Teubner is a master plein air artist. Here, she shares her process and tips for painting from life versus painting from a photo.

IAPS 2024: Eight Exclusive Artist Interviews!

Friday, 12 July 2024

Join me as I chat with eight incredible pastel artists at the IAPS 2024 Convention.

Gail Sibley, "Hatchet," Unison Colour pastels on UART 500, 18 x 9 3/4 in - detail of feet

How To Make Changes in Pastel – My Approach

Friday, 5 July 2024

You may think you need to erase to make changes in pastel but that’s not necessarily so. Gail takes you step-by-step through this painting’s evolution, making two changes along the way.

Henry Tonks – Pastel Portrait Of Auguste Rodin

Friday, 28 June 2024

Henry Tonks painted a pastel portrait of the sculptor Auguste Rodin in 1914. Here Gail looks closely at various parts of the piece.

Your Painting Has A Life Of Its Own (Outside Your Studio)

Friday, 21 June 2024

When it’s out in the world, your painting has a life of its own. Gail illustrates this idea using Michele Ashby’s painting, Tied, as an example.

Laura Mocnik, Hand of an Artist, pastels on Sennelier La Carte paper, 11 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. Sold.

Laura Mocnik – Intuitive Colour, Precise Draughtsmanship

Friday, 14 June 2024

Guest Laura Mocnik shares her process in creating her stunning figurative works. Although drawing is foundational, you’ll see that she uses a limited palette of colour intuitively

How To Organize Your Photos On Your IPhone - feature image

Tips To Organize Your Photos On Your Phone!

Friday, 7 June 2024

Streamline your creative process with these photo organisation tips. Say goodbye to endless scrolling on your phone, trying to find that reference photo.

Feature image and image in blog. Gail Sibley, The Pink Bench, Unison Colour on Pastel Premier Italian Clay, 6 1/2 x 5 3/4 in - different value options

How To Choose Different Value Options For Thumbnails

Friday, 31 May 2024

We’re often told to try different value options when creating thumbnails of a subject. But how do we do that? Gail spills the beans!

Michele Noiset, Iron Maiden, 2022, Nupastel, Rembrandt, Sennelier, Terry Ludwig, Derwent pencils, Faber Castell pencils on Black UART paper, 16x17 in.

Michele Noiset – Exploring Visual Metaphors In Pastel

Friday, 24 May 2024

Guest artist Michele Noiset works in the medium of pastel to create extraordinary images inspired by events and current issues

Call yourself an artist - Gail at the easel with "Be Who You Are" on wall behind her

Do You Call Yourself An Artist?

Friday, 17 May 2024

Do you call yourself an artist? Or do you have trouble identifying yourself this way? Here are some ideas about why that may be.

Hi!

I'm Gail!

Artist. Blogger. Teacher.

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.

So, please enjoy my posts and subscribe to receive the latest issues.