Step By Step A Pastel Still Life

A Pastel Still Life Demo is a gentle, confidence-building guide that helps artists experience the quiet joy of creating a still life in soft pastels-without fuss, intimidation, or expensive materials. Using a simple yet striking subject of a hibiscus flower and decorated eggs, Fee O'Shea takes you step by step through her personal pastel process, from preparation and composition to the final refinements.
This demonstration focuses on clarity and calm rather than complexity. You'll learn how to choose and simplify a subject, work with a limited colour palette, and build form gradually using light pressure, layering, and blending. Fee explains essential techniques such as gridding, smudging, edging, and her signature "swipe" method in a way that feels approachable and encouraging-perfect for beginners and reassuring for those returning to pastels after time away.
The book places strong emphasis on preparation: setting up your workspace, selecting paper with the right tooth, organising colours, and working thoughtfully rather than rushing ahead. Throughout, Fee reminds you that this is not about copying a photograph perfectly, but about developing confidence, observation, and your own artistic voice. Photographs accompany each stage of the process, making it easy to follow along at your own pace.
The demo is deliberately designed to be achievable on a kitchen table, with minimal equipment, so you can focus on learning and enjoying the medium rather than wrestling with logistics. Warm, practical, and refreshingly down-to-earth, A Pastel Still Life Demo is ideal for beginners, hobby artists, and anyone who wants to slow down, reconnect with creativity, and discover just how expressive pastels can be-one careful layer at a time.