Highlights from Day 3 of Pastel Live, an annual virtual art conference for artists of all levels
As we wrap up our 4th Annual Pastel Live, we’d like to thank every single one of our attendees for being a part of this event – you are the ones who help us keep going, as we all continue to inspire each other to grow, learn, and connect in this incredible world of art. We hope to see you at the next online event, Realism Live, along with more master teachers that we’re bringing to you.
For the last day of Pastel Live this year, we want to thank our wonderful sponsors once again! Today, our shout-out goes to Sennelier / Fabriano / Cretacolor and Blick Art Materials.
Here’s a glimpse of what you may have missed:
Highlights from Day 3 of Pastel Live 2024
In Lana Ballot’s demo, we learned how to paint a seascape with realistic rocks and a crashing wave with airy sea foam in an expressive and painterly style. In this photo, she’s showing us how to use a toothbrush to flick the sprays of water coming off the waves.
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Emma Colbert is originally from Northern Ireland and currently resides in Spain, where she says she’s met with painting inspiration every time she steps out her door. Emma’s main love is painting animals and adding backgrounds that help to tell the story. Her demo focused on painting a landscape with a bull in soft pastel.
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Albert Handell is known for his ability to capture the beauty of the natural world in his work. His demo provided insights into his techniques, helping us add depth and texture to our own landscapes.
“I bought Albert’s video a few months ago, and it was so inspirational! I’m new to pastels and a huge fan of his work!” ~Zsanna J.
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We even enjoyed a roundtable with three pastel legends who shared their wisdom. Harley Brown — who held his last in-person workshop, “Harley’s Last Stand,” in 1999 — has influenced countless artists, including Bill Schneider. Bill and Barbara Jaenicke continue Harley’s legacy, passing on his teachings to the next generation.
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Marie Tippets gave a lesson on composition as it applies to a still life painting, including lighting, elements, focal point, and balance. She begins her pastel paintings with the question, “Where does this idea come from?” Her session included a technical look at finished still lifes to understand how these aspects look when everything has come together.
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Heidi Marshall shared her method of bringing up a dynamic lake painting to express vitality, movement, and the drama of impending weather. In this stage, she is creating reflections in the sand. “The warmth of the reflection brings interest into the foreground,” she explained.
Of course, we ended this year’s event with our evening cocktail hour and paint-along, with more camaraderie and friendships in the making.
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Visit PastelLive.com now and register for the best personal instruction and live interactions with artists from all over the world at the 5th Annual Pastel Live, taking place September 17-19, 2025, with an Essential Techniques Day on September 16. We’ll see you there!
