The Pastel Podcast

Daniel Keys bought his first paint kit at 11 with birthday money, taught himself to paint with no formal training, and went on to win the Portrait Society of America's Draper Grand Prize, the PleinAir Salon Grand Prize, and covers on seven major art magazines. In this episode, Daniel joins Kari and Lisa to share how a magazine cover at 22 became his big break, what it was like quietly absorbing everything from a decade at Richard Schmid's easel, and how pastel's "visual mixing" — layering broken color instead of blending on a palette — has changed the way he now paints in oil. Plus, why drawing and values (not composition) are the real gap in most students' work, why he now reaches for pastel over oil for portraits, and a peek at his recent painting trip chasing 500-year-old thatched-roof cottages through Yorkshire, England.

Nancie King Mertz has done it all — 19 years running a Chicago gallery, painting in 24 countries, guest of honor at the Pastel Society of France, and now the newest PSA Hall of Fame honoree. In this episode, Nancie joins Kari and Lisa to share her signature "tick mark map" technique, her denatured alcohol underpainting method, and the one rule that transformed her students' compositions: the three-quarters value principle. Plus, why she never lets students bring pastel pencils, how she funded international travel by painting on every trip, and a peek inside her dream learning center retreat in Rockford, Illinois.

Episode 13: Greg Barnes on Plein Air Painting, Pastel Mastery & Building a Full-Time Art Career
What does it take to walk away from a stable career and build a full-time life as a painter? Greg Barnes did exactly that after 9/11—and hasn't looked back since. The Charlotte-based pastel and oil painter joins Kari and Lisa to share the journey, techniques, and philosophy behind his expressive, light-filled work.
About Greg Barnes Greg Barnes has been a full-time painter since 2002, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Known for his impressionistic pastels and oils that capture the light, atmosphere, and feeling of being in a place, Greg has earned prestigious awards including Best in Show at Plein Air New Bern and the Irvine Museum Award at Maui Plein Air. In 2021, he was selected for the ArtPop Street Gallery, with his work displayed on billboards and airport screens across Charlotte—and somehow, on a restaurant wall in Miami too.
In This Episode
From a Wake Forest fine arts degree to 15 years in commercial work—until 9/11 prompted a life-changing pivot
How portrait commissions led to pastel landscapes, art festivals across the country, and eventually plein air invitationals
Why Greg chose to master pastel first before adding oil (and the gallery realities that drove that decision)
His "order from chaos" teaching philosophy—and how he puts his intuitive process into words for students
The key lessons he absorbed from mentors Albert Handel and Scott Christiansen: emotional mark-making, design, and letting the leaves "dance"
How the plein air invitational world works: the difference between open events and invitation-only shows, and how word of mouth is everything
What a Quick Draw is and why it's one of the best ways to get noticed as an emerging plein air painter
Deciding between pastel and oil in the field—and why it's almost always an intuitive call
Upcoming Workshops & Events
Tallapoosa School of Fine Arts, Alabama — back-to-back pastel workshops (late April)
Gloucester Plein Air, Gloucester, Virginia — June
Cashiers Plein Air, Cashiers, North Carolina — July
Wild Acres Pastel Workshop, Blue Ridge Mountains, NC — one week, all-inclusive, under $1,000 (spots still available)
Monhegan Island, Maine — August (informal paint-alongs; reach out if you'll be there)
Plein Air Down Under, Perth, Australia — later this year
Find Greg Website & workshop info: barnstudios.com
Also Mentioned
Lisa's pastel workshop with Rosemary & Co., Yorkshire, England — June
IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) Convention — June
Pastel Today newsletter — the go-to resource for all things pastel
The Pastel Podcast is hosted by Kari Stober and Lisa Skelly. New episodes monthly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, watch on YouTube, or visit thepastelpodcast.com.

Welcome to our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY episode of The Pastel Podcast! 🎉 Today we sit down with the incredible Liz Haywood-Sullivan — New England landscape pastel artist, former president of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, and author of Painting Brilliant Skies and Water in Pastel.
In this episode, Liz shares her journey from the design world to full-time fine art, why pastel painting became her lifelong medium, and how she narrowed her focus to pastel landscape painting to truly master her craft. We dive into her go-to pastel materials including Lux archival paper, Terry Ludwig pastels, Diane Townsend pastels, Unison pastels, and more. We also discuss plein air painting, color mixing, value studies, and what it takes to earn the highest honors in the pastel world.
Whether you're a beginner learning how to paint with pastels, an experienced pastel artist looking for inspiration, or simply curious about pastel painting techniques, this episode is packed with insight you won't want to miss.

In this episode of The Pastel Podcast, hosts Kari Stober and Lisa Skelly welcome rising pastel artist Clint Howard, whose rapid ascent in the pastel world is inspiring artists everywhere. Clint shares how he returned to pastel painting in 2023 after a career in graphic design and ministry—and how focused daily practice led him to earn Master Circle status with the International Association of Pastel Societies in just a few years.
This conversation dives deep into pastel painting techniques, including working from reference photos, atmospheric perspective, tonalism, painting water and reflections, and capturing light in landscape painting. Clint explains his process for simplifying composition, using neutrals effectively, and building strong value structures in pastel.
You'll also hear about plein air painting, digital tools for composition studies, mentorship, teaching, and building a sustainable art practice. Clint's thoughtful insights on observation, consistency, and artistic growth make this episode especially valuable for painters at any stage.
Whether you're a pastel artist, landscape painter, or creative searching for pastel painting stories and inspiration, this episode offers practical wisdom and motivation to keep painting.
🎧 Subscribe for more pastel artist interviews, techniques, and inspiration. ThePastelPodcast.com
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