Summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means—it’s time to let those toes bask in the sunshine! Celebrate in style because today is Flip Flop Day! 🩴✨🌞 From the archives: Gail Sibley, Red Slippers, Mount Vision pastels on Pastel Premier Italian Clay paper, 8x8 in. #flipflopday #softpastelart #pastelpainting #limitedpalette #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #GailSibleyArtist #MountVisionpastels #PastelPremierItalianClaypaper
And I say, grab hold of this identity, with pride and joy. Celebrate the fact that you are different and it is this very difference that you offer to others, helping them see in a new way! Call yourself an artist. Say it to yourself in the mirror. Get used to the sounds coming out of your mouth. The next time you’re at a gathering and someone asks you what you do, boldly and without hesitation say: I am an artist. Do you call yourself an artist? Let me know your thoughts about this topic in the comments. #doyoucallyourselfanartist #howtopastelblog #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #studiomusings #pastelartist #artist #softpastels
Do you call yourself an artist? How do you feel about this question? Does it make you shrivel up? Does it make you grin? Does it bring heaviness? Do you feel joyous? This question came up in a recent ACCELERANT group call and we tackled it head on. I decided it was such an important question that I created a blog about all the thoughts and resistance that came up. Click the link in the bio to read the key insights that emerged! #studiomusings #HowToPastelblog #htpblog #HowToPastel #artblog #doyoucallyourselfanartist #Accelerant #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist
Let's take a deep look at Cassatt's genius! As I write this, I'm thinking about my Mum and all she has given me throughout my life. As many readers will know, in the past, I've been out painting with her (and my Dad). That hasn't happened in a while and I'm hoping to change that this summer as the weather gets warmer. So look out for reports of that! In the meantime, to honour Mothers everywhere, I chose to take a close look at one of Mary Cassatt's paintings. It's a favourite of mine and when you head over to the blog post, you'll discover why! Follow the link in my bio to start reading the blog! #MaryCassatt #MothersDay #momandchildren #softpastelpainting #pastelart #howtopastelblog #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #adetailedlook
There’s a single petrol pump across from the hotel on the main street in the quiet village of Winnaleah. It has a sense of being from the 1950s. I almost feel like I’m looking at a movie set (hopefully the homey, cozy kind rather than a scary one!). Deciding to paint the scene and wanting to express some of this nostalgic feeling of a bygone era, I intentionally chose colours - blues and pinks - that reflected a kind of rose-coloured glasses sweetness/sentimentality. I had arrived in Tasmania to teach a 10-day Art Retreat. Before the students arrived, I had a couple of days to settle in and as part of those couple of days of quiet (and recuperating after teaching 5-day workshops in New Zealand then Australia's Gold Coast and Melbourne!), I happily sketched and painted en plein air. “One Pump” was the result. 🔗 Click the link in my bio and let me take you through the progression of the painting and share some thoughts about it. #TasmaniaArt #HowToPastel #howtopastelblog #artblog #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #softpastels #pastelpainting #enpleinair #paintingonlocation #pastelpaintingenpleinair
I wanted to share something about my recent teaching adventure in Tasmania but I couldn’t quite figure out how to do it without it being just an inconsequential travelogue! I had a few ideas but what I kept coming back to (my heart was speaking up loud and clear!) was how much I was inspired by my students. This is true of every workshop and class I teach, but this one seemed extra special. As an instructor, my greatest reward is hearing my students exclaim their ahas out loud - some of their artistic transformations in the workshops are downright amazing. Another reward is the inspiration I get from seeing the work participants create in these experiences. Yes, I’m there to teach and inspire my students but truth be told, half the time, it’s them inspiring me. Their work and attitude towards their work make me want to be a better instructor every time. And, they excite me to get back to my easel! Have a read about this Tasmania adventure when you click the link in the bio! #howtopastel #TasmaniaArtRetreat #Tasmania #htpblog #howtopastelwithgail #TasmaniaArtists #GailSibleyArtist #pastels #softpastelart #pastelpainting
🌍🌱 Earth Day is on 22nd April and to honour that, I thought this past blog post about recycling paper would be a good one. It’s specifically about using UART paper but you can also do this with other brands. Experiment and see what happens! I’ve had students complain about the price of good pastel paper. I get it! And that’s one of the reasons I recommend UART paper as it’s immensely reusable. It’s easy to recycle UART paper if a painting doesn’t live up to your standards. Or perhaps you’ve used it for a workshop and wish you could have a do-over. Or maybe you’ve been working on some of your own testing and exercises and would now like to reuse the paper. All can be done with this paper! #recyclingpaper #EarthDay #UARTpaper #softpastels #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #pastelpainting #softpastelart #pastelartist #pastelmaterials
