Login

HowToPastel Archives

Showing Results for: Mindset

A slice of the final painting, "Grumpy Me In Red"

Trust Your Impulse!

You know when you’re painting and it just isn’t working out? Then perhaps you get a sudden impulse to do something, make a mark for instance, but your mind stops you saying, “No, no! not a good idea.” I want to encourage you to trust your impulse!  Let me tell you my story of doing

Read More »
Shows a detail of a demo painting I did

Focus On Process Not Outcome

Before every workshop I teach, I have students read a blog I did some time ago called the 14 Ways To Get The Most Out Of A Workshop. I ask each participant to choose one of the points that they know will be a struggle for them. At my most recent workshop (in Gibsons, BC,

Read More »
Show Up and get to work: cover

Show Up And Get To Work!

I’ve been away from my studio for far too long so in the next few months, I plan to get into my studio on a regular basis and for longer periods of time. Show up and get to work right? That’s my plan. So a couple days ago, I headed into the studio with vim

Read More »
Make Time For Art - image of a planner

Make Time For Art, Your Art

“I need to clear all the day-to-day stuff before I go into my studio. The problem is, once I do that, I usually don’t feel like painting – I’m too tired or I don’t have enough time. I just don’t seem to be able to make time for art.” I hear this A LOT! And

Read More »
Pastel to Paper: Gail Sibley, Still Untitled, Unison Colour pastels on UART 400 paper, 9 1/2 x 9 in

Pastel To Paper – That’s What’s Important!

I was on Salt Spring last weekend for art group meetings and friendship connections. I had also planned to go out painting en plein air with my Mum and Dad. But the weather was against us – the skies opened and we were stuck inside. So then what to do? We dithered about and in the

Read More »
Painting the Unfamiliar: Gail Sibley, "Cavelier," Mount Vision pastels on Pastel Premier (white) paper, 9 x 9 in

Painting the Unfamiliar – Scary and Confirming

Painting the unfamiliar – what do I mean by that? Let me give you a bit of backstory first. I’ve been working really hard on preparing my newest online course. It was supposed to be ready for this week but tech glitches and miscommunications with my tech person meant a delay. Sooooo disappointing! I felt

Read More »
Photo with text: New Year Resolutions

New Year Resolutions For Your Best Painting Year Ever!

Happy New Year!! If you’re like me, you love the beginning of the New Year. It seems as if you’re starting with a clean slate and everything is possible. Yet, I find if I don’t set some goals right at the start of the year, I can easily drift through the year without accomplishing much

Read More »

Finding Your Style – What’s The Secret?

“How do I find my style?” is a question I get asked from time to time. The easy answer to finding your style – which is really your artistic voice – is to paint, to do the work. But is it really that easy? I’ve put some thought into this question and created this video

Read More »
Doing the work: 2. Using black for the darkest darks. Basically I worked on getting the Kandinsky painting in first. This is not how I usually works (three main values blocked in working slowly to details) but felt it best in this instance.

Doing The Work – The Best Thing About The 31-in-31 Challenge!

If you’re anything like me, you have a lot of plans to get into the studio to paint. But somehow, doing the work doesn’t come easy! It’s a priority right? Well you wouldn’t think so most days. I blog weekly, I’m active in my HTP Facebook group (where we are all posting out 31-in-31 images), I

Read More »
Scroll to Top

Welcome Artists!

Online Courses

Pastels 101

Use this link if you bought the course AFTER Sept 2022

Use this link if you bought the course BEFORE Sept 2022

Pastel Painting En Plein Air

Art Membership

IGNITE! Art Making Members

Love soft pastels?? Then join 7000+ other subscribers and get my tips, reviews, and resources all about pastels... it's FREE! Just enter your name and email address below.

Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Privacy Policy