How to see the blackest of dogs to be able to pastel them with great fur direction and highlights

How to Keep Yourself & Your Pastel Art Clean – 7 Top Tips. Pastels can be messy on your hands but you don’t need to be messy everywhere else. I am the most untidy person I know (apart from my mum and sister ha!) and if you saw me in the kitchen you would be in a state of shock with how much mess I can create from so little!

If you’ve ever tried using a normal square grid and still felt confused, please know this, you are not the only one. A traditional grid can be helpful, but because every square looks the same, it’s very easy to get lost counting boxes instead of really seeing the shapes in front of you.

If you've made a mistake on Pastelmat did you know that you can wash it to clean it? I'll show you how in my short video plus some extra tips

Whiskers can make or break your animal pastel portraits! In this post, Sue Kerrigan-Harris shares simple, effective ways to draw lifelike whiskers using pastel pencils, from choosing the right colour to capturing their delicate movement.

Wendy Reynolds first met Sue Kerrigan-Harris at a local art show and never imagined she could learn soft pastel. One beginner workshop changed everything. Read Wendy’s story of finding joy, confidence, and a hidden talent with Sue’s gentle, encouraging teaching.

🎨 I’m Sue Kerrigan-Harris, a soft pastel artist and trained art tutor. I help women over 40 learn to draw and create artwork they’re truly proud of. Through my step-by-step tutorials, gentle guidance, and the supportive Soft Pastel Skills Hub, I make learning soft pastel easy, joyful, and confidence-boosting.

Not every piece needs a frame. Discover how small pastel studies can build confidence, creativity, and self-trust, one soft layer at a time.

Not every piece of art is meant for a frame and that’s the beauty of it. The small pastel studies we create are more than practice; they’re where confidence grows, one gentle layer at a time. In this post, discover why these “little” pieces matter so much and how they help you become the artist you want to be.