Whoa!! How about that green surround?! 😱Or swipe to see what lime green or blue looks like. Can you see how the colour affects the piece?? How do you attach your paper to the board? While away teaching, I noticed a number of students using coloured tape to attach the paper they were using to their board. There was even some gorgeous purple tape being used in New Zealand!! (Thanks to Bev for handing over the roll to me. It's soooooo pretty!) I explained why I didn't think it was a good idea and thought perhaps it was a good time to remind everyone about what can happen if you aren't aware of the influence your tape can have on the work that you're creating. Here's the problem…. Colours affect each other. Put one colour beside another and it will look a certain way. Place it beside a different colour and by golly, that original colour looks different again! Think simultaneous contrast! Each colour’s behaviour is affected by its neighbour and the more of the neighbour there is, the more it affects the original colour. (Can you relate to that metaphor??) So, imagine if you will, your paper is attached to your board with bright green tape…on all four sides. As you work away on your piece, that surrounding green colour will affect the way you work, the hues you choose, the intensity you pick. Much of what you do in the piece will be affected by that surrounding green colour. And then you remove the tape and see a painting that has changed before your very eyes. That’s because, with the tape gone, a new environment has arisen, one where the brightly coloured tape, and its influence, are absent. I used to do that – use coloured tape to attach paper to my board. I soon realized that the coloured tape was affecting the outcome of my painting and stopped this practice! On the easel: 🎨 Gail Sibley, “Party Frock,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 12 x 7 inches. Available. Have a read at my blog when you click the link in the bio to understand what I mean! 🎨 #softpastelpainting #usingcolouredtape #paintingtips #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyartist #partyfrock #UnisonColour #pastels #howtopastel
Can procrastination be a good thing? It seems there’s such a push in today’s world to be productive, to be efficient, to do more. And sometimes, the act of creating takes time. And thought. And mulling over. Sometimes the answers to what we should do next in a painting aren’t obvious. Instead of standing in front of the easel gnashing our teeth and trying to will the solution to appear, maybe this is the time to take a break, to delay putting down that next stroke. Delay can help us loosen creative blocks by giving us the space and time to play with different ideas, ideas that aren’t necessarily related to art. This hiatus can allow us to replenish our art - well, to allow ideas to percolate and bubble to the surface. At some point, we often get a surge of energy and enthusiasm to paint, a wave that cannot be denied, that requires release onto paper or canvas or clay. And we practically run into our studios to make it happen! So tell me, are you a procrastinator? And if you are, have you felt guilty about delaying an action? If you aren’t a procrastinator then please, do share your way of being and what your days look like. I’d love to know! #theartofprocrastination #procrastination #art #mindset #creativethought #artmaking #artpractice #creativeblocks #creativeidea #HowToPastel #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist
Have you tried painting beyond the colours you see? In one of our annual painting challenges, I decided to really push the notion of painting beyond the colours you see by completely changing the colours in the painting from what I see in the real world. 🤔I thought: What if I make the gerberas yellow? What if I make them blue? What if I make them purple? 🌼 I began thinking about colour as a mechanism to evoke an emotional response in the viewer rather than the viewer responding to a painting that looked more ‘realistic’. I did this in three paintings. What do you think about painting beyond the colour you see? Are you willing or have you tried breaking out of the ‘real’ colour palette? How does each of my three paintings make you feel? I’d LOVE to hear from you so please do leave a comment! #colours #paintingbeyondthecoloursyousee #gerberas #floralpainting #softpastels #pastelpainting #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #howtopastel #pastelart
This piece from my Vertical Landscape series started off with nothing in mind, just colour! For me, this abstract pastel gives me the feeling of driving through the forest in the rain. What do you see? What do you feel? What’s your story about what’s going on? I’d love to hear! #abstractpainting #verticallandscape #softpastels #pastelpainting #abstractpastels #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #throwback
It’s not often that we see portraits done in profile, especially in our own time. I came across a portrait by Laura Anning-Bell in Tate Britain when I was researching for a gallery session with members of my #IGNITEArtMakingMembership! I didn’t use it at the time but I kept the image to use in a blog post as I found the sensitive side view mesmerising. Every time I see the image, I’m pulled in. So I want to share the work, looking at it in detail and offering my thoughts as we go. Have a look at it all when you read my latest #HowToPastel blog! 🎨 Laura Anning-Bell, Miss Annie Horniman, c. 1910?, pastel on paper, 50.2 x 40 cm, Tate Britain #portrait #TateMuseum #softpastels #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #artblog #closeup #LauraAnningBell #gailsibleyartist #TateBritain
Throwback to the day we drove to Mirror Lake (Gillian’s name for it because if you get there early enough, there is a perfect reflection). The wind had picked up when we visited but we still sketched. Then back to the studio for the day. #TasmaniaArt #ArtRetreat #softpastels #pastelart #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist
🎨From Childhood Scribbles to Masterful Landscapes - Meet @juliegreigartist I’m delighted to introduce you to artist Julie Greig this month. Having her as a guest with her beautiful evocative landscapes is especially perfect as she’s based in New Zealand where I was teaching only a few weeks ago. Check out her guest post when you click the link in my bio!! #JulieGreig #pastelartist #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #GailSibleyArtist #landscape #artblog #howtopastelblog #NewZealandArt #NewZealandArtist #softpastels
Across the road from Enclave (formerly Winnaleah Hotel), this single gas pump station spoke to me of the small town nature of Winnaleah, Tasmania. And also, felt a bit like a movie set! Gail Sibley, One Pump, Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 9 x 12 in. #TasmaniaArt #ArtReytreat #softpastels #pastelart #Tasmania #unisoncolour #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel
Kicking off Tasmania's pastel art retreat with a burst of creativity and inspiration on Day 1! 🎨 #TasmaniaArt #softpastels #artretreat #pastelart #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #GailSibleyArtist #TasmaniaArtists #pastels @artablestudios @grant.eyre.54 @susan.vazey @cal_pastels @rachelhowell_artist @meredithmayr80 @janeellis4451
