Last week, some of the top pastel artists in the world gathered in Reno and Lake Tahoe to share their best plein air painting advice with hundreds of outdoor painters of all skill levels at the 2025 Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE)! Lyn Diefenbach, Kim Lordier, Albert Handell, Amanda Houston, William A. Schneider, Lon Brauer, and Lisa Skelly were all on hand to demonstrate their processes. Plus, Jeff Olson gave an interesting presentation on the history of pastel, and Harley Brown — the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award — inspired the crowd with his takes on painting and being an artist.
Sharing their best tips and techniques for painting pastels outdoors — with specific advice for capturing the unique scenery of Reno and Lake Tahoe, the amazing lineup of faculty kept the artists busy from early morning til late afternoon when it was time to head out to one of our inspiring paint out sites that included the Truckee Riverwalk in Downtown Reno; Virginia City, Nevada; and the Stampede Reservoir in Tahoe National Forest, California.
At the end of the week, faculty and attendees put all their techniques into practice as they painted side by side for an entire day at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe.
And we’re doing it all again next year — May 14-18, 2026 — in the Ozarks!
Can’t wait that long, or want to learn some new skills before hitting the Ozarks in person? Join us for Pastel Live in September 2025!
