Pastels for Pain – Where it all Began
When I first picked up a pastel after years of aggressive pain medications, I quickly realised that all I really needed was my faculties back and a beautiful distraction.
Soft Pastel Stories
Colourful Chronicles
Learn new techniques, hear artist's stories, and stay up to date on Soft Pastel News.
Using Your Painting as a Photo Reference
One of the most common questions I get about painting is “How can I loosen up?”. A technique that I use quite often, especially in my mangrove series, is to use an older painting as the photo reference.
Pastel Dust for Water Foam
This is my first blog for Unison Colour as an Associate Artist and I’m very excited to be sharing some of my pastel painting techniques and inspiration behind my work with you!
Painting in Plein Air with Soft Pastels
There is something magical about being painting while feeling the wind on your skin and hearing the nature around you.
Turning Points
When we think back on our artistic life and how we began and progressed, which for me started 42 years ago; a huge part of our journey is the milestones and turning points we experience.
The Dyslexic Artist
Dyslexic people nearly always have a natural flair for one or more of the arts such as music, acting, dancing or like me, art.
Tell A Story In Your Paintings & Speak Your Truth
“Why did I pick that to paint?” Stop for a moment and ask yourself that before you move on. I usually know why I picked my subject, before a single pastel stroke hits my paper...
You Enjoy Painting And Then You Get Lost
It happens. You are comfortable with painting. Yes, you know you have room for improvement and growth. But you enjoy painting. And then you get lost.
When Less Is More – Pastel Zen
I have a bit of a theory; it is my opinion that every piece of art is a self-portrait of the artist and a mirror to the viewer...
The Pause Before the Start
For many of us, our lives are filled with hurry. Creativity is something that we know we value and want to prioritise, and if we are lucky enough to have time for it, we often carry our hurry into our times of creating.
Best Behaviour
In the past much of my work was provocative, unsettling, edgy as subjects related to human rights and confrontational issues. In fact I had avoided pastels with the erroneous belief that pastels were a gentle medium for artists (with a few exceptions) who produced exquisite drawings or paintings.
Creativity and Plein Air Painting – Oaxaca, Mexico
I was just ready to go somewhere new and exotic. I don’t even remember how I happened upon this particular retreat, but one day there it was, and I thought about it for only a hot minute before signing up.