Grabbed half an hour to get down a quick thumbnail and this scene from the back garden of the Winnaleah Hotel (aka Enclave) before students arrived for my 10-day retreat in Tasmania. Was attracted by the hoe’s cast shadow on the veggie planter. Gail Sibley, "Abandoned for Lunch," Unison Colour pastels on UART 400 paper, approx 5 x 7 in. @artablestudios #pastelpainting #softpastels #veggieplanter #TasmaniaRetreat #TasmaniaArt #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #GailSibleyArtist
I've just arrived in Tasmania! YES! I start teaching a 10-day Art Retreat in a couple of days and can hardly wait!! I often start my workshops by having students do a blind contour drawing. There are so many reasons why I do this and it suddenly occurred to me to share this beneficial idea with you. Check out my latest #htpblog now! #blindcontourdrawing #artworkshop #pastelworkshop #softpastels #pastelartists #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #GailSibleyArtist #pastelart #artblog
My 15 minute demo yesterday showing how I start building a piece after applying the first two layers. I was taken by these two, standing together - one natural, one manmade. #MelbourneArt #pastelworkshop #softpastels #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #pastelartists #pasteldemo
Who said pastels were just for cooler days? 🎨☀️ Had a blast getting creative with these lovely ladies at the pastel workshop in Gold Coast, even with the scorching heat! 🌞 On the last day of the workshop, my students gifted me with an assortment of Australian foods: vegemite on biscuits, Tim Tam, macadamia nuts, chocolates, lamingtons, and fruits! 🥭🍫🍪 #PastelsInTheSun #ArtisticEscape #GoldCoastVibes #GoldCoastArt #pastelworkshop #softpastels #pastels #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist
The study of colour effects is endless. Four different colour options and the only thing that’s different is the underpainting colours! #PastelWorkshop #ArtisticJourney #GoldCoastArtists #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #GailSibley #softpastels #pastelart #pastels #pastelinstruction #pastelartists #GoldCoast
🎨✨ So proud of my pastel workshop students' incredible work! 🌈🖼️ It's amazing to see how each artist brings their own unique style and creativity to the canvas. Keep shining bright, everyone! 💫 @donnadonovanart @susiehoward1952 @andyb3ar @traceyharrip @anki.does.art @lind61 @lindaweseart @katrina_templeman_art @artablestudios #PastelArt #ArtWorkshop #CreativeMinds #GoldCoastArtists #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #softpastels #pastelart #pastelartist #artworkshop #pastelinstruction #ArtableStudios
Day 1 of our Gold Coast pastel workshop was a whirlwind of creativity and learning! 🎨✨ We kicked things off by diving into the fundamentals: ✅ Sorting pastels into values, ✅ Exploring thumbnails, and ✅ Mastering pressure and layering techniques Check out the highlights from yesterday’s colourful journey! Can’t wait to see what today brings! #PastelWorkshop #ArtisticJourney #GoldCoastArtists #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #GailSibley #softpastels #pastelart #pastels #pastelinstruction #pastelartists #GoldCoast
How cool is playing with colour, using a limited palette. #pastels #artable #playingwithpastels #gailsibley #howtopastelwithgail
There’s nothing like immediate feedback is there? That’s what a live in-person workshop allows me to give. And that, along with seeing student painting responses to lessons taught, made my New Zealand pastel workshop so rewarding. Invited to teach the workshop by Claire Johnstone and Bev Janes (yay!!), I spent five days challenging a group of attentive and committed-to-change students, sharing with them my experience and knowledge. Having the time (and five-days really provides that!) to give one-on-one feedback allows students to paint, then respond to my suggestions, then hear my thoughts again, and respond once more. This is an opportunity that really helps students dig deep, that gives them permission to struggle and be frustrated. And this is often when breakthroughs are made, where growth can happen. We stand back at the end of the week and see the transformational journey they’ve taken. It’s a heart-warming experience every time! (If you’re a teacher, you know what I mean!) Check out my New Zealand experience when you click the link in my bio! #NewZealandpastelworkshop #NewZealand #NewZealandart #pastelworkshop #softpastels #pastelart #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #artworkshop
Final day of my five-day workshop in New Zealand! A few students wanted a taste of plein air painting so they headed outside to sketch for an hour while others continued working on yesterday’s painting. @gillsartspot @hmmoly_art @anneberryart @johnstonec @artablestudios #pastelworkshop #NewZealandart #howtopastelwithgail #gailSibleyArtist #pastelart #newzealand #softpastels #pleinairpainting #pleinair
Thankful to have participated in a five-day pastel workshop lead by Gail Sibley @howtopastelwithgail in Porirua, NZ. The event was organized by the talented @johnstonec and @bevjanes. Lots of information and exercises on colour theory and value studies. It was a lot to take in but I’m excited to get painting! #pastelartists #pastelworkshops #howtopastelwithgail #pastelartistsnewzealand #yegartistic
Day 2 of my workshop in New Zealand. We focused on moving from thumbnails and all the many possibilities to creating colour studies from one thumbnail choice. Following my instructions (which included “no overthinking”!), students came up with incredible colour possibilities. Wow! It was an intense day for all, but I hope/think in a good way!! @gillsartspot @hmmoly_art @anneberryart @johnstonec #pastelworkshop #artworkshop #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #NewZealandart #NewZealandworkshop #colourstudies #gailsibley #gailsibleyartist #thumbnails
A huge thank you to Gail Sibley @gailsibleyartist for the invitation to contribute to her pastel blog @howtopastelwithgail ! I hope readers can gain some insight into color and most of all the idea that rules are meant to be questioned and challenged! I would also like to to thank Alain Picard @alainpicard for the award that set this all in motion❣️ #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #watercolorflowersdrawing #schminkepastels #artgrafchalk #unisonpastel #winsornewtonpaint
