You can use pastels for more than just drawing. They’re full of color and feeling, and they’re waiting for you to play the first note. Harmony Pastel Art Courses are teaching people how to “speak colors” in Hong Kong, where tall buildings meet peaceful parks. The Tingology Pastel art lessons used to be like trying to figure out hieroglyphs. Laughter and learning go together like paint and paper here.

Let’s talk about the first class. You’ll be embarrassed as you walk in with a folder full of Pinterest ideas. All of a sudden, your teacher waves a soft crayon around and asks, “Ever smudge with your elbow?” Everyone laughs. Everything is fine. The goal is desire, not perfection.

Art is often put into two groups: method and theory. However, Harmony’s method is delightfully hands-on. No long lessons on color theory that will make you fall asleep. You’ll be told to try new things and even break the rules. Imagine rolling pastels around in your hand and mixing sunflower yellows with cloud grays. That’s how you’d feel, right there on the painting. There are lessons that sound like dinner parties. Someone says, “Let’s have a wine and pastel night.” Suddenly, art doesn’t seem so scary.

Teachers are not harsh judges. SoHo galleries and cha chaan tengs are right next to many of the artists’ spaces, which are hard to get to. They talk about times when they tried to be creative but failed, making things that looked more like abstract pizza than fine art. It makes sense, is true, and is a little funny. You should ask questions. Have a rage over colors getting mixed up? Have a snack. The answer might be “Try again, but this time make it messier!”

Beginners who don’t know the difference between a hard and a soft pastel can take courses, as can experienced artists who want to learn new techniques. You’re never stuck with a dry study plan. One week you might focus on views that are so vivid that you can almost hear the wind. The next week, you might try portraits that are so expressive that you can feel the wind in someone’s hair.

Hong Kong’s crazy scenery turns into your playground. Brushes and boards are often taken outside to parks or beaches when classes go outside. Suddenly, the neon buzz of the city hits the soft pastel colors on your page. Students become a tribe and share snacks, tips, and sometimes big fails that make everyone laugh.

It’s very simple to sign up. You can take most classes at any time, including mornings, evenings, and weekends. Some lessons happen in art bars or coffee shops. People who need more help or who want to make gifts that say more than a Hallmark card can take part in both group lessons and private sessions.

The feedback is honest and kind. Every class will end with honest support and, most of the time, jeans with colorful dots. It’s fun and messy, and before you know it, you’ll want that order in your art.

These pastel art classes are for people who like color, don’t mind making mistakes, and see magic in their messy fingers. Hong Kong has fast trains and lots of bright lights, but sometimes the wildest ride is making your own creation.