VALERIE MCKEEHAN
PASTEL FLORALS
Step into a world of soft color, luminous blooms, and expressive mark-making in this joyful soft pastel workshop. Together, we’ll create a glowing, romantic bouquet focused on roses in full bloom—perfect for celebrating the beauty of spring, a quiet moment, or simply your love of color. Once mastered, try your hand at poppies, irises and more using Valerie’s unique techniques.
Using the magical pigments of soft pastel, you’ll learn how to:
- Block in large shapes with confidence—no over-detailing required
- Understand and apply value for realistic depth
- Layer pastel to suggest delicate floral textures with subtle grace
- Work on toned PastelMat, a surface beloved by pastel artists for its velvety feel and ability to hold rich pigment
Whether you're a beginner or ready to grow your pastel practice, this experience invites you to slow down, release perfectionism, and embrace the pleasure of making art with your hands.
More than a how-to, this workshop is a sensory journey: soft pastels offer a deeply therapeutic and meditative experience. Many artists use florals to mark seasons, celebrate memories, or explore emotion—turning artwork into a quiet form of storytelling.
Your finished piece can be framed and displayed to bring charm and joy into any space.
Why Soft Pastels?
Soft pastels are one of the oldest painting mediums, famously used by artists like Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt. Made from pure pigment and a touch of binder, pastels deliver unmatched vibrancy—with the same pigments used in oil and acrylic, but without the liquid. Despite their delicate look, pastel paintings are long-lasting when properly framed. They’re also incredibly fun to use, tactile, and playful—making you feel like a kid again. Join us for this creative escape and fall in love with pastels, petals, and the joy of expression.
The Curated Kit of Tools & Materials
This workshop includes:
- A detailed digital workshop led by Valerie McKeehan
- Tools & materials from artisan suppliers, curated for you by Valerie
- PDF download with written instructions to complement the video tutorial
The tools & materials included in your kit:
- Soft pastels, set of 24 colors*
- Hard pastel color stick
- Three toned sheets of premium Pastelmat paper: Sienna, Sanguine, Light Green
Materials to have at home:
- Paper towel, baby wipes, or damp cloth (for cleaning your fingers)
- Apron or smock and something to project your work surface
*Swap or upgrade option available
Customize Your Subscription
We are offering optional swap and upgrade options for this month's kit. If you'd like to opt into either options, then please place an order by July 20th, so we can ship with your subscription box. For those who want to swap or upgrade, please opt into one OR the other, not both.
Swap: Earthberry Handmade Pastel Pigment Set, "Blooming Florals"
$0
For those that have the soft pastels set from the Pastel Landscapes Workshop, this Earthberry set was custom designed by Valerie with her favorite shades to create beautiful blooms. This mini collection invites you into a rich bouquet of roses, where the six various shades reflect the tone and depth of a fresh set of floral blooms.
Upgrade: Earthberry Handmade Pastel Pigment Set, "Meadow"
$120
Upgrade from a student-grade set of pastels to a set of 30 Earthberry pastels in the "Meadow" colorway. Created in collaboration with artist Valerie McKeehan, this collection invites you into a blooming meadow, where every shade reflects the freshness of grass, the warmth of sunlight, and the softness of petals.
Materials For More Exploration
These add-ons ship for free if purchased by July 20th to include in your subscription box.
The Magic of Soft Pastel
$299
Unlock Valerie McKeehan’s full soft pastel course. This self-paced, in-depth course includes 48+ hours of instruction, tutorials, and creative guidance to help you grow your skills and confidence as an artist. It’s the perfect next step for those who love the workshop and want to go deeper.
Pastelmat Paper, Palette No. 5
$36
This kit a paper pad of 12 pieces of Pastelmat paper, 7x9.5” in Palette No. 5: Dark Green, Light Green, White, Dark Blue. Pastelmat offers pastel artists new opportunities with a unique surface that grabs pastels more effectively than Ingres papers but is less abrasive than sanded papers.
Pastelmat Paper, Palette No. 7
$36
This kit includes a paper pad of 12 pieces of Pastelmat paper, 7x9.5” in Palette No. 7: Sanguine Red, Sand, Beige, Dark Grey. Pastelmat offers pastel artists new opportunities with a unique surface that grabs pastels more effectively than Ingres papers but is less abrasive than sanded papers.
Pastel Landscapes Workshop
$85
This is Valerie McKeehan's original pastel workshop with Crafter. Create two large or four mid-sized impressionist style wildflower pastel landscape. You’ll learn different techniques for mark making, layering, underpainting, landscape composition, and how to mix soft pastels by blending.
About the Artist: Valerie McKeehan
Valerie McKeehan is a soft pastel artist, creative mentor, and founder of the Magic Makers® membership - a soulful creative sanctuary for artists around the world. She is best known for her poetic use of color and her ability to guide others back to themselves through beauty, nature, and the creative process.
Valerie began her career as the founder of Lily & Val, a hand-lettered chalk art brand that grew from Etsy beginnings into a multi-seven-figure product line carried in stores across the country. After a decade in the licensing and product design world, she followed an inner nudge back to art for art’s sake and to the softer, slower, more meaningful expression she had always longed for.
Now based outside of Nashville, Tennessee, Valerie teaches creatives how to trust their voice, embrace imperfection, and find joy in making. Her signature medium, soft pastel, is her favorite tool for evoking emotion and light, especially when painting florals, skies, and scenes from nature.
Through her online offerings, Valerie helps artists reconnect with their creativity not as a means to an end, but as a way of life.
We can’t wait to see how your pastel floral bouquet project turns out. Share your creative journey and finished creation with us by tagging @thecraftersbox + @valeriemckeehan in your social posts. Don’t forget to use #thecraftersbox so our community can also see your workshop come to life. Happy making!