I first encountered guest Allison Krajcik @colorwhisperer1 when I saw the piece she’d entered in the 2022 Pastel Society of New Hampshire exhibition. I was the Juror of Selection and I remember being blown away by her entry. So I was delighted when Juror of Awards, Alain Picard, chose her pastel, Time To Go, as the Best of Show winner. I completely agreed with Alain when he said, “Great art makes us feel strongly. This painting aches with feelings of coming to the end of something…Krajcik has created a grand and powerful image.” And so you can imagine how excited I am to have Allison Krajcik as a guest! Following up on the subject of her winning painting, I asked Allison if she would create a post about florals and she suggested that she could talk about colour and “getting that inner glow.” And here we are with that topic for your enjoyment! 🔗 Follow the link in my bio to read her #htpguestpost and see her winning painting! #htpblog #howtopastel #artblog #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #AllisonKrajcik #florals #floralpainting #softpastels #pastelpainting #pastelart #howtopastelguestpost #pastelartist
Throwback to the time I taught a one-day workshop to 15 artists from the Salt Spring Island Painters Guild. The students all worked hard and it was a long, intense day for them. Most came with what I call the workshop mindset: a willingness to let loose, to forget all you know and begin from scratch, to experiment, to be curious and open to discovery, to absorb and soak up what’s being taught. It means being unafraid to be uncomfortable, to make a mess, to look incompetent, to be out of control, to try things out. It means to trust that, in the end, you will have learnt something that has contributed to your artistic growth no matter how disgusted/angry/frustrated you are with yourself in the workshop. Today was the first day of my five-day workshop in New Zealand and I can absolutely say the participants gave their full effort to doing what I asked of them!! Can’t wait to see what they do tomorrow!! ~~~~ I'll be teaching TWO five-day workshops on mainland Australia and THERE'S STILL SPACE in BOTH. Gillian is offering a bring-a-friend-for-free deal so if you want to come, then bring a friend and split the cost!! 📩 Send a DM to Gillian @artablestudios if you’re interested! #thetroublewithworlshops #pastelworkshop #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #softpastels #pastelpainting #pastelart #pastelinstruction #workshops #melbourneart #pastelartist
I'll be teaching TWO five-day workshops on mainland Australia and THERE'S STILL SPACE in BOTH. Gillian, my lovely organizer, is offering a bring-a-friend-for-free deal so if you want to come, then bring a friend and split the cost!! Be sure to email Gillian @artablestudios and tell her I sent you: [email protected] I'll be covering how to create luminous and colourful paintings using a limited palette!! 🎨 Gold Coast 4-8 March 🎨 Melbourne 10-14 March I can't wait to meet some of my Aussie subscribers at this workshop! And if you are in the Gold Coast or nearby Brisbane or in Melbourne and aren't taking the workshop, maybe a dinner get-together/gathering?? 🔗 https://artable.com.au/workshops/adults/vibrant-pastels-5-days-melb-march-2024 #pastelpainting #pastel #pastelart #melbournepastel #goldcoastart #melbourneart #pastelworkshop #softpastels #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #artworkshop
A few days ago, I was travelling to Duncan, accompanying my Mum for an appointment there. While we waited for the ferry to leave Salt Spring Island, I told her about an amazing thing that had recently happened. When I finished she said, That’s such a great story - you must share it! And I decided why not?! It’s such a great example of the power of connection as well as the idea that you just never know who will buy one of your paintings. Click the link in bio to go read this cool story! #htpblog #howtopastel #artblog #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #powerofconnection #softpastelpainting #softpastels #pastelpainting
“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” -Orson Welles I think the idea of setting some limitations is a good one. It will help with the blank canvas syndrome – the ‘uh oh, what am I going to paint today?’ thought. You might want to use the entire time to work with one subject – try it in different colours, in different formats, with different lighting, from different angles, in different contexts, with different brands of pastels. It could be as simple as a favourite white mug, or a bit more complex like a chair or sunflowers, or a real challenge like a self-portrait or ____ [you fill in the blank]. That being said, I’d like to invite you to join us this coming February for a Daily Painting Challenge for 29 Days! This is not a formal HTP Challenge, that is, we won’t be running daily threads in the HTP Facebook group. Instead, I want you to take this on and commit to it on your own social media channels. Remember to use the hashtag #29days29paintings so we can all see what you’re up to! Comment “Let’s Go!” if you’re ready to take on the challenge! 🎨Gail Sibley, Ready, Unison Colour pastels (from 16 piece SET) on UART 240, 9 x 6 in #artchallenge #dailypaintingchallenge #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #absenceoflimitations
Let's leap into your creativity this February! ❤️🎨 29 Days. That’s how many days February has this year! That’s a special and only-one-every-four-years deal! So to honour this four-year occurrence, and because it’s the beginning of a New Year when many of us are making a New Year’s commitment to our art, I’m going to encourage you to do a Daily Painting Challenge for 29 days! Since 2016, every October (and we’ve been doing it for EIGHT years now!), we do a 31-Pastels-in-31-Days Challenge. Coming off our last experience, I asked HowToPastel members who participated, what they thought were the benefits of doing the Challenge. If their words don’t inspire you to take action, well, I’m not sure what will! But I know you ARE going to be inspired!! So go read my latest #HowToPastel blog! #HowToPastelblog #htpblog #paintingchallenge #artchallenge #February29DayChallenge #DailyPaintingChallenge #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #GailSibley #softpastels #pastelart #softpastelart
