Come Inside. Let Me Show You My World.

What Makes This Different

Most instructors show you what they are doing. I explain the why.

When you understand the why something shifts. You stop second guessing and start trusting yourself. And that stays with you in every piece you make from here.

I have a way of breaking things down that meets you wherever you are. Not talking above your head. Not assuming you already know. Just clear, honest teaching that makes this medium feel like something you can do.

A note on finding your style.

Style is not something you start with. It is something you accumulate. Lesson by lesson you are building a filing system, learning to see what you are drawn to, developing the skills to execute it, and slowly the medium starts to feel like yours. Following along, using the line art, is how you find your voice. That is also why every lesson includes the line art I use. When you are not spending your energy solving composition and proportion from scratch, you can give your full attention to what the medium is actually teaching you. Value. Color. How things blend and breathe. Those are the skills that transfer. And the more you show up, the more you will start to see the pattern of your own hand forming into your style.

What About Supplies

One of the biggest questions I get is about supplies. What do I need? How much will this cost? Where do I even start?

I have spent years researching and testing everything so you do not have to. When you join you will receive a complete getting started guide that walks you through exactly what to buy, why you are buying it, and how to set yourself up for a positive experience from the very beginning. No guessing. No wasted money. Just a clear path forward.

The Pastel Insider is a monthly membership for anyone who has ever looked at a soft pastel painting and felt curious about what it would feel like to make something like that.

Soft pastel held my attention in a way that surprised me. It challenged me in a way that felt good. The more I showed up for it the more it gave back. After eight years it still does.

But when I was learning I had to figure everything out alone. There was not much out there to guide me. I did not want that for you.

I built the Pastel Insider because I wanted you to know that this medium is not fragile, it is not fussy, and it is not just for serious artists. It is flexible. It is forgiving. You can pick it up for five minutes or five hours and put it down without losing anything. There is no wet paint to worry about, no supplies going to waste, no pressure to produce. You can start where you are and the medium meets you there.

And I am going to show you exactly what to buy, why you are buying it, and how to have a positive experience from the very first time you pick it up.

You do not have to figure this out alone. That is exactly why I am here.

Pastel Insider
$19.99
Every month

This is your moment. Come inside. Let me show you my world. No commitment, cancel anytime.

✓ 2 New Lessons Every Month
✓ Full Access to 80+ Lessons
✓ Original Line Art for Every Lesson
✓ Membership Guide Included
✓ Yours to Explore at Whatever Pace Feels Right

What Is Inside

From the moment you join you have instant access to a library of over 80 guided soft pastel lessons. Whimsical figures, botanicals, birds, portraits, animals, abstracts, landscapes. Something for every mood and every season of your creative life.

Every month you will receive two brand new lessons. Each one includes the line art I use so you can focus on painting without the pressure of drawing.

But here is what I want you to know about what actually happens inside this membership. People come in curious and leave changed. Because something shifts when you finally understand not just what you are doing but why. You start to see differently. You walk past a window and notice how the light falls. You look at a painting and understand what is happening in it. That clarity builds quietly, lesson by lesson, and one day you realize you can trust yourself.

Newest class in the Membership!

In this class we work with a PanPastel technique that teaches you how to keep your paintings fresh and alive. You will learn how to paint with intentional, visible strokes, allowing color to build and blend naturally while keeping that sense of movement in the piece. We also lean into the dark paper doing some of the value work for you.

Getting off the bottom layer and into those rich, buttery layers is one of the biggest game changers with this medium. I dedicated a full video to this because once you feel the difference, you will not go back.

Living Light is built around one central idea: a fresh stroke carries more life than a blended one. When you load your wand with intention, place the color, and trust the process, the painting starts to breathe.

We work with a complementary palette of blues and oranges, and I guide you through foundational application and color mixing in a way that will shift how you approach this medium.

If you learn to keep your strokes fresh and paint light with intention, your work starts to come alive.

Curious what’s included in each lesson?

View All Lessons
View All Lessons

Explore the full Pastel Insider library, including complete descriptions for every lesson.

What You Get as a Pastel Insider

Two new guided lessons every month, released on the first and third Friday. Each one includes the line art I use so you can focus on painting without the pressure of drawing.

Full access to the complete lesson library from day one. Over 80 lessons and growing.

The Pastel Insider Getting Started Guide, which walks you through exactly where to begin, what supplies you actually need, and how to navigate the membership so you feel confident from your very first lesson.

A community of artists from all over the world who show up for the same reasons you do.

When you join The Pastel Insider, you’ll receive access to the Pastel Insider Membership Guide, created to help you feel oriented, supported, and at ease as you explore the membership.

