During a conversation with Anne Hevener, the editor of The Pastel Journal, I mentioned that I get a lot of email from painters inquiring about pastel materials and techniques, and that I often find myself answering the same questions. Anne proposed the idea for a blog in which I might regularly respond to painters' questions, realizing that if one person is wondering about something, there are many others wondering the same thing. So I'm happy to announce the new "Pastel Pointers" blog.

I will be adding a new post on a weekly basis offering tips and how-to help based on my own experience over many years of pastel painting. If you want to be notified of each new post, sign up for a reminder by e-mail or subscribe via RSS feed under "Free Updates" at the top of the navigation bar at left.

As for my own background, I was born in the Rogue Valley of Oregon and spent my youth growing up with the rivers and mountains that form this special place. It is from these subjects that I receive the inspiration for my paintings, which I paint on location. I paint in both pastels and oils, and travel regularly across the country and internationally to teach workshops. I'm a signature member of The Pastel Society of America and a Distinguished Pastelist with the Pastel Society of the West Coast. My work is represented by William Zimmer Gallery in Mendocino, Calif., and the Mockingbird Gallery in Bend, Ore. For more information, visit my website.

If you would like to send questions to me for a potential blog post, send your question to The Pastel Journal by email at pjedit@fwpubs.com.