When life gets hectic, your energy's low, or time is scarce, whip out those thumbnails! It's a small yet mighty step towards your creative journey. Trust me, flipping through a sketchbook of completed thumbnails is a treat worth savoring. 📒💡 Take a close look at why thumbnails are so important to creating striking, well-balanced art. Join our FREE webinar on How To Use Thumbnails To Improve Your Art, happening on Wednesday, 24 January at 11 am PST. 🔗 Link in bio to sign up! #ThumbnailMagic #SmallStepsBigWins #CreativeEnergy #thumbnailsketch #webinar #gailsibleyartschool #gailsibley #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #sketchbookofthumbnails #thumbnails #creativejourney #softpastelart #softpastels #pastelpainting #improveyourart
Meet my creative sidekick: the Thumbnail! Thumbnails. Such an extraordinarily helpful tool! And yet, so resisted. So misunderstood. So avoided! Students often say, “I just want to get to the painting! By the time I’ve done a thumbnail, I won’t have the energy to do the painting.” And this stance is particularly espoused when it comes to making thumbnails en plein air. For me though, at this point in my painting life, I cannot imagine starting a representational piece without doing at least one thumbnail, whether in studio or on location! In this week's blog, I take you through some examples I made while working on location - you'll see the scene, my thumbnail(s), and the plein air painting. I share why these tiny sketches can make such a difference to your work! It's "Take a Walk Outdoors Day" tomorrow (20th January) so this blog on plein air work seems especially appropriate today! #thumbnails #enpleinair #paintingonlocation #pastelpaintingenpleinair #pleinairpainting #softpastels #pastelpainting #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibley #thumbnailsketch #pastelart
Sometimes, after all the chaos of the holiday season, it’s difficult to get back into the swing of things. Maybe we can squeeze in a few quiet days to prepare ourselves for the start of the new year. And sometimes not. And before we know it, the year is off and running and we feel behind before we’ve even started! Ugh. The trick is to create momentum by getting started and yes, I know that getting started can be darn hard! Let me share what I learned from my recent Mexico experience. Click the link in my bio to read my latest #htpblog. Gail Sibley, “Wall and Bicycle,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 600, 12 x 9 in. Available. DM me if interested! #momentum #artisticresistance #htpblog #howtopastelblog #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #softpastelpainting #softpastels #pastelart #pastelpainting #Mexico #pleinairpainting #enpleinair #pastelpaintingenpleinair #paintingonlocation
A few months ago, I was delighted to hear that along with the Arkansas Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of New Jersey, there was a third less-known recipient of a 2023 IAPS Global Society Grant. This was the @phpastelartists What made this selection of the Philippine Pastel Artists stand out even more was that the society was located in the same country as my Virtual Assistant, Sarah. So we immediately reached out to find out more about this unknown-to-us pastel group and to ask if we could feature 10 of their artists. This blog post is the result! You may be amazed! Click the link in the bio and see all 10 works from various members of the Philippine Pastel Artists! #howtopastel #htpblog #howtopastelblog #howtopastelwithgail #PhilippinePastelArtists #guestpost #guestblog #pastelartists #softpastel #pastelpainting #IAPSGlobalSocietyGrant #IAPS
At 10:30, the day was already hot so my first task was to find shade. A house threw a solid cast shadow and I stopped to look around. I found one option then turned and saw this washing machine sitting outside an orange house. I loved the cast shadows on and around it and also on the interesting wall beyond. Perfect! Thumbnail, set up easel, then to work!! Working en plein air is all about the experience. It’s wonderful when what you’re working on turns out but it’s the doing, the being, that’s the greatest pleasure!! 🎨 Gail Sibley, “The Washing Machine - La Manzanilla,” Unison Colour on UART 600, 9 x 9 in. Available #LaManzanilla #pleinairpainting #pastelart #softpastelart #pastelpaintingenpleinair #enpleinair #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #softpastels #thumbnailsketch #thumbnails
I had time to dig into a larger piece with figures. This is from another photo I took from the bus as we made our way from the mountains to our hotel in San Jose. I loved the connection between what looked like father and daughter as well as the colourful wall behind them. They were standing in the small amount of shade created by a banner. On the easel: Gail Sibley, “The Secret,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320x 8 x 8 in. Sold #softpastelpainting #softpastels #pastelpainting #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #figures #unisoncolour #UARTpaper #pastelart #softpastelart #GailSibley
Nicolette van Dam has been a part of my #IGNITEMembership right from the very start in January 2020. Through her postings, I’ve watched her grow as an artist over these past years. I’m always amazed at her imaginative work none more so than during the recent #31in31htp2023 Challenge. For her daily pieces, she explored the alphabet via Alice in Wonderland. Each day, we would all wait in anticipation for Nicolette’s art to be posted, wondering what would turn up next from her vivid imagination! What an amazing collection. We’re all encouraging Nicolette to publish them in a children’s book. But before that happens, Nicolette is sharing her journey and marvellous work with us on the #HowToPastel blog. Click the link in the bio to read it. ENJOY!! #htpblog #artblog #howtopastelguest #howtopastelblog #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #pastelpainting #aliceinwonderland #alicethroughthelookingglass #fantasy #childrensstory #LewisCarroll #GailSibley #NicolettevanDam
If you’ve ever found yourself hesitating to discuss money for your art or are perhaps afraid to broach the subject of payment with the person who's commissioned a piece from you, know that you're not alone. Here's the truth: Your art has value, and you deserve to be compensated for your creativity and effort. Let's look at how we can more easily embrace the joy that comes from receiving payment for our work. Go read this week's #htpblog when you here - https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/12/your-art-has-value-6-points-to-consider/ 📷: Alexander Grey at Unsplash #valueyourart #htpblog #howtopastel #howtopastelblog #artblog #gailsibleyartist #howtopastelwithgail #commissionedpiece #softpastels #pastelart #softpastelart #pastelpainting
