Ann Richman 5/23/26 Ann Richman 5/23/26

Pastel Progress: 5 Honest Lessons from My Artistic Journey

When I first started using soft pastels, I had no idea how much I’d learn—not just about technique, but about the process of growing as an artist. In this post, I’m sharing a few key lessons that have helped me along the way. Whether you’re new to pastels or just looking for inspiration, I hope these reflections encourage you to keep going.

Ann Richman 5/18/23 Ann Richman 5/18/23

5 Tips for Using Colored Pencils on Clairfontaine Pastelmat

Clairefontaine Pastelmat is an amazing surface to use with colored pencils, but some artists struggle with knowing how to use it to their advantage. Here are 5 tips for making the most out of Pastelmat.

Ann Richman 4/6/23 Ann Richman 4/6/23

5 Methods for Creating Backgrounds in Colored Pencil Pieces

Backgrounds in colored pencil artworks can be daunting, but they really add to a piece. Here are four different methods to try to help you up your background game.

Ann Richman 3/30/23 Ann Richman 3/30/23

How to Correct Mistakes when Using Colored Pencils

Colored pencils can be hard to erase! Making a mistake when using them doesn’t have to mean you trash your piece. Here are four pre-mistake strategies and three post-mistake triages.