I’m slowly settling back into normal life after my trip to Ontario at the end of May where I taught three workshops for Pastel Artists Canada at the ICAN Pastel Conference in Aurora. While there, I was reminded why I love going to pastel conferences! Let me count them.

1. Nobody’s bored when you talk about pastels!

Have you ever had that experience when you get excited telling someone about pastels and why you love them, but the other person isn’t as enamoured with them as you and even though they’re polite, you can see that slightly glazed, Uh huh look in their eyes? Well talk away cos everyone at pastel conferences wants to talk and hear about pastels!

2. Numerous Workshops To Dive Into

You’ve paid for the trip and accommodation to go learn about pastels but instead of only one instructor, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the techniques and processes of many! When else do you get the chance to take a number of workshops from various artists about all sorts of subjects, all in one place over a short period of time?

3. Networking – Old and New Friends

Pastel conferences are times to catch up with friends you’ve made at other conferences or at other workshops. It’s a pretty special reunion I’ll tell you! At ICAN, I re-met delightful artists I seem to see only at these type of events – people like Roberta Combs, Karin Richter, Ruth Rodgers (Pastel Artists Canada’s current President), Joan Larson. You also make new friends (which I did at ICAN!)  who share your love of pastels. And you’ll hope to see them at the next pastel conference.

4. Connecting with Art Instructors You Admire

I’m always amazed at the generosity of time so many instructors have at these events. Over the years, I’ve connected with artists I’ve admired – like Sally Strand, Bill Creevy, Duane Wakeham, Richard McKinley, Albert Handell, Alan Flattman, Doug Dawson, and the list goes on. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet so many of them if I hadn’t attended pastel conferences. Most instructors at these events are generous with their time and knowledge so make the most of that (in the nicest possible way of course!).

5. Learning new techniques, new ways of doing things

Find yourself in a painting rut? These events can shake up the old and introduce new and exciting ways to work. Discovering a new process or a new way to apply pastel is priceless. (Just make sure you experiment and use them when you get home!)

6. Accompanying Exhibition To Inspire You

And in case you don’t get enough inspiration in the workshops, you’ll be blown away by the exhibition that usually accompanies these events. The ICAN Pastel Conference exhibition didn’t let me down – so many styles, so many subjects, so many voices!

7. Sharing Your Ideas

This kinda goes along with #1 but I want to reiterate that this is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, your opinions, your questions with others and hear them do the same. It’s often through these interactions that glorious work can emerge.

8. Pastel Conferences Are Reasons To Take time For You

Going to a pastel conference is a way to treat yourself and still feel like you’re working. Certainly if you claim some income from sales of your paintings or from art teaching, you know your expenses can be claimed when it comes tax time. So be kind to yourself and take this working break.

9. Exploring a New Place

One of the things I most love about going to pastel conferences is the chance to visit a new area. And even if it’s not completely new, I still have the excuse to discover new galleries, new restaurants, new walks. At ICAN, I visited the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. No pastels on view but a wonderful look at so many reproduced Group of Seven paintings and there’s nothing like seeing art in the real!

10. Meeting Facebook Friends

I know this could have gone under #3 but I made a separate category because these people are known to you (so they’re not ‘new’) but you’ve never met them (so you can’t catch-up). They don’t fit neatly into those other categories. Yet there is such a warm delight in meeting people you know over the internet, be they on social media or subscribers to your blog, and putting an animated and in-the-flesh face (and body!) to people you may have ‘known’ for years over these platforms.

11. Discovering New Products

And last but not least is the chance to find out about new pastel-related products. These can be through instructor introductions or, in some pastel conferences, via a trade show. ICAN didn’t have have a material vendors and that’s understandable. You need to have a large, committed audience to attract sales folk – they need to be able to make their money back and a profit. I have to say, in some ways, it was nice not to have the distraction of “the candy store.” It was easier to focus on people and connecting!

So there you have 11 reasons to get thyself to the next pastel conference that comes up. I’m hoping Pastel Artists Canada will make ICAN Pastel Conference a bi-annual event that nicely alternates with the IAPS Pastel Convention in Albuquerque.

My congratulations to the whole team that made the ICAN Pastel Conference run so smoothly. An event like this is a HUGE undertaking and requires people with dedication to the cause who will stick to the course no matter how many hills and gullies suddenly and unexpectedly pop up.

By the way, Heather is posting clips from the conference on the Pastel Artists Canada Facebook Page so check it out!

Now tell me why you like going to pastel conferences!

That’s all for now. Next time we have another guest blogger and I can hardly wait!!

For now,

Gail