I’m often asked if I start with an underpainting. And I say yes, I first put down a dry pastel underpainting which echoes the shapes of the values in my thumbnail. I always start with these big shapes as a way to lock in the foundation of my painting. In this week's blog post, I share five examples of my work to illustrate why I believe it's crucial to paint the big shapes first!! Click the link in the bio to read my latest blog! On the easel: Gail Sibley, “Blue Against White, Sand, and Ochre (Gallery Goers series),” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 11 x 7 in. _______ In other news… 🤩 I'm beyond excited to share something really special with you – my Black Friday Pastels101 Creative Bundle, a $355 value that's now available for an exclusive offer! Until midnight Monday (27 November), you can grab my Pastels 101 Creative Bundle for $100 off. The bundle includes my best-rated online course, Pastels 101, PLUS two Mini Masterclasses on Colour Temperature and Playing with Colour! Head to the link in my bio to learn more! #bigshapes #paintingthebigshapesfirst #pasteltutorial #pasteltips #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #softpastels #pastelart #values #thumbnail #underpainting #pastelinstruction #htpblog #artblog #pastels101creativebundle #blackfriday2023
Our guest this month - David Shkolny - only came to my attention a couple of years ago. I think I was only slightly aware of his work when I noticed that he would be teaching at the Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts that summer. A pastel artist teaching at @missamagic - yay! And, I loved what I saw of his work! That was when I got reeeeeaaally curious and went searching for more of his art. And oh my! I was blown away by the energy and bold mark-making he brings to a landscape. I can't wait to bring his work to you! 🔗Follow the link in the bio and go have a read! #howtopastel #htpblog #artblog #DavidShkolny #GailSibleyArtist #howtopastelwithgail #softpastels #landscape #pleinairpainting #pastelpaintingenpleinair #landscapeart #metchosininternationalsummerschoolofthearts #MISSA #pastelpainting
In our journey as artists, we often find ourselves chasing perfection. We strive for every stroke to be flawless, every colour to act in harmony, and every pastel painting to be a masterpiece. But what if we shifted our perspective? Embracing the powerful mindset of letting go of the need for a perfect outcome opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities. It's about surrendering our need for perfection and allowing ourselves to explore, experiment, and take risks. It's about embracing the beauty of imperfection and finding joy in the process. By releasing the pressure of creating a masterpiece every time we pick up a pastel, we free ourselves from expectations. We open the door to pure creative freedom, where we can authentically express ourselves and let our intuition guide us. So today, I invite you to join me on this journey of letting go of the outcome. What is one expectation you can let go of when it comes to your art? How does it feel to permit yourself to do that? Can't wait to hear your insights! 🔥 #lettinggo #thepoweroflettinggo #chasingperfection #processnotoutcome #pasteltopaper #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #pastelpainting #pastelart #pastels #softpastels #lettinggooftheoutcome
I’ve been welcoming artists into my 1:1 Accelerant Mentoring Programme and it’s interesting to hear a common refrain of frustration: “I have an idea in my head but my painting doesn’t come out anything like it.” This leads me nicely to this week’s musing - letting go of the outcome, meaning, letting go of our attachment to the outcome of a painting. So easy to say, sooooo difficult to do! I mean, we all want our work to have a great payoff right? The 31-pastels-in-31-days (aka 31in31) Annual Challenge has recently ended. I participated and a variety of work appeared on my easel - some fab, some good, some so-so. While creating each piece, letting go of the outcome was my mantra! My intention was to paint the painting and try not to worry about the result. Click the link in the bio to read my studio musing about letting go! #htpblog #artblog #howtopastelblog #howtopastelwithgail #lettinggooftheoutcome #processnotoutcome #pasteltopaper #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #studiomusings #GailSibley #GailSibleyArtist #softpastels #pastelpaintings #pastelart
Day 27 and I wanted to get back to doing dog walkers but for some reason, rather than going to my collection of dog walker thumbnails, I went looking for a new option! I came across a woman who was dark against a lit background and had on a cool navy and white striped coat. I liked that she and her dog were in a cast shadow with the landscape lit on either side with the dark hill in the background. A fast piece! Gail Sibley, ”Autumn Walkies,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 4 ½ x 7 ¼ inches #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #DogWalkerSeries #Autumn #dogwalkies #unisoncolour #UART #softpastelpainting #pastelart #pastelpainting #GailSibleyArtist #gailsibley
Day 26 and soooo little time! But that’s no excuse right?! Grabbed my phone, scrolled through the 31in31 collection of ideas, and spotted a photo of a tree I’d snapped from my train journeys in the UK this summer. I could use that as inspiration!! Gail Sibley, “View from the Train,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 3 x 6 ¾ inches #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #trainrides #viewfromthetrain #unisoncolour #UART #softpastels #pastelpainting #pastelart #softpastelpainting
Day 25. I was flipping through my sketchbook of thumbnails and came across one I’d done of my niece @alysibleyphotography . It was from a photograph I’d snapped one snowy Christmas when the family was all together. I loved the big shapes and yeah, her bright orange jacket. The piece is small so it was really tricky to get facial details. It doesn’t look like her but does I think capture her joie de vivre!! Gail Sibley, “Photographing on a Snow Day,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 500, 5 ¾ x 4 ½ in. #31in32htp2023 #artchallenge #snowday #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #christmasSnow #joiedevivre #GailSibley #softpastels #softpastelpainting #pastelpainting #pastelart #pasteltopaper #UnisonColour #UART @alysibleyphotography
