Blog – Pastel Society of the West Coast

PSWC is proud to be bringing additional expert knowledge to further your artistic interest and growth. A new insight topic from a guest artist will be posted on a monthly basis.

September 2026: Rooted in years of painting from life, Karen Israel now builds powerful narrative scenes from her photo references—focusing on human stories of resilience, connection and inner strength.

September 1, 2026
August 2026: In this month’s blog, Karen Margulis discusses how the power of ten minutes spent completing a small study can build your painting confidence.

August 4, 2026
July 2026: In this thought provoking article, Colette Odya Smith explores how the artist’s act of seeing—our quiet, constant intake of the world—might be understood through the humble metaphor of a pinhole camera.

July 12, 2026
June 2026: In this guest post, Christine Obers explores how emotion sits at the heart of every painting – and why that connection matters just as much as technique.

June 11, 2026
May 2026: Marie Tippits talks about transitions and asks “Are our lives like our paintings?”

May 1, 2026