About
the blog for soft pastel art lovers
Inspired by my love of pastels and the enjoyment I receive from teaching about them the How to Pastel Blog has tips & tricks, reviews, step-by-step progressions, guest bloggers, and a great community on Facebook.
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A bit about me
I am very lucky to have been born and brought up in Jamaica, a land of beauty and complexity, of warmth and coolness, of vibrancy and tension. Many say that my Caribbean upbringing influenced my palette and I think they may be right. I do know that it shaped my worldview. Check out these sites to learn more about me and my work.
My Art Practice
Gail Sibley
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Friday, 10 July 2026
10 Comments
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.
More Editions...
Finding Your Style – What’s The Secret?
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
“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
Moira Huntly – Moving From Abstract Patterns Towards Reality
Friday, 23 April 2021
Some artists create work that you may deeply admire and you think, It’s not in me to create work like that, I just don’t work that way although I sure wish I could. Ever had this feeling? One such artist that brings up these feelings for me is Moira Huntly. I’ve been a fan of
PSA Feature Artist On The Pastel Society Of America Facebook Page
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
I’m in the home stretch of the DK Project so have very little time to do much else. So no monthly round-up today but I will try to get to it for next week. In the meantime, here’s a selection of my pastel paintings being shown on the PSA Facebook Group page where I am,
Casey Klahn: The Still Life Series
Monday, 19 January 2015
Have I got a treat for you!! I’ve been a huge fan of Casey Klahn’s work for some time now so I’m thrilled to have Casey here to guest blog about his new still life series. I’ve been watching him post fabulous painting after fabulous painting of these still life images on various Facebook art groups and I became curious – What was his inspiration? What’s driving
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Painting Beyond The Colours You See
We’re almost two weeks into the 31-pastels-in-31-days Challenge (our 4th Annual!) and the HowToPastel Facebook group has been lit up with
Letting Go Of The Outcome
Letting go of the outcome of a painting can free you up to take risks. Basically, this mindset gives you creative freedom! Ruminations following the month of 31-pastels-in-31-days Challenge.
Paint Anything With My Set of Soft Pastels!
That’s a rather bold statement I realise but I mean it: Paint anything with this set of soft pastels! And the
A Painting of Mother and Son with Miró (Gallery Goers Series)
A painting of mother and son in front of a Miró painting from Gail’s gallery goer series. Gail takes you through its creation step by step.
![Gail Sibley, [Not yet titled], Unison Colour pastels and a Sennelier pink on UART 400 mounted on board, 15 1/4 x 11 1/2 in -close up of face](https://www.howtopastel.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/11.-Gail-Sibley-Not-yet-titled-Unison-Colour-pastels-and-a-SEnnelier-pink-on-UART-400-mounted-on-board-15-14-x-11-15-in-close-up-of-face-Feature-image.jpg)
Pastel Portrait Step by Step – Painting Flo
Friday, 18 July 2025
Painting A White Object With Colour
Thursday, 14 December 2017
Value Dominance! How it Can Make (or Break) Your Painting
Friday, 12 March 2021
Tweaking My Plein Air Painting In The Studio – How I Did It
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Plein Air Pastel Of Big Rideau Lake
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Plein Air Painting Of Trees…And More Trees!
Sunday, 7 September 2014
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6 thoughts on “About”
Gail! Just got turned on to your website by a fellow artist from Wellington, Ontario… both of us former presidents of the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada. I work primarily in pastel and it will always be my medium of choice! I could never give them up! Being a landscape artist for years, I would now like to change things up a bit and try abstract. I was inspired by your article about the progression of your abstract painting…it’s given me the courage to take that (for me) giant leap and go ahead with an image I’ve had in my mind for a long time. Thank you! I look forward to future e-mails! Your’s is one of the best Pastel websites I’ve come across. Look forward to receiving your emails.
Kathryn
Thank you for writing Kathryn, and for your enthusiasm! It comes over loud and clear 🙂 I am wondering which article on abstraction you are referring to. Perhaps you can add a comment directly on the blog? Good luck with your leap. I know how difficult it is to make. It’s ongoing risk-taking that’s for sure! Please let me know how it goes.
Look forward to hearing more from you
I just read your article in the April issue of “Pastel Journal”. Thank you so much. I felt as if you were speaking directly to me. I am going to tear it out and tape it to my studio wall.
Marcia
Marcia, that’s the best reward a writer/artist could hear!! Thank you for letting me know. (As yet, I still haven’t received my copy!)
Hi Gail. I’m really excited and pleased to have discovered your website. I live in southern Australia and I started painting with pastels a few years ago (self taught) , but went a bit stale after doing a couple of workshops- mostly because the pastel artists here who I came across seem to be very conventional and felt that I wasn’t learning much. I’ve been working in oils since and enjoyed it- as I’ve realised, it’s similar in many ways. You showcase so many exciting works – use of colour, composition etc. , and your quick tips are helping me rethink how to approach my work. Looking forward to hearing more about your workshop in Tasmania, or perhaps one in Europe in a couple of years’ time.
Hi Judi,
Thanks for writing such a lovely introduction to yourself and your work. Certainly oils are similar to pastels in the way one builds a painting. Interesting that! I’m glad though that my blog may bring you back to the pastel side 😀 Even if not, so much of what’s here can be applied to the other media available for painting.
I look forward to having you in one of my workshops whether in Tasmania or Europe!!