Day 24 and I had the urge to do something different! Scrolling through my photos, I found I photo I’d taken from one of my walks in the neighbourhood. Gail Sibley, “Scooter Awaits,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 9 x 5 inches. Available $300 #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #softpastels #pastelart #pastelpainting #scooter #GailSibleyArtist #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #UnisonColour #UART #pasteltopaper
Day 23 and with more time I could get stuck into another painting of the cooks working away in the kitchen at @riochirripo where I was teaching a destination workshop. I loved that the kitchen was open and I could catch these women at work! Gail Sibley, “Rio Chirripo Cooks,” Unison Colour on UART320, 8 x 8 in. Available $425 #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #RioChirripo #CostaRica #kitchencooks #softpastels #softpastelart #pastelpainting #pastelart
Day 22 and I saw another possibility in the photo from Tuscany that I used for Day 21. I was attracted to the grouping of trees with a fallen branch in front. With the warm glow of changing leaves all around me, I decided to change the season to autumn! Gail Sibley, “Fallen Limb,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 6 ½ x 4 ½ inches. Available $175 ________ #31in31htp2023 #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #autumnleaves #softpastels #softpastelpainting #pastelart #unisoncolour #UARTpaper #GailSibleyArtist #Tuscany #FallenLimb
Occasionally, I stumble upon a pastel painting from the past that leaves me breathless. Today, I'm excited to share one such discovery with you – a portrait by the English artist John Russell (1745-1806). In this 'close look' post, we'll take a deep dive into the intricate details of Russell's work, with the hope of uncovering valuable insights along the way. Read about it when you click the link in my bio! 🎨 John Russell, Portrait of George de Ligne Gregory, 1793, pastel on paper, laid on canvas, 75.9 x 63.2 cm 29 7/8 x 24 7/8 in, J.Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA #JohnRussell #howtopastel #htpblog #howtopastelwithgail #pastelpainting #softpastels #softpastelart #pastelart #lookingatart #JPaulGettyMuseum #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley
Day 21 of our Challenge. I came across a photo I had painted from in a previous 31in31 Challenge. That time, I had interpreted a mass of buildings rising up a Tuscan hillside. This time, in the corner of the photo, a building standing over a vineyard caught my eye. From this, I created the painting. I’m not feeling inspired in my Title-making. Do you have a suggestion?? Gail Sibley, Untitled as Yet,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 6 x 6 in. Available $225. __________ #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #unisoncolour #UART #Tuscany #tuscanhillside #softpastels #pastelpainting #pastelart
Day 20. That means it’s my Dad’s Birthday!! I would like to do a painting of him but no time for that on our fun-filled day! I’ll leave that for another time. So it needed to be another fast piece! I chose another scene that I snapped from the bus when teaching in Costa Rica. I love the skinny trunks against the blue mountain and light sky. And I’m looking for a title please! Gail Sibley, “The Way Through,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 4 ½ x 6 ½ inches. Sold __________ #31in31htp2023 #CostaRica #landscapepainting #mountainscene #softpastels #pastelpainting #artchallenge #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #unisoncolour #UART #pastelart
Day 19. Time for a fast one! This is from a photo I snapped a couple of years ago on a walk. It’s always appealed to me and today was the day I chose to paint it. Gail Sibley, “Daisies in the Spotlight,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 400, 6 x 4 ½ in. Available. $175 #31in31htp2023 #daisies #flowers #softpastels #pastelpainting #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #artchallenge #unisoncolour #UART #pastelart
Day 18 of the #31in31htp2023 challenge. In February 2022, I taught a workshop in the hills of Costa Rica. We stayed at this beautiful lodge named after the area- @riochirripo . The setting was beautiful, the food was aaamazing, and the staff were kind and caring. One thing I loved was the open kitchen. I took a few photos of the chef and her helpers prepping and cooking. I had drawn up a few thumbnails last year but never got to painting them. Until now. Here is the first one of two. Gail Sibley, “Prepping dinner at the Rio Chirripo Lodge, Costa Rica,” Unison Colour on UART320, 8 x 8 in. Available $425 #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #artworkshop #CostaRica #softpastels #softpastelpainting #pastelart #pastelpainting #unisoncolour #UART #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #GailSibleyArtist #gailsibley
Day 17 and once again, very little time to paint. I worked in the late afternoon so didn’t want to get into a complex piece. So I grabbed a piece of UART paper I’d done some colour studies on, wiped it, and proceeded to make marks and see what emerged. I’d just heard about the strike on the Gaza hospital that had killed hundreds and so my mind was on this terrible event as I painted. Gail Sibley, “Terrible Times,” Unison Colour pastels on repurposed UART paper, 3 ½ x 5 ½ inches
Day 16 and it’s back to my #gallerygoersseries. And it’s another painting and viewer I saw in the Tate St Ives when I was there this summer. The painting the young man was looking at, actually the painting he was photographing, was one in the exhibition on the Casablanca Art School. As always, I’m looking for and including connections between the viewer and the painting. Some are obvious, others less so. Gail Sibley, “Volcanique,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320, 10 x 10 in. ________ #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #howtopastelwithgail #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #GalleryGoersSeries #CasablancaArtSchool #unisoncolour #UART #tatemuséum #StIves
