Chalk Pastel FAQs

  • What chalk pastels do you recommend?

    We have all our favorite sets of chalk pastels here. We've included our artists' favorites too!

  • What do I need to get started?

    It's a very short list! Just: A set of chalk pastels. Our favorite chalk pastel sets are here. Construction paper Nana's lessons Baby wipes or damp paper towels for clean up. That's all!

  • How can you seal a finished chalk pastel painting so that it does not smudge?

    Get a cheap aerosol hair spray like Aqua Net (not pump hair spray) I recommend taking your painting outside to spray. Just a quick, light coating will do to seal it. Here is a video of Nana showing you just how to apply fixative to a finished chalk pastel painting. Also an option is framing wit...

  • What ages are your video courses and Clubhouse membership for?

    These tutorials truly are for all ages. When Nana first taught us our first chalk pastel lesson, we had ages from two to high school. Nana also has adults that enjoy her art tutorials. Angie, of Petra School, explains it well: “Easy enough for your smallest one that is able to hold a piece of cha...

  • Why does Nana call chalk pastel pictures paintings?

    Chalk pastel sticks are pure pigment. So it is simply painting in dry form.

  • Why does Nana say to sign, date and name your painting?

    Naming every picture is a habit I learned from a teacher years ago who said, if you name your picture, it gives it permanence. A foggy marsh at sunrise can have a name like “Still the Marsh.”  A perky chickadee sitting on a limb can be named “Saucy Fellow.”And a sandy beach with brightly colored ...

  • Do you have an Index of Art Lessons?

    Thank you for asking. We do! You can find the Full Homeschool Art Lesson Index HERE! With over 800 video art lessons and and 275 hours of instruction, companion guides and printable pdfs, this homeschool lesson index gives you a complete view of all that’s available here at You ARE an ARTiST!

  • Do you have a sample lesson to try?

    Absolutely, we have a free set of Get Started in Chalk Pastel Art video lessons here. Plus on the course pages in our shop, we have some sample lessons. In addition, you can find a few art lessons on our blog. Enjoy! And please let us know if you have any other questions.

  • How do you keep chalk pastel colors bright?

    Find the very simple tip here.

  • I’m interested in the famous artists curriculum. How in depth is this?

    Nana has art lessons on many famous artists and most have podcasts. Nana does discuss the history and biographies of the artists. In addition, members also receive access to the accompanying I Drew It Then I Knew It Guide. Here is a little more on Nana's famous artists series: https://chalkpas...

  • What is the difference between chalk pastels and oil pastels?

    Soft pastels, hard pastels, NuPastels, oil pastels, pan pastels - Nana explains what the difference is and what each can be used for. Find the explanation in this article.

  • Where do you store finished paintings?

    Honestly, our house is decorated with children’s pictures. You’ll find them on the chalkboard, the refrigerator and adorning the walls. You can also find finished pastel pictures: in our nature journals – the finished pictures just rub off a bit on the back of the next picture. in a binder – my...