Inside the guide, you'll find:
✔ Step-by-step guidance so you know exactly where to begin
✔ Essential supply recommendations to get started with confidence
✔ A class and lesson roadmap to help you dive into your first painting with ease

This guide is exclusively available to members of The Pastel Insider and is there to support you whenever you need it.

  • “I cannot recommend Dawn enough as a teacher. The time she invests in our learning experience is incredible. Her lessons are detailed, the community is genuinely supportive, and the encouragement she offers has raised my confidence more than I ever expected.”

    — Louise Balland

  • “I absolutely love Dawn’s Pastel Insider. Unlike many instructors who simply paint while you watch, Dawn gives clear instruction and explains her process in a way that truly makes sense. The lessons are thoughtful, easy to follow, and the community she’s created is incredibly supportive.”

    — Sarah Williams

  • “Since joining the Pastel Insider, my artwork has stepped up to a whole new level. I’ve learned techniques that helped me create original pet and animal portraits, many of which have been sold or now hang in my home. The lessons gave me the confidence and skills to do work I never thought was possible.”

    — Michelle Leslie

  • “I highly recommend The Pastel Insider. Dawn is an incredibly generous teacher who clearly shares her years of experience. The lessons are well thought out, include helpful resources like line art, and make the learning process feel approachable and rewarding. This membership is absolutely worth the investment.”

    — Susan Thames

  • “After retiring from teaching, I was looking for something creative and meaningful, and discovering Dawn’s work felt like exactly what I needed. Her generosity and sincerity truly set her apart. Being part of the Pastel Insider has brought me so much joy and inspiration, and her lessons continue to be a highlight of my creative life.”

    — Karen Marshall

  • “The Pastel Insider is the best value I’ve ever invested in for my art. Dawn’s easy-going, supportive teaching style makes it feel like you’re creating alongside a trusted friend. The guidance, resources, and encouragement have made a real difference in my creative journey.”

    — Michelle Leslie

  • “Dawn’s enthusiasm for pastels is contagious, and her teaching is both inspiring and approachable. Her love for sharing the process truly shines through in every lesson. Joining the Pastel Insider helped me understand the medium with confidence, and the experience has been creative, joyful, and deeply rewarding.”

    — Suzanne Hamilton

  • “Becoming a Pastel Insider has been a game changer in my creative journey. Dawn’s generous lessons on color, value, and composition encourage play and exploration, and the skills I’ve gained have carried into all of my creative work. After taking many classes over the years, I can honestly say this membership has become one of my most valuable artistic resources.”

    — Francine Althoff

I remember standing in the store telling my best friend the last thing I needed was another medium. I had tried everything over twenty years. I did not buy the full set. I did not understand how it all worked together. I just bought a few colors and started playing.

And then something happened that has never happened with anything else I have tried. I never wanted to stop.

If any part of what you have read here feels like it might be your thing, come on in. I will show you everything I spent years figuring out on my own.

I will see you inside.

Dawn

Pastel Insider
$19.99
Every month

This is your moment. Come inside. Let me show you my world. No commitment, cancel anytime.

✓ 2 New Lessons Every Month
✓ Full Access to 80+ Lessons
✓ Original Line Art for Every Lesson
✓ Membership Guide Included
✓ Yours to Explore at Whatever Pace Feels Right

FAQs

  • As a Pastel Insider you will receive two new lessons each month, typically released on the first and third Friday. (Occasionally dates may shift around holidays or life, but your two lessons will always be there.) Each one is a unique exploration through different subjects, approaches, and techniques designed to build your skills and confidence across the soft pastel medium.

    You will also have instant access to a library of 80+ lessons from the moment you join.

  • Yes, absolutely. This membership is designed to meet you wherever you are, whether you are brand new to soft pastel or have been creating for years. When you join you will receive the Pastel Insider Getting Started Guide, which includes supply recommendations, suggested beginner friendly lessons, and a clear roadmap so you know exactly where to begin. No guessing, no overwhelm. Just a clear path forward.

    And in every lesson I am right there with you, walking you through each decision along the way. No drawing experience required.

  • Not at all. Some members paint every lesson. Some watch first and come back later. Some are here to absorb, to be inspired, to spend time in a creative space that feels good. There is no right way to be a Pastel Insider. Show up however works for you.

  • Once you join you will receive access to a members only area on my website where you can find all your lessons, downloadable line art, and resources. Everything is easy to navigate and available whenever you are ready for it.

  • Yes, absolutely. You can cancel anytime with no long term commitment. You will retain access to everything until the end of your current billing cycle.

  • The Pastel Insider is a membership subscription, not individual class purchases. As long as you are an active member you have full access to everything in the library. When your membership ends your access ends, but you are always welcome to come back.