Day 15 and Cam and I went for breakfast at the Parsonage. While Cam lined up to make our order, I used the opportunity to get in my daily pastel. I’d brought my sketchbook and pastel pencils yay! Quick! And something done! Gail Sibley, “Work Party at Parsonage,” Cretacolour pastel pencils on Canson Mi-Teintes paper in a sketchbook, 6 x 6 inches. __________ #31in31htp2023 #softpastels #softpastelart #pastelpainting #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #artchallenge #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #Cretacolour #pastelpencils #CansonMiTeintes
Day 14 of the #31in31htp2023 challenge. Distressed as I am with the horrors of the Israel/Hamas confrontation and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, I decided to express some of my anguish, anger, and sadness into my art. It’s something I’m more comfortable expressing in acrylic and mixed media - layering, scraping, layering, wiping - but since it’s pastel month, I went at it in that medium. I still layered and scrapped and scratched and layered and wiped and on it went. I was thinking of the red of blood and of love and the black of darkness. And then I just pastelled until I stopped. The piece is untitled. What suggestions do you have? Gail Sibley, “?,” Unison Colour and Sennelier pastels on repurposed UART 400 paper, 9 x 12 in. ______ #31in31htp2023 #artexpression #softpastels #softpastelart #pastelpainting #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #unisoncolour #Sennelier #UART #artchallenge #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel
I’ve always been a HUGE fan of artist @andrewmcdermottart's work. So I’m pleased as punch that he agreed to write a guest blog for HowToPastel. Its focus is on how to loosen up. I hear this request a lot - "How can I loosen up?" - so I know this guest post is going to be super helpful!! Click the link in the bio to read it! #htpblog #guestblog #AndrewMcDermott #howtopastelblog #howtopastel #softpastelart #softpastelpainting #pastelart #pastelpainting #GailSibleyArtist #howtopastelwithgail
It’s Day 13 of the 31in31 Challenge and I had only a little time today. And, truthfully, I didn’t feel very inspired to do anything. But I knew action is better than doing nothing and that pastel to paper is our daily mantra. So I grabbed a small piece of UART paper I’d used for colour swatches, wiped it, and got to work. I chose another photo from my Costa Rica trip to work from and 20 minutes later, I was done. I can see looking through the progression photos that I could actually have stopped earlier. In fact…maybe at the charcoal drawing!! Gail Sibley, “Rains Are Coming (Costa Rica),” Unison Colour pastels on repurposed UART 500 paper, 3 ¾ x 5 ½ in. _________ #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #howtopastelwithgail #softpastelpainting #pastelpainting #softpastels #pastelart #unisoncolour #UART #pasteltopaper #processnotoutcome #landscapepainting #landscapeart #CostaRica #charcoaldrawing #repurposedart
Day 12 and I thought I had plenty of time. I drew up two pieces but then, because of unexpected circumstances 🙄 I didn’t have time to actually paint them. So, hurriedly, I flipped through my thumbnails and found one I’d done for a tutorial in my IGNITE! Membership. It was from a photo I took from the bus in Costa Rica. Perfect!! Gail Sibley, “Fog Rolling In - Costa Rica,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 320 paper, 4 ½ x 6 ½ in. Available $165
Day 11 of 31in31 had me flipping through my sketchbook of thumbnails. I came across one I’d drawn a couple of years ago. It’s one I want to paint every time I see it so today was the day!! This is a detail as the vertical shape doesn’t work so well with Instagram! Gail Sibley, “Out of the Shower,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 500 paper, 7 ¼ x 4 ½ in. Available $195 #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastel #gailsibleyartist #howtopastelwithgail #softpastelpainting #pastelpainting #softpastels #pastelart #unisoncolour #UART #pasteltopaper #processnotoutcome
Day 10 of the 31in31 Challenge and finally I have some time so I get into another in the Gallery Goers series. And once again, I found a viewer and artwork in the Tate St Ives. Oh my gosh, was that guy really wearing an orange toque and bag on his back - YES! It was a perfect combo with this copper artwork! Gail Sibley, “Surveying the Battle (Gallery Goers series),” Unison Colour pastels on UART 500, 7 x 11 in. Available. $600 The artwork within the painting: This piece was in an exhibition at the Tate St Ives called Casablanca Art School - fascinating! Farid Belkahia, “Bataille (Battle),” 1964-5, Copper bas relief, Private Collection, Marrakesh
Day 9 of the 31in31 Challenge brought another day with little time. So as I had done yesterday, I chose an uninteresting painting from a past challenge and after scrubbing it, turned it vertically and went to work. Figures started emerging and then there they were, across from each other. What do you make of this? Gail Sibley, “The Meeting,” Unison Colour pastels on repurposed UART 800 paper, 5 ½ x 4 ½ in. Available $135 #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #repurposedpart #softpastels #softpastelpainting #pastelart #pastelpainting #UnisonColour #UART #GailSibley #gailsibleyartist
Today, Day 8 of the 31in31 Challenge, I needed to work quickly so I grabbed an old I-can-delete-this painting and scrubbed it off. I turned the resulting blur sideways and “saw” buildings and that’s what I then worked towards. It’s completely imaginary and, well, it will do for today’s daily painting! Gail Sibley, Untitled as yet, Unison Colour pastels on repurposed UART 500 paper, 5 ½ x x 5 ½ in #31in31htp2023 #artchallenge #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastel #repurposedpart #softpastels #softpastelpainting #pastelart #pastelpainting #UnisonColour #UART #GailSibley #gailsibleyartist
Day 6 of the #31in31htp2023 challenge. On Salt Spring Island and the weather was so gorgeous that I decided to work en plein air. I didn’t want to go far from the house and I know, if you look hard enough, there’s always something to paint! And sure enough, this view approaching my Mum and Dad’s home on Salt Spring Island called to me! Gail Sibley, “Welcome,” Unison Colour pastels on UART 600, 8 1/2 x 9 in. Available. $425 _____________ #31in31htp2023 #softpastels #pastelart #softpastelpainting #gailsibleyartist #gailsibley #howtopastelwithgail #howtopastelchallenge #artchallenge #pleinairpainting #pleinair #pastelpaintingenpleinair #UART #unisoncolourpastels #unisoncolour
#howtopastelwithgail 31 paintings 4x6 pastel. A picture I took a few years ago