A mixed media class with a focus on black PanPastel.

I’m thrilled to announce the pre-sale of my brand-new class, Simply Magic 2! In this step-by-step mixed media course, you’ll be guided through creating a personalized 18x24 whimsical guide that carries your Word of the Year proudly on its chest. You’ll start with detailed line art and choose from six hand-lettered words—Trust, Breathe, Love, Brave, Thrive, Gratitude—or create a meaningful word of your own.

Through this unique class, you’ll learn foundational techniques like working with black PanPastel to explore value, adding expressive details with erasers, and incorporating stencils to create intricate textures. Using just five essential tools, I’ll show you how to simplify your process while creating something deeply personal and visually stunning.

In my own piece, I chose the word Trust to remind myself to trust my journey and believe in myself. This class is not just about creating art—it’s about setting a powerful intention for your year and connecting with your creativity in a meaningful way. Let’s create your guide together and make something magical!

Classroom opens: Tuesday, January 28th

Two Ways to Join Simply Magic 2"

  1. Individual Purchase: Enjoy unlimited lifetime access to Simply Magic 2 when you purchase the course individually. Dive in at your own pace and revisit the lessons whenever you're ready to create.

  2. Pastel Insider Membership: Elevate your creative journey by becoming a Pastel Insider Member. Gain access to Simply Magic 2 along with all of my online classes (over 32 lessons!), exclusive weekly step-by-step lessons, original line art, and so much more. With new content added every week, your membership continues to grow, offering endless inspiration to fuel your creativity.

Choose the option that fits your creative goals and start creating today! 🎨

Simply Magic 2
$47.00
One time

Early Bird Pricing Good Through Feb. 28th (Reg. Price $62.00).

✓ Unlimited lifetime access
✓ Classroom Opens Tuesday, Jan. 28th
✓ Printable Line Art for Standard Printer
✓ 1 Full Lesson and 1 Warm Up Lesson
✓ Learn How To Mount & Seal Using Dorland's Wax

 What we will learn together…

WARMUP LESSON :

EXPLORE VALUE, MARK MAKING & STENCILS

Get ready for an engaging warm-up lesson where we'll dive into the basics! In this introductory session, we will focus on acquainting ourselves with the art of using black PanPastel with the versatile Sofft Tools, allowing us to explore the captivating concept of value. You'll discover how these tools harmoniously blend together, opening up a realm of possibilities.

But that's not all—prepare to witness the power of mark-making with erasers! We'll delve into the fascinating technique of creating expressive and captivating marks using these simple yet powerful tools. It's an opportunity to ignite your artistic flair and witness the magic that unfolds when erasers meet PanPastel. I will also be introducing how I incorporate stencils. See how they can spark your creativity using these basic tools.

MAIN LESSON : Bringing Your Whimsical Guide To Life!

In the main lesson, you’ll embark on a step-by-step journey to create a stunning 18x24 whimsical guide that’s uniquely yours. This is where the magic truly happens as we dive into each stage of the creative process, simplifying every step to ensure a positive and successful experience.

You’ll choose from six inspiring, hand-lettered words—Trust, Breathe, Love, Brave, Thrive, Gratitude—or craft your own meaningful word to bring personal intention to your guide.

  • Building Confidence with Black PanPastel: Learn to work with black PanPastel to create bold contrasts and explore the captivating concept of value. See how this versatile medium can bring depth and dimension to your piece.

  • Expressive Mark-Making with Erasers: Discover the power of using erasers as creative tools to craft expressive marks that add texture and personality to your guide.

  • Incorporating Stencils for Intricate Details: Explore how stencils can spark your creativity, helping you add unique patterns and textures that elevate your artwork to new levels of complexity.

  • Golden’s Gold Paint Magic: Add a touch of brilliance with Golden’s extraordinary gold paint, creating luminous accents that make your character shine.

This structured, step-by-step approach ensures that no matter your level of experience, you’ll feel confident and inspired as you bring your whimsical guide to life. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have a breathtaking piece of art that reflects your creativity, individuality, and guiding word for the year.

Line Art Made Easy:

This lesson includes detailed line art provided in multiple formats, making it easy for you to print on a standard letter-size printer. I’ve included a specially tiled version for seamless printing, along with a helpful video tutorial to guide you through the simple process. You’ll also have six hand-lettered inspirational words to choose from—or the option to create your own! I’ll walk you step by step through transferring the line art onto your paper, ensuring you can confidently follow along and create your own unique version of the piece.

LEARN HOW TO MOUNT & SEAL YOUR BLACK / GOLD ARTWORK

Would you like to discover how to mount your artwork onto a wood cradle board? Have you ever wondered how I achieve a sealed finish on my black PanPastel paintings? Allow me to guide you through mounting and sealing your artwork, ensuring it's ready to be proudly displayed. In this demonstration, I will specifically showcase how to seal my black PanPastel using Graffix adhesive sheets and Dorland’s Wax. This technique can also be applied to other art forms, such as fine art prints, charcoal drawings, watercolor paintings, and acrylic paintings on paper.

Please note: This technique differs from my FULL COLOR soft pastel lessons, as this is a mixed media class.

SUPPLY LIST OVERVIEW:

To create your whimsical 18x24 character in Simply Magic 2, we’ll be working with a curated set of versatile and powerful tools. This simplified supply list is designed to ensure ease of use while achieving stunning, professional results.

From the bold, dramatic effects of black PanPastel to the shimmering elegance of Golden’s gold paint, each item has been carefully chosen to spark your creativity and make the process approachable and enjoyable. You’ll also learn how to use Sofft Tools and erasers for intricate mark-making, stencils for added texture, and innovative methods for mounting and sealing your finished piece.

Below, you’ll find a detailed list of everything you’ll need to bring this magical project to life.

SUPPLY LIST:

Receive an additional 10% off art supplies at Merri Artists Use Coupon Code: DAWNVS

 Here is my page of some of my favorite supplies: https://merriartist.com/collections/dawn-vander-stoep 

Please note: This technique differs from my full color soft pastel lessons, as this is a mixed media class.

Canson XL Mixed Media Paper 98lb 18x24

1 Sheet of 18x24 for the main lesson. I also use a 9x12 sheet for the warm up.

I love this paper because it’s smooth and takes the PanPastel well. It’s also heavy enough to take the gold paint without warping. If you don’t have this paper, something similar should work fine.

Black PanPastel 800.5

The black PanPastel is the heart of the class. It is different than charcoal as it is softer and extra fine. It lays down smoother and lifts beautifully. This product only costs around $6, and I think it’s worth the investment. Plus, it’s an amazing way to explore the medium inexpensively, as I will be showing you its unlimited possibilities.

PanPastel Sofft Tools - Knife and Covers, No. 3 Oval

These Sofft Tools are worth trying out. They have been specifically designed with PanPastel and are made of special high-density foam. They allow me to create more detail than makeup sponges.

PanPastel Sofft Tools - Art Sponge Large Oval

The larger Soft Tools help with quicker coverage and give you a variety of mark-making. I also love the starter pack.

PanPastel Sofft Tools - Art Sponge Bar, Mix, Pkg of 4 (optional)

These are optional. The larger Soft Tools help with quicker coverage and give you a variety of mark-making. I also love the starter pack.

White Erasers

Mechanical Pencil .5

My favorite one is uni Kuro Toga .5

Paint Brushes

Small round paintbrush around a size (1) - I have a set of myartscape brushes that I love using in the class.

Small Square Paint Brush around a size (1/2”)

Wood Skewer

We will be using the skewer to create dots using the gold paint.

Workable Fixative (optional)

I use this fixative on my black pastel pieces.

Bristle Fan Brush (optional)

I use this to brush off my work. It helps me keep my paper clean without touching or blowing on the surface. I use an inexpensive size 12.

Golden Fluid Acrylics - Iridescent Gold DEEP (Fine)

This gold paint is truly magical, and I love its opaqueness and how much it shimmers! Worth trying out!

Patterned Stencils

Supplies for Sealing & Mounting

1 - 18x24 Sheet of Grafix Double Tack Mounting Film

Krylon Low-Odor Clear Finish

X-Acto Knife with fresh blade

Dorlands Wax Medium

Cradled Birch Panel - 18x24 inch - 1 5/8 inch Deep

Two Ways to Join Simply Magic 2"

  1. Individual Purchase: Enjoy unlimited lifetime access to Simply Magic 2 when you purchase the course individually. Dive in at your own pace and revisit the lessons whenever you're ready to create.

  2. Pastel Insider Membership: Elevate your creative journey by becoming a Pastel Insider Member. Gain access to Simply Magic 2 along with all of my online classes (over 32 lessons!), exclusive weekly step-by-step lessons, original line art, and so much more. With new content added every week, your membership continues to grow, offering endless inspiration to fuel your creativity.

Choose the option that fits your creative goals and start creating today! 🎨

Simply Magic 2
$47.00
One time

Early Bird Pricing Good Through Feb. 28th (Reg. Price $62.00).

✓ Unlimited lifetime access
✓ Classroom Opens Tuesday, Jan. 28th
✓ Printable Line Art for Standard Printer
✓ 1 Full Lesson and 1 Warm Up Lesson
✓ Learn How To Mount & Seal Using Dorland's Wax

A Few Samples Of My Work

  • The Messengers

  • Intuition

  • Spirit Guide

  • Whispers of the Cosmos

  • The Oracle

  • Awakening

  • The Mystic Council